Official newspaper O f T h e I n d u s t r i a l w O r k e r s o f t h e w O r l d

INDUSTRIALJ u l y/A ugust 2011 #1737 Vol. 108 N o . 6 $ 2 / £ 2 / € 2 WORKER

Workers get what What Wobblies can The IW Book Sports: The National they’re owed in learn from “Direct Review Focuses on Football League’s Atlanta 5 Unionism” 7 Education 8-9 War on Labor 11 London Agency Workers Fight Back & Win With SolFed By Jerome Baxter site, asking for assistance in his The past few months have seen the situation. Office Angels, who United Kingdom based Solidarity Fed- obviously monitor their online eration (SolFed) engage in an escalating reputation quite closely, sussed “disruptive action” campaign to redress a out Dan’s identity and then had case of unpaid wages by the world’s larg- the nerve to harass him for est employment agency. Four days into a daring to ask for help on the national week of action, the Office Angels issue. At this point, Dan asked temporary agency capitulated and gave the South London Solidarity their ex-worker his due wages. Federation to step in. SolFed was contacted by the worker, Efforts began in earnest, Dan, in March. He had worked for Office with a single picket and a del- Angels for three days in December 2010. egation sent to the Wimbledon When he began work, he was not given a Office Angels branch where time sheet. When he inquired about this, Dan had been employed. The he was told not to worry. Then, on the final only response from the “Office day of his employment, he not only sat Devils” (as they’d now been next to the company manager, but he also dubbed) was to ban Dan from received a phone call from Office Angels all Office Angels premises. to check up on him. Despite all this, when Next, the London locals of Dan went to collect his wages, Office An- SolFed chose to picket the busy gels claimed that he had only worked one Oxford Street location of Office day, not three. After telephone calls and Angels in central London. This polite meetings didn’t work, he began a time, SolFed members went Photo: South London Solidarity Federation discussion thread on the libcom.org web- Continued on 6 SolFed protest in March demanding agency worker’s pay. Jimmy John’s Lied About Food-Borne Illness Outbreaks By the IWW Jimmy Johns “This is smoking gun evidence not only dition to the threat of discipline for calling The fired workers filed a charge with Workers Union of the seriousness of the public health risk in sick, workers are often unable to afford the National Labor Relations Board MINNEAPOLIS – Two months after caused by workers being forced to work to take a day off if they fall ill because (NLRB) in April seeking reinstatement Jimmy John’s fired six workers for blow- while sick at Jimmy John’s, it also proves wages at the sandwich chain hover around to their positions. Although ample case ing the whistle on a company practice of that Jimmy John’s franchise owner Mike the federal minimum of $7.25 and the law precedent protects the workers’ right forcing sandwich makers to work while Mulligan willfully lied to the company offers no benefits. to inform the public of a labor dispute sick, the IWW Jimmy Johns Workers media, the public, and his em- According to results of a or unsafe working conditions, the fired Union (JJWU) has released Minnesota ployees about his food safety survey of 40 sandwich work- Jimmy John’s workers’ charge has been Department of Health documents reveal- track record. We will continue ers conducted by the JJWU, sent to the NLRB’s Division of Advice in ing eight outbreaks of food-borne illness our fight for paid sick days the threat of discipline and Washington, D.C. for additional investiga- at franchises across the Twin Cities area for restaurant workers until poverty wages result in an tion due to recent government procedural in the past five years, seven of which were Jimmy John’s changes their average of at least two workers changes. Union members hope for a legal due to employees working while sick at policy to protect workers and working while sick at Jimmy decision this summer. the chain. The release of the documents the public,” said Max Speck- John’s in Minneapolis every “These Department of Health reports seriously erodes the credibility of Min- tor, one of the fired whistle- Graphic: JJWU single day. The union plans to definitively show what we already knew— neapolis franchise owner Mike Mulligan blowers. release a report highlighting we were fired for telling the truth about who had previously claimed to reporters Although franchise owner Mike Mul- these findings soon. food safety hazards at Jimmy John’s. We and employees that “the company has ligan has also publicly denied disciplining In an effort to silence employees who hope that the NLRB will expedite our case made more than 6 million sandwiches workers for calling in sick, the company’s blew the whistle on serious food safety because there is no time to lose in bring- during its nearly 10 years in business and own written policy mandates one to two hazards at Jimmy John’s, the company ing healthy working conditions to the fast no one’s ever gotten sick from eating one.” disciplinary “points” for workers who call fired six workers in March for putting up food industry,” said Erik Forman, one of Two of the outbreaks, both caused by sick in without finding a replacement, even posters demanding the right to call in sick the fired workers. employees, were at the Mulligans’ (Mike if they have a doctor’s note. Workers are and paid sick days in order to avoid expos- For more information, visit http:// and son Ron’s) stores. fired after accumulating six points. In ad- ing customers to infection. www.jimmyjohnsworkers.org. Industrial Worker Periodicals Postage Seattle Co-op Workers Fight For New Contract PO Box 180195 PO Box 180195 PAID By Drew Robertson course of action. With some support from Chicago, IL 60618 Chicago, IL 60618, USA Chicago, IL SEATTLE – Negotiations are in the other organizers in the branch, a petition and additional air once again in the Emerald City with demanding the raise and all related back ISSN 0019-8870 mailing offices another contract at Central Co-op (a.k.a. pay was quickly drawn up and signed by ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Madison Market) coming to a close. In past every member of the IWW who works at years this has been an uneasy song and the Co-op (a few folks were on long term dance between the IWW and management, leave). The petition was then presented to but one without much friction outside of management by some of the workers at the the negotiating table. This however, was shop along with the contract administra- not a normal year. In the lead up to nego- tor from the branch. After a small back tiations, management denied a previously and forth, management realized they had negotiated Cost of Living Adjustment misread the contract and promptly gave (COLA) raise, which was to take effect in the raise and all associated back pay. February, ahead of the first session. Unde- Perhaps it was a power play by man- terred, workers were ready to fight back. agement to see how solid the union truly So in March, after denying the raise, a was in the lead up to negotiations, perhaps grievance was filed as per the contract. In it was a genuine mistake on their part, but April, after management had given word the fact of the matter is it was the pure they were going to deny the grievance by show of strength and solidarity that won claiming that the contract was no longer the day. Because, as we always need to in effect, workers met promptly to decide a Continued on 6 Page 2 • Industrial Worker • July/August 2011 Dual-Carding Is He never worked for the railroad again. tion.” In fact the events were a general Experience gained through working strike involving hundreds of thousands Useful Experience in ANY union environment is definitely of workers fighting for the eight-hour Howdy again, Fellow Workers: beneficial, if for no other reason than day, as well as the power to severely re- Thanks for printing the article “The to acquire a fuller understanding of the strict the despotic power of the boss in Railroad Industry And The Need For One manner in which most unions govern the workplace. This was part of a mas- Big Union” on page 3 of the April IW. themselves and attempt to represent sive movement to put an end to capitalist My grandfather Ed Clifton died in their members. However, what is most exploitation and replace it with a demo- Letters Welcome! 1933, 14 years before I was born; but important is the opportunity to experi- cratic worker-controlled commonwealth. Send your letters to: [email protected] there is a good possibility that he was also ence firsthand the shortcomings of the Anyone interested in these stirring events with “Letter” in the subject. an IWW member (my mother’s memory normal union contract processes, and should read “The Haymarket Tragedy” by Mailing address: wasn’t clear about this). From what I’ve how streamlined the IWW brand of Paul Avrich and “Haymarket Scrapbook” IW, P.O. Box 7430, JAF Station, New been told, he was not only a gentle man, direct action may seem in comparison. by Dave Roediger and Franklin Rosemont. York, NY 10116, United States but also a gentleman. He did not swear (his So, by all mean get your railway work- The other thing that struck me was mother was a minister’s daughter); but ers’ card—but keep your dual membership the phrase “self-described anarchists” to Get the Word Out! instead, when he was angered, made up card in the Industrial Workers of the World characterize the Haymarket Martyrs and nonsense curses, such as “Farldunnit!!!” as well. And remember what my grandfa- their comrades. We are used to seeing this IWW members, branches, job shops and He was an active participant in the ther had to say: “I won’t work with scabs!” in the Boston Globe, the New York Times Photo: iww.org other affiliated bodies can get the word National Shopmen’s Strike in 1922, and Up the Revolution! and publications of their ilk. But the Indus- out about their project, event, campaign came home unexpectedly one afternoon - D. Kingsley Hahn X365465 trial Worker? I’ve always thought that the or protest each month in the Industrial at the conclusion of that miserable settle- phrase implies that said anarchists are too Worker. Send announcements to iw@ ment between the railroads, the unions Critique Of May Day Story lazy to apply to the anarchist central com- iww.org. Much appreciated donations for and the government. My grandmother, Fellow Workers: mittee for membership cards. Many IWW the following sizes should be sent to: surprised to see him home so early, I was surprised at a couple of elements members have similarly self-described asked him what was wrong. “I won’t work in John Kalwaic’s article “Union Workers ourselves and the IWW has historically IWW GHQ, Post Office Box 180195, with scabs,” my grandfather replied. My and Immigrants March Together On May enjoyed good relations with anarchist and Chicago, IL 60618, United States. grandmother chastised him for swear- Day,” which appeared on page 1 of the anarcho-syndicalist organizations, includ- $12 for 1” tall, 1 column wide ing in front of my mother and the other June IW. In this piece, he characterizes ing the Spanish CNT, the Swedish SAC, $40 for 4” by 2 columns kids. The word “scab” was the closest to the events surrounding May Day 1886 and and the IWA/AIT. $90 for a quarter page swearing that my grandfather ever used. Haymarket as “protest” and “demonstra- - Steve Kellerman X325068 Industrial Worker IWW directory The Voice of Revolutionary Industrial Unionism Australia Peterborough: c/o PCAP, 393 Water St. #17, K9H Hawaii New York Regional Organising Committee: P.O. Box 1866, 3L7, 705-749-9694 Honolulu: Tony Donnes, del., [email protected] Binghamton Education Workers Union (IU 620): Albany, WA Toronto GMB: c/o Libra Knowledge & Information P.O. Box 685, 13905. binghamtoniww@gmail. Organization Albany: 0423473807, [email protected] Svcs Co-op, P.O. Box 353 Stn. A, M5W 1C2. 416- Idaho com. http://bewu.wordpress.com 919-7392. [email protected] Boise: Ritchie Eppink, del., P.O. Box 453, 83701. New York City GMB: P.O. Box 7430, JAF Station, Education Melbourne: P.O. Box 145, Moreland, VIC 3058. 208-371-9752, [email protected] 0448 712 420 Québec 10116, [email protected]. www.wobblycity.org Emancipation Illinois Starbucks Campaign: 44-61 11th St. Fl. 3, Long Perth: Mike Ballard, [email protected] Montreal GMB: cp 60124, Montréal, QC, H2J 4E1. 514-268-3394. [email protected] Chicago GMB: 37 S Ashland Avenue, 60607. 312- Island City 11101 [email protected] British Isles 638-9155. [email protected] www.starbucksunion.org Official newspaper of the British Isles Regional Organising Committee (BI- Central Ill GMB: 903 S. Elm, Champaign, IL, 61820. Hudson Valley GMB: P.O. Box 48, Huguenot 12746, Europe 217-356-8247. David Johnson, del., unionyes@ 845-342-3405, [email protected], http://hviww. Industrial Workers ROC): PO Box 7593 Glasgow, G42 2EX. Secretariat: [email protected], Organising Department Chair: Finland ameritech.net blogspot.com/ of the World [email protected]. www.iww.org.uk Helsinki: Reko Ravela, Otto Brandtintie 11 B 25, Freight Truckers Hotline: [email protected] Syracuse IWW: [email protected] IWW UK Web Site administrators and Tech Depart- 00650. [email protected] Waukegan: P.O Box 274, 60079. Upstate NY GMB: P.O. Box 235, Albany 12201- Post Office Box 180195 ment Coordinators: [email protected], www. 0235, 518-833-6853 or 518-861-5627. www. tech.iww.org.uk German Language Area Indiana Chicago, IL 60618 USA IWW German Language Area Regional Organizing upstate-nyiww.org, secretary@upstate-ny-iww. NBS Job Branch National Blood Service: iww.nbs@ Committee (GLAMROC): Post Fach 19 02 03, 60089 Lafayette GMB: P.O. Box 3793, West Lafayette, org, Rochelle Semel, del., P.O. Box 172, Fly Creek 773.857.1090 • [email protected] gmail.com Frankfurt/M, Germany [email protected]. 47906, 765-242-1722 13337, 607-293-6489, [email protected]. www.iww.org Mission Print Job Branch: tomjoad3@hotmail. www.wobblies.de Iowa Ohio co.uk Austria: [email protected]. www.iw- Eastern Iowa GMB: 114 1/2 E. College Street, Iowa Ohio Valley GMB: P.O. Box 42233, Cincinnati Building Construction Workers IU 330: construc- waustria.wordpress.com City, 52240. [email protected] 45242. [email protected] General Secretary-Treasurer: Frankfurt am Main: [email protected] Louisiana Textile & Clothing Workers IU 410: P.O. Box 317741 Health Workers IU 610: [email protected]. Joe Tessone Koeln GMB: IWW, c/o BCC, Pfaelzer Str. 2-4, 50677 Louisiana IWW: John Mark Crowder, del., P.O. Box Cincinnati 45231. [email protected] uk, www.iww-healthworkers.org.uk Koeln, Germany. [email protected] 1074, Homer, 71040. 318 957-2715. wogodm@ Oklahoma Education Workers IU 620: [email protected], Munich: [email protected] yahoo.com, [email protected]. Tulsa: P.O. Box 213 Medicine Park 73557, 580-529- General Executive Board: www.geocities.com/iwweducation Switzerland: [email protected] Maine 3360. Koala Largess, Ildiko Sipos, Recreational Workers (Musicians) IU 630: peltonc@ Oregon gmail.com, [email protected] Netherlands: [email protected] Barry Rodrigue, 75 Russell Street, Bath, 04530. Ryan G., John Slavin, Jason Krpan 207-442-7779 Lane GMB: Ed Gunderson, del., 541-953-3741. General, Legal, Public Interest & Financial Office [email protected], www.eugeneiww.org John Reimann, Greg Giorgio Workers IU 650: [email protected] South Africa Maryland Baltimore IWW: P.O. Box 33350, 21218. balti- Portland GMB: 2249 E Burnside St., 97214, Bradford: [email protected] Cape Town: 7a Rosebridge, Linray Road, Rosebank, [email protected] 503-231-5488. [email protected], pdx. Editor & Graphic Designer : Bristol GMB: P.O. Box 4, 82 Colston street, BS1 Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa 7700. iww.org Diane Krauthamer 5BB. Tel. 07506592180. [email protected], [email protected] Massachusetts Boston Area GMB: PO Box 391724, Cambridge Portland Red and Black Cafe: 400 SE 12th Ave, [email protected] [email protected] 97214. 503-231-3899. redandblackbooking@ Cambridge GMB: IWWCambridge, 12 Mill Road, United States 02139. 617-469-5162 riseup.net. www. redandblackcafe.com. Cambridge CB1 2AD [email protected] Cape Cod/SE Massachusetts: [email protected] Pennsylvania Final Edit Committee : Arizona Western Mass. Public Service IU 650 Branch: IWW, Dorset: [email protected] Phoenix GMB: P.O. Box 7126, 85011-7126. 623- Lancaster GMB: P.O. Box 796, 17608. Maria Rodriguez Gil, Tom Levy, P.O. Box 1581, Northampton, 01061 Hull: [email protected] 336-1062. [email protected] Paper Crane Press IU 450 Job Shop: 610-358- Nick Jusino, FW D. Keenan, J.R. Leeds: [email protected], leeds@iww. Flagstaff: 928-600-7556, [email protected] Michigan 9496. [email protected], www. Boyd, Mathieu Dube, Neil Parthun, org.uk Detroit GMB: 22514 Brittany Avenue, E. Detroit papercranepress.com Arkansas 48021. [email protected]. Tony Khaled, del., 21328 Michael Capobianco, Skylaar Leicester GMB: Unit 107, 40 Halford St., Leicester Fayetteville: P.O. Box 283, 72702. 479-200-1859. Pittsburgh GMB: P.O. Box 5912,15210. pitts- LE1 1TQ, England. Tel. 07981 433 637, leics@iww. Redmond Ave., East Detroit 48021 [email protected] Amann, Chris Heffner [email protected] org.uk www.leicestershire-iww.org.uk Grand Rapids GMB: P.O. Box 6629, 49516. 616- Rhode Island London GMB: c/o Freedom Bookshop, Angel Alley, DC 881-5263. [email protected] DC GMB (Washington): 741 Morton St NW, Wash- Providence GMB: P.O. Box 5795, 02903. 508-367- Printer: 84b Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX. +44 (0) 20 Grand Rapids Bartertown Diner and Roc’s Cakes: 6434. [email protected] 3393 1295, [email protected] www.iww. ington DC, 20010. 571-276-1935 6 Jefferson St., 49503. [email protected], Globe Direct/Boston Globe Media Texas org/en/branches/UK/London California www.bartertowngr.com Millbury, MA Nottingham: [email protected] Los Angeles GMB: (323) 374-3499. iwwgmbla@ Central Michigan: 5007 W. Columbia Rd., Mason Dallas & Fort Worth: 1618 6th Ave, Fort Worth, 76104. Reading GMB: [email protected] gmail.com 48854. 517-676-9446, happyhippie66@hotmail. com South Texas IWW: [email protected] Next deadline is Sheffield: [email protected] North Coast GMB: P.O. Box 844, Eureka 95502- 0844. 707-725-8090, [email protected] Minnesota Utah August 5, 2011 Tyne and Wear GMB (Newcastle +): tyneand- [email protected] www.iww.org/en/branches/ San Francisco Bay Area GMB: (Curbside and Buy- Duluth IWW: Brad Barrows, del., 1 N. 28th Ave E., Salt Lake City IWW: 801-485-1969. tr_wobbly@ UK/Tyne back IU 670 Recycling Shops; Stonemountain 55812. [email protected]. yahoo .com U.S. IW mailing address: West Midlands GMB: The Warehouse, 54-57 Allison Fabrics Job Shop and IU 410 Garment and Textile Red River IWW: POB 103, Moorhead, 56561. 218- Vermont IW, P.O. Box 7430, JAF Sta- Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5TH westmids@ Worker’s Industrial Organizing Committee; Shattuck 287-0053. [email protected] Burlington GMB: P.O. Box 8005, 05402. 802-540- Cinemas; Embarcadero Cinemas) P.O. Box 11412, Twin Cities GMB: 79 13th Ave NE Suite 103A, Min- 2541 tion, New York, NY 10116 iww.org.uk www.wmiww.org Berkeley, 94712. 510-845-0540. [email protected] York GMB: [email protected] www.wowyork.org neapolis 55413. [email protected] Virginia IU 520 Marine Transport Workers: Steve Ongerth, Missouri ISSN 0019-8870 Scotland del., [email protected] Richmond IWW: P.O. Box 7055, 23221. 804- Clydeside GMB: [email protected] Kansas City GMB: c/o 5506 Holmes St., 64110. 496-1568. [email protected], www. Periodicals postage IU 540 Couriers Organizing Committee: 415- 816-523-3995 richmondiww.org Dumfries and Galloway GMB: [email protected]. 789-MESS, [email protected]. paid Chicago, IL. uk , iwwdumfries.wordpress.com messengersunion.org St. Louis IWW: [email protected] Washington Edinburgh GMB: c/o 17 W. Montgomery Place, EH7 Evergreen Printing: 2335 Valley Street, Oakland, Montana Bellingham: P.O. Box 1793, 98227. 360-920-6240. Postmaster: Send address 5HA. 0131-557-6242, [email protected] 94612. 510-835-0254. [email protected] Construction Workers IU 330: Dennis Georg, del., [email protected]. San Jose: [email protected] 406-490-3869, [email protected] Tacoma GMB: P.O. Box 7276, 98401. TacIWW@ changes to IW, Post Office Box iww.org. http://tacoma.iww.org/ Canada Colorado Billings: Jim Del Duca, 106 Paisley Court, Apt. I, 180195 Chicago, IL 60618 USA Alberta Bozeman 59715. 406-860-0331. delducja@gmail. Olympia GMB: P.O. Box 2775, 98507. Sam Green, Denver GMB: 2727 W. 27th Ave., 80211. Lowell com del., [email protected] Edmonton GMB: P.O. Box 75175, T6E 6K1. edmon- May, del., 303-433-1852. breadandroses@msn. SUBSCRIPTIONS [email protected], edmonton.iww.ca com Nebraska Seattle GMB: 1122 E. Pike #1142, 98122-3934. Nebraska GMB: [email protected]. www. 206-339-4179. [email protected]. www. Individual Subscriptions: $18 British Columbia Four Corners (AZ, CO, NM, UT): 970-903-8721, seattleiww.org Vancouver GMB: 204-2274 York Ave., Vancouver, [email protected] nebraskaiww.org International Subscriptions: $30 Wisconsin BC, V6K 1C6. Phone/fax 604-732-9613. gmb-van@ Florida Nevada Library Subs: $22/year iww.ca, vancouver.iww.ca, vancouverwob. Madison GMB & GDC Local 4: P.O. Box 2442, Union dues includes subscription. blogspot.com Gainesville GMB: c/o Civic Media Center, 433 S. Reno GMB: P.O. Box 40132, 89504. Paul Lenart, 53701-2442. www.madison.iww.org Main St., 32601. Jason Fults, del., 352-318-0060, del., 775-513-7523, [email protected] Vancouver Island GMB: [email protected] [email protected] Lakeside Press IU 450 Job Shop: 1334 Williamson, Published monthly with the excep- IU 520 Railroad Workers: Ron Kaminkow, del., P.O. 53703. 608-255-1800. Jerry Chernow, del., jerry@ Manitoba Miami IWW: [email protected] tion of February and August. Winnipeg GMB: IWW, c/o WORC, P.O. Box 1, R3C Box 2131, Reno, 89505. 608-358-5771. ronka- lakesidepress.org. www.lakesidepress.org 2G1. [email protected]. Garth Hardy, Hobe Sound: P. Shultz, 8274 SE Pine Circle, 33455- [email protected] Madison Infoshop Job Shop:1019 Williamson St. del., [email protected] 6608. 772-545-9591, [email protected] New Jersey #B, 53703. 608-262-9036 Articles not so designated do Ontario Pensacola GMB: P.O. Box 2662, Pensacola 32513- Central New Jersey GMB: P.O. Box 10021, New Just Coffee Job Shop IU 460: 1129 E. Wilson, not reflect the IWW’s Ottawa-Outaouais GMB & GDC Local 6: 1106 Wel- 2662. 840-437-1323, [email protected], Brunswick, 08906. 732-801-7001. iwwcnj@gmail. Madison, 53703. 608-204-9011, justcoffee.coop www.angelfire.com/fl5/iww com. Bob Ratynski, del., 908-285-5426 official position. lington St., PO Box 36042, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4V3 Railroad Workers IU 520: 608-358-5771. railfal- Ottawa Panhandlers Union: Andrew Nellis, Georgia New Mexico [email protected] spokesperson, 613-748-0460. ottawapanhandler- Atlanta GMB: 542 Moreland Avenue, Southeast Albuquerque GMB: 202 Harvard Dr. SE, 87106. Milwaukee GMB: 1750A N Astor St., 53207. Trevor Press Date: June 30, 2011 [email protected] Atlanta, 30316. 404-693-4728 505-227-0206, [email protected]. Smith, 414-573-4992. July/August 2011 • Industrial Worker • Page 3 The Union Movement We Need: Wisconsin And Why You Should Join The IWW By FW db Farmers came to Madison in force and In Wisconsin, the business unions the whole world watched as U.S. work- were the only unit with the infrastructure ers identified with the bravery of those in capable of building the statewide urban/ Egypt and across the Middle East. For a rural coalition of low-wage, unemployed, heartbeat, the global working class ques- and public workers necessary to win the tioned whether it could indeed take control struggle opened in the streets of Madison of its own destiny. against a budget bill designed to crush the Importantly as well, thanks to the whole of the state’s working class. leadership of a small IWW tendency in Yet, the business unions summarily re- the business unions, the Southern Cen- fused to do so. Their leadership conceded tral Federation of Labor (which includes everything but collective bargaining before Madison) passed a resolution authorizing the struggle began and they sent in staff an education committee to educate its people from around the country to focus members about a general strike. Thanks to exclusively on this demand. In doing so, this work, and amplified by IWW members they restricted rather than expanded the across the country, the general strike and struggle, and served to contain the mili- the framework of workers exercising their tancy of the rank and file in the streets. own power were launched into the com- The rank and file in turn ceded their mon vocabulary of this nation’s workers, militancy on the two fronts that had the and debated on the front page of Madison’s potential to expand the struggle towards newspapers. victory. First, workers failed to expand or The question then, was not general significantly support the strike initiated strike or no, but would workers across by Madison’s teachers, who ended it after the class exercise their own power in their three days due to bureaucratic pressure own interests—because no one else will do and questions of how long popular sup- it for them. port could be maintained. Second, rank- This struggle in Wisconsin, however and-file actors allowed the great gathering this next phase goes, is the beginning not point of the struggle, the occupation of the the end. Drastic austerity measures, capitol—Wisconsin’s Tahrir Square—to be caused by the speculation of the rich and shut down by legal barriers to occupation, false budget deficits of their politicians even as Madison police initially refused to are already reaching U.S. shores, as has arrest protesters. news of the massive unrest from workers Finally, and dramatically, the business the world over. unions risked suicide rather than take the Designed to crush the whole of the struggle to the next level in the direction of working class and justify the theft of our a general strike. Siding with the intention- remaining common resources during this and the IWW needs you. As of now, the the IWW to transform the labor move- ally impotent Democratic machine against capitalist crisis, these measures must be IWW is the only labor formation with the ment and in doing so, to help transform rank-and-file action, these unions chose opposed with every available resource. clarity of principle, the independence of the IWW itself. the distraction of recall and faith in the Unions and churches are the only institu- mind and finances, and the spirit of de- Surely, we are not uncritical of the courts over the challenge and possibility tions in this country with the base neces- mocracy necessary to move unions to the IWW as it currently stands. Its diversity of exercising independent power. sary to chart us onto a new course, and center of the struggle for the other world is poor, its organizing, coordination, and Of course, this isn’t the whole story. unions are the only institution with the that is possible—a world without poverty, strategy vary greatly from excellence to From every corner of Wisconsin, workers, potential self-interest to do so en masse. bosses, or destruction of the earth. inexperience. We have important lessons with particular leadership from teachers, Yet as we have seen in Wisconsin, business In the midst of a global economic to learn from workers’ centers, reform took to the streets, building a whole web unions summarily refuse to live up to their transition and the edge of an ecological movements, other unions with democratic of relationships through the determined, historic mission in the present. crisis there has never been a more pressing traditions like the United Electrical, Radio independent action of the rank and file. This is why the world needs the IWW time for organizing. We need you to join and Machine Workers of America (UE) and the International Longshore and IWW Constitution Preamble Join the IWW Today Warehouse Union (ILWU), and business The working class and the employing he IWW is a union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the unions campaigns—particularly their class have nothing in common. There can job, in our industries and in our communities both to win better conditions more democratic locals. be no peace so long as hunger and want today and to build a world without bosses, a world in which production and This does not however change the are found among millions of working T experience from Wisconsin. There is an distribution are organized by workers ourselves to meet the needs of the entire popu- people and the few, who make up the em- lation, not merely a handful of exploiters. essential necessity for the rank-and-file ploying class, have all the good things of We are the Industrial Workers of the World because we organize industrially ­– tendency to fight for what it will take to life. Between these two classes a struggle that is to say, we organize all workers on the job into one union, rather than dividing win, to engage in day-to-day struggles must go on until the workers of the world workers by trade, so that we can pool our strength to fight the bosses together. from their own workplaces with an eye organize as a class, take possession of the on the big picture and the big time. We means of production, abolish the wage Since the IWW was founded in 1905, we have recognized the need to build a truly international union movement in order to confront the global power of the bosses must work to transform labor into a labor system, and live in harmony with the movement capable of putting unions and earth. and in order to strengthen workers’ ability to stand in solidarity with our fellow the working class, broadly defined, at We find that the centering of the man- workers no matter what part of the globe they happen to live on. the center of struggles against corporate agement of industries into fewer and fewer We are a union open to all workers, whether or not the IWW happens to have hands makes the trade unions unable to representation rights in your workplace. We organize the worker, not the job, recog- tyranny and for a new world in the shell cope with the ever-growing power of the nizing that unionism is not about government certification or employer recognition of the old. employing class. The trade unions foster but about workers coming together to address our common concerns. Sometimes The name for this is the IWW. a state of affairs which allows one set of this means striking or signing a contract. Sometimes it means refusing to work with It is time for you to make that your workers to be pitted against another set an unsafe machine or following the bosses’ orders so literally that nothing gets done. name, too. We will seize the moment or of workers in the same industry, thereby Sometimes it means agitating around particular issues or grievances in a specific suffer in silence until the rain stops, and helping defeat one another in wage wars. workplace, or across an industry. lord knows that compared to the present Moreover, the trade unions aid the employ- Because the IWW is a democratic, member-run union, decisions about what issues Noah was in for a damn good time. ing class to mislead the workers into the to address and what tactics to pursue are made by the workers directly involved. Get in touch with questions, or join belief that the working class have interests us today by emailing [email protected], or in common with their employers. TO JOIN: Mail this form with a check or money order for initiation visiting http://www.iww.org. These conditions can be changed and and your first month’s dues to: IWW, Post Office Box 180195, Chicago, IL the interest of the working class upheld 60618, USA. only by an organization formed in such Initiation is the same as one month’s dues. Our dues are calculated Subscribe to the a way that all its members in any one in- according to your income. If your monthly income is under $2000, dues dustry, or all industries if necessary, cease are $9 a month. If your monthly income is between $2000 and $3500, Industrial Worker work whenever a strike or lockout is on in any department thereof, thus making an dues are $18 a month. If your monthly income is over $3500 a month, dues Raise eyebrows! Get ideas! injury to one an injury to all. are $27 a month. Dues may vary outside of North America and in Regional Instead of the conservative motto, “A Organizing Committees (Australia, British Isles, German Language Area). 10 issues for: fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work,” we __I affirm that I am a worker, and that I am not an employer. • US $18 for individuals. must inscribe on our banner the revolu- • US $22 for internationals. tionary watchword, “Abolition of the wage __I agree to abide by the IWW constitution. • US $30 for institutions. system.” __I will study its principles and acquaint myself with its purposes. Name: ______It is the historic mission of the work- Name:______ing class to do away with capitalism. The Address:______army of production must be organized, Address:______State/Province:______not only for the everyday struggle with City, State, Post Code, Country:______capitalists, but also to carry on production Occupation:______Zip/PC______when capitalism shall have been over- Send to: PO Box 180195, thrown. By organizing industrially we are Phone:______Email:______Chicago IL 60618 USA forming the structure of the new society Amount Enclosed:______within the shell of the old. Membership includes a subscription to the Industrial Worker. Subscribe Today! Page 4 • Industrial Worker • July/August 2011 Industrial Unionism And One Big Unionism In The History Of The IWW By John O’Reilly and In addition to structure, the IWW’s Nate Hawthorne activity was supposed to prepare workers This article is the second in a series for revolution. One issue of the Industrial discussing the themes of the One Big Worker newspaper said that conflict under Union and Industrial Unionism. We capitalism helped get the working class believe these themes are relevant to the ready to end capitalism. This conflict was future of our organization and our or- “training” of a sort “most necessary to pre- ganization’s vision and values. Through pare the masses for the final ‘catastrophe,’ these articles, we hope to push for a dis- the general strike, which will complete cussion about possible ways forward for the expropriation of the employers.” The the IWW and how to build a new society. Industrial Union Bulletin wrote that “the We welcome replies, whether in print or very fights themselves, like the drill of an sent to us at [email protected]. army, prepare the worker for ever greater We in the IWW, like many others, have tasks and victories.” An early IWW leader long tried to link two types of struggle— named Daniel DeLeon wrote that one struggles for short-term improvements function of the union is “to drill the mem- under capitalism and the struggle to re- bership of the working class in the habit of place capitalism with a better society. For self-imposed discipline”—or, to train the years, now the IWW has used two ideas working class to use its capacities for self- to think about the connections between organization. The idea was that workers these types of struggles. These ideas are would learn how to run society through Industrial Unionism and the One Big running their own organization—specifi- Union. These ideas have meant many dif- cally, the class conscious and revolutionary ferent things but they have always been industrial union, in struggle against the related to the IWW’s revolutionary vision. capitalist class. These ideas relate to our An Industrial Union vision of a future revolu- Bulletin article called tion that ends capital- “Industrial Unionism” ism and to our vision of stated that the IWW our organization under “teaches its members capitalism before such a that each dispute in revolution. which they are involved In this piece, we dis- is merely an incident in cuss some of the ideas in the early IWW the great struggle between capital and la- about the IWW, One Big Unionism, and bor—a struggle which can only be brought Industrial Unionism. The IWW’s Preamble to an end by the overthrow of capital” and famously states that “by organizing indus- “this supreme end must be ever kept in trially we are forming the structure of the view.” As a result “every incident in the new society within the shell of the old.” life of the union, every skirmish with the For the early IWW, the idea of building employers is made the text for proletarian the new within the shell of the old had education.” two facets. Both were all about revolution. Sophie Cohen was a child during a One was a matter of organizational design major strike in 1913 in Paterson, N.J., in and the other was a matter of preparing which the IWW played an important role. the working class. In its organizational Cohen said that: “the IWW left people design, the IWW’s structures were sup- with a taste for organization. Every time posed to be set up to form the basis for workers win a strike, it helps straighten running a future society democratically. out their backs a little bit more and lifts The idea was for the working class to be their heads a bit higher. Even though able to run the economy as quickly as pos- the big strike was lost in Paterson, there sible after a revolutionary change to get was a feeling of togetherness among the the post-capitalist economy going again workers... From then on, there were a after the tremendous disruption caused by series of strikes and every shop had to the revolution. In terms of preparing the be reorganized. Every shop refought the working class, the IWW was intended to eight hour day all down the line.” radicalize workers by making them want The education of individual members revolution and make them more capable occurred through direct action, defined by in acting on their urge to end capitalism. James Kennedy as “use of their economic We can see the notion of structure power by the workers themselves.” Jack in some documents from just before the Terrill, the secretary of a Montana IWW IWW’s founding. A letter that helped bring branch put it this way: “If something about the IWW’s founding convention de- should happen tomorrow so that the scribed the need for a new type of union. workers would have to run industry when The letter called for “a labor organization they go to work tomorrow, there would be buil[t] as the structure of Socialist society, chaos. They are not educated up to that embracing within itself the working class point, but the IWW is trying to organize in approximately the same groups and de- them into one big union and educate partments and industries that the workers them so that they can run industry when would assume in the working class admin- the time comes.” This education could istration of the Co-Operative Common- not happen without the day-to-day and wealth.” In the words of another letter, this month-to-month struggles against bosses. union should “represent class conscious “[T]he revolutionary character of the revolutionary principles.” A manifesto is- working class is best developed while the sued in January 1905 described the goal workers are engaged in actual struggle as an organization which would “build up against the masters,” stated an article from within itself the structure of an Indus- the IWW magazine the Industrial Pioneer. trial Democracy—a Workers’ Co-Operative The article said that a “well conducted Republic—which must finally burst the strike will do more towards developing Graphic: Mike Konopacki shell of capitalist government, and be the class-consciousness and radical sentiment agency by which the working people will than ten tons of revolutionary propaganda or unnecessary for our society if we free administrative only. This change of func- operate the industries, and appropriate the of a general nature.” The idea here is ourselves from the bosses’ rule. For many tion will involve no internal transforma- products to themselves.” In the words of straightforward: struggle changes people. people in the early IWW, however, these tion of the union, as it is precisely those the people who created the IWW initially, Being involved in struggle, instead of del- facets were not separable. powers whereby it can inflict injury upon that’s what the IWW was supposed to be. egating one’s power to another, makes that The article “Industrial Unionism” the capitalist that will enable it to take up An article called “How the IWW is Or- struggle more meaningful to the worker. argued that the IWW’s organizational the work of production. It is precisely its ganized” published in an IWW magazine Readers may have noticed that we structure was linked to both functions. control over production... that give[s] its later tried to sum up the IWW’s aims in have spent more time on one facet than Under capitalism, the structure was meant power for militant action.” The idea was three points: the other. We agree strongly with the idea to coordinate effective struggle and to that after militant action ended capitalism, “(1) To organize the workers in such a of struggles preparing the working class maximize the preparatory role—to make the IWW and the working class would im- way that they can successfully fight their for revolution. While we respect the idea the IWW radicalize as many workers as mediately deploy its power for cooperative battles and advance their interests in their of early IWW members that the organi- possible as effectively as possible. After production. every-day struggles with capitalists. (2) zational design of the IWW should be the capitalism ended, the same structure We can see the idea of the One Big To overthrow capitalism and establish in structure for a post-capitalist society, we would take on a new role. The article Union as having three different roles: a its place a system of Industrial Democ- don’t find it very compelling. Particularly stated: “Under capitalism, the functions vision of a future society, an idea of revo- racy. (3) To carry on production after in today’s economy, so many workers labor of the union are militant and aggressive; lutionary change, and a structure for capitalism has been overthrown.” on products or services that are irrelevant under the Socialist Republic they will be Continued on bottom of next page July/August 2011 • Industrial Worker • Page 5 Report Faults Massey Energy For 2010 Workers Celebrate Victory At The West Virginia Mine Blast Belly General Store In Atlanta By Michael Dranove By the Atlanta Solidarity Network After some time of employment (at Independent investigators in the state A little while back, a Belly General least 41 hours), no discussion about pay- of West Virginia released their first report Store restaurant worker named Erika ment had been satisfactorily had. Unwill- on the Upper Big Branch (UBB) mine ex- contacted the Atlanta Solidarity Network ing to wait to be taken advantage of, Peter plosion on April 5, 2010, which claimed (ASOL) because she was not getting paid began asking management about it, and the lives of 29 workers. In the report, what she was owed in a timely fashion. they gave him sly half-answers. Without investigators found that Massey Energy, We put pressure on the bosses for just further hesitation, Peter called the ASOL which owned the Upper Big Branch mine, three days and they caved and paid her. phone number and left us a message. was responsible for the deaths which could ASOL has been contacted about the res- Following this, Peter who told Belly have been avoided if Massey had put stan- taurant twice since General Store owner that dard safety procedures in place. then—a testament to he had contacted ASOL “A company that was a towering pres- Photo: Amy Sancetta, AP the resilience of the and was prepared to act ence in the Appalachian coal fields oper- Chunks of coal bearing the names of the ruling class in their if the restaurant didn’t 29 miners who died in the 2010 blast. ated its mines in a profoundly reckless war against all who pay him immediately. manner, and 29 coal miners paid with MSHA safety inspectors failed to enforce seek to live peacefully. Acquiescent and respect- their lives for the corporate risk taking,” the safety protocols at Massey Energy’s Some three weeks Graphic: atlsolidaritynetwork.blogspot.com fully, they paid Peter very read the report. “The company’s ventila- Aracoma Alma #1 mine. In 2007, a fire after we won Erika’s swiftly!! tion system did not adequately ventilate broke out at the Aracoma Alma #1 mine, pay, we received another call from an Peter put special emphasis on the fact the mine. As a result, explosive gases were killing two miners. The report described employee at Belly General Store. She that they were very respectful and kind allowed to build up.” Also detailed in the the fire as “preventable” and cites an expressed that she had not been paid in to him at this point—illustrating that the report are allegations that Massey Energy internal MSHA review following the fire a month and was prepared to take ac- specter of another fight with ASOL had had threatened miners with termination if which found that inspectors “were shocked tion. Nothing became of this call, but we sweeping affects on the way the business they stopped work in areas that lacked by the deplorable conditions of the mine” hope that the worker has gotten what she was being run. adequate oxygen levels. Numerous other and that MSHA inspectors had “failed” to wanted! Although some of us are not confident state and federal safety standards that enforce adequate safety measures. Fur- Recently, there has been a third com- that Belly General Store is going to change Massey failed to comply with were detailed thermore, the report outlines how in the plaint against Belly General Store. Peter, a for good, and we would love to have been in the report. lead up to the blast the UBB mine “experi- chef, had heard of ASOL from the moment able to fight them again, we are overjoyed Investigators also say that the U.S. enced at least three major methane-related he sought employment at Belly. Upon to hear that the power of the people has Department of Labor and its Mine Safety events”—one in 1997, another in 2003, Google searching the store’s number, materially benefited our fellow workers. and Health Administration (MSHA) were and a third in 2004. Instead of addressing he found our website and read the story Thanks to everyone in ASOL and at fault for failing to act decisively at the these issues, “Upper Big Branch manage- about our fight over Erika’s missing wages. congratulations on putting the fear of col- mine even after Massey was issued 515 ment elected to consider each methane Immediately filled with anxiety, he was lective direct action in the employing class citations for safety violations at the UBB outburst or explosion as an anomaly.” prepared for the worst. of Belly General Store! mine in 2009. The report lambasts MSHA Furthermore, MSHA officials “did not inspectors for failing to issue a flagrant compel (or to our knowledge even ask) violation citation, which could have fined UBB management to implement [safety IWW Celebrates May Day In Zurich the company up to $220,000. Investiga- precautions]” following these events. tors claimed that this citation was entirely The report claims that Massey used necessary given Massey’s failure to meet its power “to attempt to control West Vir- basic safety protocols and the investigators ginia’s political system.” The report cites found it “disturbing” that the violation was how politicians were afraid of the com- not issued. The failure to issue flagrant vio- pany because it “was willing to spend vast lation citations was attributed to MSHA, amounts of money to influence elections.” which also failed to notify the miners and Massey intentionally neglected safety their families that they were working in precautions for the purpose of increasing a mine that had not met minimal safety profit margins, according to the report. requirements. As further evidence of Safety precautions in mines are “a hard- MSHA’s failures in the lead up to the UBB earned right paid for with the blood of coal Photo: Zurich IWW mine explosion, the report discusses how miners,” read the report’s introduction. As it does every year, the Zurich IWW had a booth for books and brochures and as well for Thai dishes at the Zurich 1 of Mai (May Day) Grand Rapids Diner Goes “Wobbly” Festivities. Here is a photo from the event. Grüsse y Libertad. New Yorkers Demonstrate Against Budget Cuts On May 12 By John Kalwaic workers, union members On May 12, thou- and students marched in sands of demonstra- the demonstration. The tors filled the streets of last such demonstration New York City to dem- took place in April 2010. onstration against the The coalition which or- cuts made by Mayor ganized the demonstra- Michael Bloomberg tion, the May 12 Coali- to public sector work- tion, included the Com- ers, schools and vari- munication Workers of ous social programs. America (CWA), United The mayor’s spending Federation of Teachers plans would also cut Photo: themathhattan.com (UFT), Coalition for the $30 million from pro- Vandalized Wall Street bull. Homeless, NYC Uncut, grams for the homeless. The rally then and New York Jobs With Justice. Civil turned to protest on Wall Street against rights leader Al Sharpton and union lead- Photo: Michael Johnston, Grand Valley Labor News the stock market’s misdoings and fail- ers marched hand and hand at the dem- Locally-owned, worker-run, IWW-unionized restaurant in Grand ures in recent years. One day before the onstration. There were even some black Rapids, Mich.—Bartertown Diner and Roc’s Cakes—opens in June. For rally, the famous Wall Street bull sculp- clad anarchists and a punk marching band. more information, check out “Worker-Owned Restaurant In Michigan ture was vandalized with circle anarchy The demonstration reached more than Joins Historic Labor Union” on page 1 of the June IW. symbols. Thousands of teachers, social its estimated goal of 10,000 protesters. Industrial Unionism And One Big Unionism In The History Of The IWW Continued from previous page together, but without any single organiza- administrative structure was supposed to ary character can be traced back through coordinating struggles under capitalism. tion. In that case, the IWW would be one join struggles across Industrial Unions in other organizations.” He named other As a vision of a future society, the One Big organization among many who makes a order to make them more effective. The organizations that had helped influence Union meant a democratic society where contribution. organization as a whole was also intended the IWW and that held one or both of these workers cooperated freely. As an idea of The One Big Union was also the name to spread the idea of One Big Union as a ideas: the Knights of Labor, the West- revolutionary change, the idea was that for an organizational form for workers revolutionary vision. This was supposed ern Federation of Miners, the American workers would form One Big Union and to coordinate activities against specific to help keep the Industrial Unions from Labor Union, the United Metal Workers then that union would end capitalism. bosses and the capitalist class before the focusing simply and entirely on the day- International Union, the Brewery Work- This could mean a few things concretely. It revolution. In that sense, the One Big to-day and month-to-month struggles. ers, and the Socialist Trade and Labor could mean that the IWW literally became Union meant a structure to work under In 1913, Paul Brissenden described Alliance. Still, Brissenden argued that the an organization that included the entire capitalism. The One Big Union was made the IWW’s doctrine as Revolutionary IWW was part of “the most modern phase working class. Or it could mean the IWW up of Industrial Unions which were meant Industrial Unionism. He noted that the of the revolutionary movement.” For the had enough workers in it that it kicked to be the fighting divisions of the IWW. IWW didn’t invent the idea of industrial early IWW, the One Big Union served to off some major social upheaval. In those The Industrial Unions were supposed to unionism or of revolution: “The Indus- keep the organization aimed at revolution two scenarios, the IWW would be the One concentrate workers in particular indus- trial Workers of the World is not the first while Industrial Unionism helped make Big Union. The idea could also be more tries in order to maximize the power they organization of workingmen built upon this revolutionary vision practical instead metaphorical—the working class united could exert. The IWW’s One Big Unionist the industrial form. Even its revolution- of just wishful thinking. Page 6 • Industrial Worker • July/August 2011 Special London Agency Workers Fight Back & Win With SolFed Continued from 1 Action against Adecco, the company which into Office Angels, spoke to management, owns Office Angels and is also the largest demanded Dan be paid, and informed employment agency in the world with over them actions would continue until Dan 5,500 locations. By calling on SolFed’s received his full wages. membership in the International Workers After this picket, SolFed began to Association (the IWA or, as it’s also known, develop a public aspect to the campaign the AIT) we could get pickets around the which was aided by two important factors. world. We also contacted the U.S. IWW First, each picket so far (and throughout and the Syndicalist Youth Federation in the dispute) was met with overwhelming Sweden. public support. As even Office Angels The National Week of Action began admits, “There are in excess of one mil- with pickets being announced around lion temporary workers in the United the United Kingdom: numerous pickets Kingdom...Many people find themselves in London, three in Northampton, two in a position where they need to consider pickets in Reading, another two in Brigh- temporary work as a result of job loss or re- ton, and pickets in Oxford, Nottingham, dundancy.” That means millions of work- Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Bristol, ers have experienced the shady practices and Liverpool. Some of these pickets and hyper-exploitative business model of brought demand letters, some just sent Office Angels and their ilk. delegations into the office to speak to a Second, we were already having manager, and in some cases Office Angels interested groups come to us offering just closed up shop for the duration. By support. Using this momentum, the first the end of the dispute over 15 pickets had thing we did was to create an online callout taken place around the country! Some of explaining the situation and requesting these were organized by SolFed locals, sympathetic individuals attend our next some by IWW or AF branches. In any picket and involve themselves in a “com- case, it was an outpouring of solidarity munications blockade” of the Wimbledon and the initial response from Office Angels Photo: North London Solidarity Federation Office Angels. This, the first of two “com- branches—calling the police and harassing SolFed members picket Office Angels in March. munications zaps,” saw hundreds of phone picketers—proved they were shaken. But, the offer and that night they informed him with public or, even worse, online debate calls and emails sent to the Office Angels by the second day of the Week of Action, it they would be paying him his money and about anarchism, producing literature, managers by individuals and groups who appeared that someone higher up in Office “hoped” he would support them against or going to picket lines in the increasing were more than happy to express their Angels or even in Adecco had taken over Kinetics if needed. Well, we had seen them rare incidents of strikes. Now, these are dissatisfaction with Office Angels’ unscru- the publicity angle. On the Office Angels lie before. Their word wasn’t good enough all important tasks. However, we want to pulous employment practices. website, a press release went up from and the pickets weren’t going to stop until reach a point where anarcho-syndicalist Finally, we encouraged any Office their managing director. In it unnamed the money was in the bank. This created unions are facilitating, organizing, and Angels staff who had been mistreated “various individuals” were accused of un- a funny situation though. Pickets contin- leading struggles in the workplace and by the company to contact us. Even a dertaking unjustified “disruptive action.” ued on Thursday despite Office Angels’ the community. For many of us, Office cursory glance at online employment There was also a change in their response claims of intending to pay. This meant that Angels was our first experience seeing an forums makes clear that what Dan had to our pickets. The cops were no longer managers would come to us, waving press anarchist organization take an active role experienced was far from an isolated case. called and managers came out to speak releases claiming that all was okay because in a workplace dispute. We liked it. And Plus, SolFed has a long-running campaign to us—trying their best to be friendly and Dan had been paid! By Friday the money we want more. against casualization and precarious em- practically begging us to see if we’d been was in Dan’s account. Office Angels had Second, we proved ourselves a le- ployment. The fight against employment contacted by any other Office Angels amended their online press release, claim- gitimate threat. When we went London- agencies is, predictably, at the forefront of workers. This was most evident in Read- ing “new information has recently come to wide, Office Angels was forced to go such a movement. ing, where an Office Angels manager had light and we have taken this individual at London-wide. When we went national, In any case, the morning before our aggressively confronted a SolFed member, his word and paid all monies outstanding.” Office Angels was forced to go national. first public picket, Office Angels contacted a mother with her 14-month-old child, The only new information that had come to During the first five days of our week of Dan. He was told that “this has gone on and tried to rip fliers out of her hands. light was that Dan was not going to be their action, there were over a dozen pickets long enough” and he would “definitely” get Thanks to cool-headed SolFed members, lackey and that they were scared of what an in the United Kingdom. We should also paid. A manager promised to contact him things didn’t escalate and he soon left. International Week of Action would look note that the course of this dispute saw a by noon with the details. When that didn’t The next day, Reading went back to picket like. With Dan paid and thanks all around change in management at the Wimbledon happen and perceiving this promise for again. This time the same manager came for the support and solidarity, we called off branch of Office Angels. Now, we’re not what it was—a stalling tactic—the picket out and apologized profusely. Someone, any further pickets. ones to speculate, but perhaps this should and communications zap went ahead. somewhere, was putting pressure on local be a warning for local managers at Office When Dan called up Office Angels later managers to play nice. Postscript: Why did we succeed? Angels and elsewhere: If the Solidarity that night, he was told things were being Also on the second day of the Week To begin, there has been an uptick in Federation shows up at your door, pay up. held up in the legal department. of Action, Dan was again contacted by class struggle since the recession began. Or your job may very well be next. At this point, we could see Office Office Angels. This time they told him That means that—for better or worse— Finally, direct action works. We Angels was beginning to falter. The pick- they had documentation confirming that we’re living in an environment that is easi- achieved what we achieved without law- ets, emails, phone calls, and the online he had worked two days and would pay er to organize in. However, we think there yers, courts, industrial tribunals, or even exposure were making a difference. They him for them. Still not satisfied, we went is something larger (though very much union reps. And we won. We planned and had clearly tried to fend off a picket while ahead with Wednesday’s communications related) going on—namely, an appetite for strategized and, despite some inevitable acknowledging the dispute “had gone on blockade. On Wednesday morning Dan practical activity within the activist/politi- hiccups, we orchestrated an escalating long enough.” Of course, for us and for was contacted again. Office Angels offered cal community, not to mention within the campaign against the largest employment Dan, the fight wasn’t over until the money to pay him for the full three days if he wider population. This is post-Millbank agency in the world. We didn’t even play all was in the bank. To ensure this would was willing to go to court to retrieve their austerity Britain. People are pissed off and, the cards in our hands and we still forced happen, we planned for two things. The money from Office Angels’ client, Kinetic, for the first time in a generation, they know Office Angels to pay up out of pocket mid- first was to call a National Week of Action, to which Dan had been contracted out. who they’re angry at. With the decline of way through our National Week of Action. complete with a second communications How ironic. They wanted to enlist Dan’s basic industry and the marketization of the After all, they still haven’t been paid by barrage on the Wednesday. Leading up to help to ensure they got their money. Shall public sector, working for an employment their client. In the process we strength- this week, London SolFed put out a call for we say: denied on principle. Besides, U.K. agency—with none of the hard-won legal ened our class confidence. Everything other SolFed locals and comradely orga- law states that agencies have to pay their rights of permanent staff—is an experi- from giving demand letters to managers nizations, particularly the U.K. IWW, the employees regardless of whether they’ve ence far too many of us have had to suffer to speaking to the public to coordinating Anarchist Federation (AF), and the Com- been paid by their clients. It’s not Dan’s job through. The Office Angels dispute gave activities, we’re better at that now than we mune, to picket Office Angels locations in to sort out Office Angels’ money problems class struggle anarchists an opportunity were three months ago. their town or city. The second was to begin and it’s not like he’d get paid for his time if for tangible, practical activity. For too Direct action works. Dan is living preparations for an International Week of he had to go to court. Dan politely refused long, many of us have had to make do proof. Seattle Co-op Workers Fight For New Contract Continued from 1 remains. With a session or remember, management two left to go, we are com- never gives in because of ing down to the line in the what you did today, but out sand. We are all prepared to of the fear of what you could fight management at every do tomorrow. turn. But if a new contract Fast forward to the pres- is agreed to and accepted by ent day: we have just com- everyone with these gains, pleted our fourth negotiation Photo: Carole Cancler, along with a sizable increase session with management. Examiner.com in pay, it won’t be due to any Some gains have been made in terms of skill at the bargaining table, but due to the protecting previous advances in health demonstrated willingness of everyone in care and an increase to paid time off, but the union to stand up and demand what the major sticking point of pay and raises they deserve! July/August 2011 • Industrial Worker • Page 7 Special What Wobblies Can Learn From “Direct Unionism” By Juan Conatz the union...In a union workplace, the A group of Wobblies recently pub- IWW organizing committee must remain lished a pamphlet called “Direct Union- independent of the recognized union.” ism: A Discussion Paper,” intended to start De-emphasizing membership is im- a dialogue about how we organize. It’s a portant here also. The point is not to welcome addition to further a conversa- “poach” members from the mainstream tion we ought to have. Often, in the IWW, unions or to raid them. Even if we were at in-depth discussion and assessments do a level where this was realistic, it would not occur for various reasons. This wasn’t still be a bad idea. An ideal dual-carder always the case. Historically, the IWW strategy would not be about trying to re- had a number of different publications, place another union, but about elevating with varying purposes, and some of them the struggle and bridging divides. included very theoretical, long and com- In Puerto Real, Spain, the Confeder- prehensive articles. As the IWW receives ación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) worked additional attention and interest due to to “massify” a struggle by organizing its campaigns at Starbucks, Jimmy John’s cross-union and cross-industry assemblies and in Wisconsin, there is no better time of workers and community members in than now to restart these conversations 1987. The people were very militant and around strategy and organizing. You can fought the closing of the shipyards there read the pamphlet online at http://bit. incessantly, not only preventing the clos- ly/ip3gjZ. Graphic: libcom.org ing, but winning bread-and-butter gains There’s some truth to that. Some people The publication tries to address how gains that weren’t originally part of the struggle. Direct Unionism and are really focused on getting others to join are protected without contracts and with It’s a very inspiring event that we “Building the Union” as if that is the end all, be all. After they membership de-emphasized, but it’s not can learn from. However, this seems to The piece suggests a way for the IWW join, they aren’t engaged as much and the really explored in much detail. While the be one of only a few examples of a large, to organize, which it calls “direct union- same effort that was put into getting them pamphlet usefully re-centers us on some successful campaign the post-Franco CNT ism,” described as “instead of focusing on to join is not put into getting them ac- of our more successful practices, there are has had. This could possibly be a language contracts, workplace elections, or legal tive. What is forgotten is that, despite the negative aspects to these. issue. There isn’t a lot of material trans- procedures, IWW members should strive phrase of “One Big Union,” the IWW at our For instance, one of the major issues lated on the contemporary CNT and its to build networks of militants in whatever largest and most active in the early 20th of the historical IWW was staying power. successes and failures. To discover the industry they are employed.” century still mostly organized strikes and They came into a particular town in a different perspectives on their activity, I enthusiastically support this outlook. actions with workers regardless of whether particular industry, organized and then, it is pretty much a requirement to know During the union’s most active years, they were members or not. Membership whether the result was a win or a loss, Spanish. This is true of Spanish syndical- until the 1930s, “no contracts” was actu- was secondary to militant organizing. IWW presence disintegrated fairly quick- ism in general. ally part of the constitution. In an article In my own experience with groups ly. Perhaps this was a result of internal In Spain, the three most widely known titled “Industrial Workers of the World,” that are easy to join, I’ve seen this issue splits, government repression and exodus anarcho-syndicalist unions are (in order Wobbly author Joyce L. Kornbluh men- come up before. While 20 or so people to the CPUSA, but it may also be due to a of size): the Confederación General del tions, “As labor-management contracts total were technically part of a group I was non-contractual network of militants, de- Trabajo (CGT), the CNT and Solidaridad were viewed as an interference with labor’s involved in, we did far better work when emphasizing formal membership strategy. Obrera. The CGT originated as a faction unconditional right to strike, the IWW we reorganized ourselves and totaled less Elevating struggle means building a com- and later split off from the CNT over would not sign contracts, a controversial than 10. Quality over quantity was the key bative working-class culture. Could direct various issues, the main ones being par- position it did not abandon until the 1930s. to effective work. unionism be too informal to contribute to ticipation in workplace councils (a sort Strikes rather than contracts were the fuel Another sentiment that is tied with the infrastructure needed for this? of workplace parliamentary system, with for IWW militancy, for strikes built the “building the union” is the unfortunate one different unions acting as “parties” and experience and perspective needed for of thinking membership precludes activity. Industrial Strategy and representing workers) and accepting state the general strike that Wobblies thought As our organizer training program says, Dual Carding funding. The CNT opposes workplace would overthrow the capitalist system.” “We need to act like a union before calling The pamphlet lays out pieces of what councils and organizes similarly to direct The pamphlet addresses some im- ourselves a union.” A group of workers has not existed in the IWW—a dual card unionism. Solidaridad Obrera sees itself portant sentiments for IWW organizing: who are active on workplace issues but strategy: as in between the CGT and the CNT, leav- the sentiment of recruitment equaling do not call themselves a union is more “In workplaces where IWWs are ing decisions on these matters to locals or activity, and the idea that by merely desirable than a workplace with a union dual-carding, the organizing committee workplaces. increasing membership we elevate our presence, but in which workplace issues will seek to encourage workers to ‘super- These debates are of interest to ability to function or to influence events. go unaddressed or ignored. To quote “Di- sede’ (i.e. move ‘above and beyond’) the Wobblies because we’ve had some similar While more people joining does mean rect Unionism,” “informal participation trade-union form…Wobblies will encour- debates. There was debate about prohibit- more resources in the form of dues, these in workplace struggle, not formal mem- age struggle to be organized across trade ing dues check-off: the act of the employer members may not necessarily become bership in the IWW, should be the first unions and seek to bring unorganized subtracting union dues from employee active. We in the IWW have quite a bit of concern of a workplace organizer.” workers into the struggle…When mass paychecks and then transferring to the historical admiration and background that Our aim is to intensify class struggle. actions occur, Wobblies should make sure union. There was intense debate on how we’ve inherited, much like the Communist This requires our co-workers to become that workers remain in full control…This to respond to various labor laws, such as Party USA (CPUSA) and the Socialist Party active and gain confidence in our collective means democratic and open mass assem- National Labor Relations Board elections, USA (SPUSA). This admiration, com- power. Their membership in the IWW is blies of workers (as opposed the secretive secondary boycotts and anti-Communist bined with the lack of identifiable radical good, but it is secondary. This does not ‘back rooms’ inhabited by union officials) pledges for officers. Some of these debates organizations in some areas and the ease mean everything should be informal. For- must decide every aspect of the struggle. resulted in the IWW shrinking, like when of joining online, means that often times mal membership is an important aspect, The final decision on what actions to take Cleveland factory workers disaffiliated we have many interested people join for a but it is part of a wider experience and and when to call them off must be decided over the IWW refusing to agree to anti- short period of time and then fall through outlook, not the only and final thing. by the workers themselves.” Communist affidavits required by Taft- the cracks (the so-called “one month This important concept should be Hartley. wonders”). Staying Power used to combat chauvinism many folks But in order to discover the out- We have been criticized for “building “Direct Unionism” includes some of have about their particular unionized comes of these strategies in response to the union just for the sake of building it.” the shortcomings of the historic IWW. workplace or mainstream union. I’ve no- laws on workplace organizing in Spain, ticed a mentality of “my union/workplace it is necessary to ask questions. Has the is completely unique and you can’t give CNT’s approach—similar to direct union- me advice,” as if their union/workplace ism—been a success, and if so, how often? Support Women Wobblies: is an isolated island, free of any sort of Does the CGT actually function like the commonalities from other workplaces mass, militant union we want to be or has Donate to the Sato Fund! (unionized or not) and other unions. This it been too incorporated into the state? Is likely has a lot to do with the way most Solidaridad Obrera a successful merging This fund, established in memory of fellow worker Charlie Sato, supports mainstream unions operate. of the two positions? While we cannot the participation of women members in the IWW, for example by While, yes, each workplace and union simply draw a blueprint based on what’s contributing to their travel costs to attend important meetings like our local is different, there are broad strate- going on in Spain, knowing these things annual international convention. gies, principles and guidelines we can set. would shed some light on the viability of Ones which destroy the divisions between direct unionism. A tireless fighter for social justice and the rights of working people, unionized and non-union, public and pri- Charlie was a supporter of the Hawaiian-based LACASA (a Latin-American vate, etc., are the most important. While Conclusion solidarity organization) and the People’s Fund, other proj- the IWW is small, it is often forgotten that “Direct Unionism: A Discussion ects in Europe, Australia and Japan, and an active member mainstream unions are also small, repre- Paper,” in my opinion, is quite good. It of the O’ahu General Membership Branch of the IWW. senting 11.9 percent of the U.S. workforce. combats some negative parts of radical We can’t afford to stay restricted to one union organizations (fetish of recruitment Donate online at http://store.iww.org/sato-donations. segment of the class, and must, instead, and quantity automatically meaning qual- html, or send checks payable to “IWW” (mentioning the use tactics that broaden the struggle ity) and builds off the IWW’s organizer Charlie Sato Memorial Fund) to: Industrial Workers of beyond our small numbers. As “Direct trainings, taking it to its logical extent. It the World - General Headquarters, Post Office Box 180195, Unionism” says: also tries to initiate a much-needed con- Chicago, IL 60618– U.S.A. “We are not seeking to function as a versation on dual carding, giving some union pressure group, reform caucus, or examples of why the direct unionist ap- trying to ‘capture’ official positions within proach can work. Page 8 • Industrial Worker • July/August 2011 Industrial Worker Book Review Critique Of Education System Ironically Left Off Curriculums Sinclair, Upton. The Goslings. Privately information into easily understood terms. in our schools that we no longer challenge plague our schools in displays of manage- printed, 1924. Out of Print. What could have been a dense academic it. By forcing teachers to think and act in rial totalitarianism. This is effective for study of American education is instead terms of corporate language, they teach the plutocracy, since totalitarianism in By William Hastings easily readable by anyone. Stylistically, corporate language to students. Students leadership produces docile employees and Editor, Industrial Worker this is Sinclair’s chief triumph. By mak- then become a piece of “raw material” and docile students. Generations of this and no Book Review ing the book accessible without sacrific- the teachers themselves are merely the one questions it at all. While we certainly Educational reform in this country ing any depth of thought, it could, if put obedient “hands” Sinclair warns about. use the word “democracy” with much is a crock of shit. We would know this if into people’s hands, make them outraged Is it any wonder then, that students leave more vigor in our media and schools these more people read Upton Sinclair’s “The enough to enact change. “The Goslings” high school and enter college to study days, we are far from actually teaching Goslings,” his study of public and private is not one of the watered-down teaching marketing? Of all the things to study, to and operating within it inside our school education in America from 1924. But few manuals influenced by spend hundreds of thou- walls. In highlighting this non-educator know that the book exists thanks to how self-help books given to sands of dollars on: mar- run totalitarianism, Sinclair implies, then we teach Sinclair in school. He’s taught as graduate students today. keting?! How to better argues for, in his concluding remarks, that a one-book writer. “The Jungle” forced the It is not “The Daily Dis- advertise for business! if schools were truly democratic they’d be government to enact the Meat Inspection ciplines of Leadership: No surprise then that run by the teachers. And they would be Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act, and How to Improve Student we speak of education better off: that is all it was good for. It is not even Achievement, Staff Mo- without intrinsic value: “In a social system based upon justice a concession to socialism to teach “The tivation and Personal You want to be an Eng- and freedom we have a right to ask for Jungle” like this. It is a blatant smoke Organization” (Douglas lish major? What can harmony; but where the system is based screen to prevent people from discovering B. Reeves, 2007). Cer- you do with that? This upon injustice and servitude, to ask for that Sinclair wrote 92 books in his career. tainly not, when Sinclair is the by-product of an harmony is merely to be a tool of en- Six of these, written in an incredible burst writes that: educational system that trenched wrong. So my advice to teachers of productivity between 1919 and 1927 “It is the thesis of Sinclair details in “The and professors is that they should stand when he wrote 13 books during, make up the business men who Goslings,” one that has up and assert themselves, and let har- his “Dead Hand” series. The “Dead Hand” run our educational never derailed. Or as mony come when educational institutions series is six non-fiction books that looked system that the schools Sinclair puts it: are controlled by educators, and not by at the influence of greed and big business are factories, and the “I think it one more the owners of stocks and bonds and other upon various American institutions. Of children raw material, proof of the deliber- symbols of parasitism.” these six books, “The Brass Check” is the to be turned out thor- ate conspiracy which The totalitarianism of our schools is only one in print. Had “The Goslings” oughly standardized, of the masters of our plu- central to “The Goslings.” Sinclair devotes Graphic: bibliomania.ws stayed in print and circulated widely, the same size and shape, tocratic empire have much time to detailing how the schools educational reform in this country would like biscuits or sausages. To these business hatched, to keep the American people at were used to push republic-centric, pro- have happened a long time ago. Instead, men the teachers are servants, or ‘hands,’ the mental age of eight. The schools are capitalist thought and conformity onto we are now forced to dig up used copies whose duty is the same as in any other now conducted upon the basis of keeping students. At one point, he quotes directly of the book to see that little has changed factory—to obey orders, and mind their the pupils at that age; and of course the from a textbook used in California schools, since it was written in 1924. Beyond that, own business, and be respectful to their safest way to do this is to keep the teach- one prepared by the Better America Foun- reading “The Goslings” now will show that superiors. Whenever by any chance teach- ers at the same age, and likewise the dation. In it they taught students that: we’ve grown accustomed to the “graft, ers dare to have ideas of their own, or principals, and the supervisors—and the “…promiscuity, or free-love, is to favoritism, propaganda and repression” especially to ask for higher wages, these superintendents.” the domestic world what democracy is Sinclair brought to light. teachers are treated precisely as we have Paolo Friere, the Brazilian educator to government...What gluttony is to the “The Goslings” is Sinclair’s study of seen labor unions treated by the Black and critical theorist, said “it is impossible individual, democracy is to government... the systemic corruption of our public and Hand of Southern California.” to think of language without thinking of What drunkenness is to the individual, de- private elementary and high schools by big To be turned out thoroughly stan- ideology and power.” Taking that as true, mocracy is to government...What discord business and other interests. In this, Sin- dardized. Like sausages. What appalls and understanding that all educational is to music, democracy is to government.” clair succeeds admirably, though the book about this paragraph is not only how disciplines are languages, our concern While our textbooks might not be is marked by some flaws. His borderline little has changed, but how accepting of over education is not only warranted, but so ludicrous now, that is not to say that intolerance of Catholicism is frightening this we’ve grown. After all, in order for a just. Who is teaching our children? Who they’re any better. Since reading “The to see from such a broadminded thinker school to receive state funding, it must “be writes the textbooks the state mandates Goslings” shows us that our system has and it undermines some chapters of the in compliance” under the state’s “program that we use? What interests are backing not changed, the Better America Foun- book by derailing the logic of his argu- quality assurance services.” Now, teach- the building of our schools, the education dation’s viewpoint has only been more ments. The book is organized thematically ers are told that education is driven by of our teachers and thus the education of carefully honed and inserted into school over 89 chapters. This works well if the “data-based assessments.” Their schools our children? Why does defense spending textbooks. In 2004, Nauset Regional reader wants to find certain things, but are judged on “adopted performance out- outweigh educational spending? Why are Middle School in Orleans, Mass., used a if read cover to cover, “The Goslings” can comes.” In department and faculty meet- our children asked to pledge allegiance to brand new history textbook that ended be repetitious. Yet, this is also Sinclair’s ings, plans are made for schools to meet the flag every morning, though it is the with a brief section on George W. Bush’s intention. By detailing the nationwide “standards of satisfactory and excellent for rare occasion when they sit down in an “liberation” of Iraq. The textbook spoke spread of graft, repression of thought and data based areas [of instruction].” These English class and dissect that pledge and plainly about the United States “winning speech, the undermining of unions and quotes are from the state of Maryland’s its meaning? the war” there. The question we should gross incompetence of school leadership, school performance reports of 1990. The These questions are pertinent now, be asking ourselves, in light of Sinclair’s he is able to show that his study cannot be language of business and the factory is but reading through “The Goslings” shows book, is what has been finely tuned since cast off as too isolated. what we use to describe education in this Sinclair asking them 87 years ago. When Sinclair exposed it in “The Goslings”? At times, Sinclair’s now-classic hyper- country. How little has changed since “The he exposes how self-serving interests ma- What viewpoints or propaganda is being bole seems outrageous, but this is a stylis- Goslings” of 1924. nipulate textbooks into schools, he was not fed to our students through textbooks, tic tick used for a particular effect. When If “The Goslings” failed to ignite social only showing America what afflicted its curriculum and administration-forced combined with the frantic nature of his change in 1924 upon its publication, and schools then, but he was also warning us lesson planning? writing (“Chief Spy Dotey admitted that he we have adopted the language of corpo- of future repercussions if we did not enact “The Goslings” is certainly a shock had given information against Mr. Lapolla rate America into our schools (“data,” radical change. We did not listen. Take for to read, if only to show that educational to the Lusk committee!”) it gives off the “performance outcomes,” “quality assur- example the recent report that Scholastic reform since 1924 has been a myth. Jona- feeling that Sinclair is so exasperated by ance services”), then the America of “The Books, a leading educational book sup- than Kozol has brilliantly shown that seg- the problems he chronicles, he must yell Goslings” has allowed the sausage makers plier to schools, released a fourth grade regation in our schools is worse now than to be heard. The hyperbole and exaspera- a firmer grip on education. We have grown lesson packet called “The United States of prior to Brown v. the Board of Education. tion help to reduce incredible quantities of so accustomed to the language of business Energy.” The packet discussed the benefits “No Child Left Behind” has increased the of coal usage, though it carefully failed to language of business, corporate control highlight greenhouse gas emissions, labor- and monitoring in our schools instead of Subscribe to the Industrial Worker ers’ conditions, and mountaintop removal. reforming them. In that surge and control Subscribe or renew your Industrial Worker subscription. The American Coal Foundation supplied of our schools, we have not only continued the funding for the book. the problems that Sinclair brought forth in Give a gift that keeps your family or friends thinking. Who is making money off of the stan- “The Goslings,” we have deepened them. dardized tests that drive “No Child Left We have allowed the sausage makers bet- Behind,” “data based assessment,” and ter control. Get 10 issues of working class news and views for: “performance outcomes?” Money is being Though at times uneven, at others • US $18 for individuals. made all down the line here. And all this is fairly tedious, “The Goslings” should be • US $22 for library/institutions. part of what Sinclair deems the four major bought up and passed from parent to • US $30 for international subscriptions. products of our educational system: “G, F, parent, educator to educator, student to Name: ______P and R—Graft, Favoritism, Propaganda student. Perhaps then real educational and Repression.” reform will begin from the bottom up, Address:______As Sinclair shows, this agenda and the with all people discussing what we have City/State/Province:______corporate-industrial language used to de- been ignoring, allowing and encouraging Zip/Postal Code:______scribe both education and students comes for over 87 years. And maybe, just maybe, in many ways from the school boards. we’ll stop teaching Upton Sinclair as a one- Send this subscription form to: Sinclair points out in each city he covers book writer. Instead we’ll draw back to life that the school boards are not only corrupt a powerful critical voice, one as important Industrial Worker Subscriptions, and self serving, but they are stocked with now as it was then. PO Box 180195, Chicago, IL 60618 USA non-educators. In this regard, nothing The Industrial Worker Book Re- Subscribe to the Industrial Worker today! has changed between then and now. Top- view’s column, Industrial Strength, down systems of hierarchical management continues at top of next page. July/August 2011 • Industrial Worker • Page 9 Industrial Strength Wobbly Arts Wanted: Servile, Illiterate Drones Stay Strong, Fellow Workers By Eric Miles Williamson Q: And what did these lawyers study in (to the tune of “Hey There, Delilah” by the Plain White Ts) I have always found it suspicious that law school? (new lyrics by FW Tyler Swain and FW Corey Randone, Nebraska GMB) for my entire adult life, local, state and A: Language. ------federal politicians have emphasized the Q: What were their tools when they prac- VERSE 1 importance of teaching students, from ticed law? Hey there, fellow workers kindergarten through college, above all A: Words, words and words. Marchin’ up in Madison else, in the sciences. In Barack Obama’s Q: What is the highest paying profession We’re a thousand miles away from you most recent State of the Union address, he (not specialty, like baseball player or rock But we see where you’ve been stressed the importance of investing in the star), other than doctor, in the USA? Don’t give up the fight sciences and made no mention whatsoever A: Lawyer. Workers’ rights are human rights of the humanities. And yet these lawyers tell us not to Our guiding light When programs are cut, it’s the hu- study what they studied, not to make ------manities that go to the chopping block: words a priority, but to study the sci- VERSE 2 music programs are eliminated, foreign ences. These lawyers, the most powerful Stay strong, fellow workers language programs are people on the planet, tell You know we’ve got to fix this system zapped, philosophy de- us not to be as successful And if you get downhearted partments are chopped, and powerful as they are. We’ll be right there in an instant literary journals and their They tell us to be sheep in Don’t give up the fight subscriptions are discon- cubicles and in laborato- Yes, victory it is in sight tinued, and the funds for ries, to watch Fox News We’re by your side the National Endowment and believe every word ------for the Arts are cut once we hear. And Americans CHORUS x 2 again. Library funds are do believe what they hear Oh, solidarity reduced while comput- on the news: of course Yeah, it’s something we all need ers are installed in class- Graphic: clipartdb.com they do, since Americans Oh, solidarity rooms. The drama teacher is fired while are not trained in language skills, but in Yeah, it’s something we all need “smart” classrooms—replete with com- how to program a computer, how to do ------puters, internet access and gigantic video income taxes, how to drill a root-canal. BRIDGE screens—are increasingly the norm. Jimmy Carter, the last president to be an The battle seems so far from won The arts, we are told by the politicians, avid supporter of the arts (he published a ‘Cause they got all the tanks and guns are not necessary for the kind of educa- book of poetry), was also the last Ameri- And money that they stole along the way tion our civilization needs. The arts are a can president to study the sciences: he But my friends, this world belongs to us luxury, and those who study the arts are did graduate work in nuclear technology It’s our brains and hands that built it up slothful, self-indulgent burdens on society. and physics. And we’ll make damned sure they regret this day And the general populace agrees with the And so, the next time you hear a politi- Fellow workers, I can promise you politicians: cut education and its lazy and cian say we need to invest in the sciences, That by the time we get through immoral teachers. Tuition keeps going up implying that we do not need to pay at- The world will never ever be the same (or, rather, state and federal funding keeps tention to the humanities and liberal arts, We’ll change this game going down) and the instruction gets no remember what he’s actually telling you ------better: giving a teacher more money does and your children to do: spend the rest VERSE 3 not make the teacher better at his job. of your life on your knees at the mercy of One last shout out to all workers Pennsylvania recently cut higher educa- those who control the language. Struggling all across this country tion by 50 percent, and the population For he who controls the language con- We’re a thousand miles away from you applauded. Texas is balancing its budget trols the people. But we still have your back on the backs of the universities, Oh yes, we do implementing draconian cuts, And we all know Scott Walker* is a fool (*or insert local and the people of Texas don’t politician’s name here) care—they’re fed up with overpaid Just another fascist tool teachers who are immune from the So fellow workers, here’s to you vagaries of the economy. You can And to epic truth bet the sciences will be the last, not ------the first, area to take cuts. CHORUS x 2 Here’s the suspicious part of Oh, solidarity all this, what makes me livid: the Yeah, it’s something we all need people telling the American popu- Oh, solidarity lation that we should invest in the Yeah, it’s something we all need sciences and not the humanities, ------the politicians cutting liberal arts It’s something we all need. are, for the most part, lawyers. Arch-enemy of the humanities VERSES: George W. Bush, though not a G|: |779999| |779999| |779999| 777 :| lawyer, got his undergraduate D|:77777777|779999|77777777|779999|77777777|779999|7777777777777:| degree in history. Obama was a A|:77777777|557777|77777777|557777|77777777|557777|7775557777777:| lawyer, so was Clinton, so was E|:55555555| |55555555| |55555555| |555 5555555:| Gerald Ford and so was Nixon. Most congressmen and senators CHORUS: were lawyers. These former law- G|7777777777777777| 77 |7777777777777777| 779999| yers, U.S. presidents, senators and D|7777777777777777|7777777777|7777777777777777|5555779999| congressmen, constitute the most A|5555555555555555|7777557777|5555555555555555|5555557777| powerful governing body in the E| |5555 5555| |3333 | world. They rule the planet.

The above images are three in a series of postcards called “A Short Treatise on Etiquette by T-Bone Slim,” published by the Charles H. Kerr Company in 1992. They were sent to the Industrial Worker from FW Harry Siitonen. The postcard on the top is T-Bone Slime; on the bottom left is a cartoon by labor artist Mike Konopacki illustrat- ing a T-Bone and Mr. Block skit that originally appeared in the IW on Jan. 10, 1925; and the postcard on the bottom right depicts Wobbly environmentalism, drawn by William Henkelman for the IW on April 9, 1947. Page 10 • Industrial Worker • July/August 2011 July/August 2011 • Industrial Worker • Page 11 Sports National Football League And The War On Labor By Neil Parthun The Basics Management has told their workers The NFL and the that due to budget problems, there must NFLPA have had a be sacrifices. The bosses demand conces- collective bargaining sions in salaries, pensions and benefits. agreement in place Yet, observers are aware that management since the early 1990s. is potentially lying about their financial It was most recently picture and this appears to be a method to negotiated in 2006, attack the existence of the union, the Na- with the owners vot- tional Football League Players Association ing 30-to-2 to approve (NFLPA), and its hard gained protections. the deal. During this Readers may be thinking about the time, team values have events in Wisconsin, Ohio or the more increased, player sala- than 20 states that are currently attacking ries have increased, organized labor. However, this article is TV viewership reached about another labor struggle—the players record levels and the of the National Football League (NFL) league had seen record against their owners. setting success. All of this success came Realities: Owners and Players under the collective While some, like the Miami Dolphins bargaining agreement owner saying so recently, feel that the that is now decried NFL players make millions of dollars and by the owners as they should not be considered workers, the utilized the opt-out Graphic: sportscasm.com reality is that the average career of an clause to remove NFL player is 3.5 years. This makes them themselves from the agreement. The owners felt that they could get $30 million from the veteran salary cap, almost eligible to be vested into the health The NFL and the NFLPA have to these huge concessions from the players reduce your percentage of revenue from care system for just five years. Nate Jack- split $9 billion in revenue. Traditionally, because it was the first negotiations for 50 percent to 32 percent over eight years, son, a tight end who played for the Denver the owners took $1 billion off the top for NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice reduce the number of practices (since we Broncos from 2003 to 2008, laid out the expenses and split the remaining money Smith. New Orleans Saints quarterback don’t make any money off those anyways) realities for most NFL players: with the players. Citing increased costs of Drew Brees explained “Ever since [former in the offseason, and provide you with “[NFL Commissioner] Roger Goodell new stadiums, the owners have demanded executive director] Gene Upshaw passed health insurance which will void if you recently took to the pulpit to debunk that they receive $2 billion off the top for away…the owners saw blood in the water… ever work another job. You’re getting a the popularly held notion that an NFL expenses—an 18 percent revenue cut for They felt like ‘this is our opportunity to great deal here. Really. Trust me. (unre- player’s career lasts 3.5 years. The truth, players—but have not opened or shared take a significant piece of the [financial] strained laughter) Sincerely, Rog.” Roger says, is that if you make an opening financial data with the union or the public pie back at all costs, a piece that we will day roster as a rookie, your career will to justify the need for such concessions. never have to give back again. This is our Decertification last almost six years; if you get drafted At the center of this labor dispute is chance, while they don’t have leadership.’” To fight the institution of a lockout, in the first round, it’s nine years; and if the sheer greed of the owners. Or, as Jerry Richardson—owner of the players decertified their union and had you make a Pro Bowl, your career will the Carolina Panthers and member of the players like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, last nearly 12 years. The Owners’ Greed ownership bargaining team—put it, “We Drew Brees and others sue the NFL on “This PR push by the NFL—a response In multiple cities, owners have de- signed a shitty deal last time and we’re anti-trust violations (that the league was to [NFLPA Executive Director] DeMaurice manded and are demanding new stadi- going to stick together and take back our the only place they could ply their craft Smith’s recent public attempts to shed ums. They want more luxury suites to sell, league and fucking do something about it.” and they were being kept from making a light on what a typical career is like for access to naming rights for the stadium, living). an NFL athlete—is confusing to a former and to be able to justify increased ticket Playing for the Lockout As the aforementioned Drew Magary player like me: confusing, disingenu- prices and personal seat licenses due to a From the beginning, many observers wrote: ous, and ignorant. Confusing because it new stadium—and they want this all (or believed that the NFL owners were play- “...suing the league was essentially implies that the average NFL career, the mostly all) on the taxpayers’ dime. ing for the lockout. This belief was only ALL the players could do, because for average professional football existence, is As more and more cities are fighting further cemented by news of the TV deal years now the owners have been hell- comparable to the anomalous careers of back against the owners and their de- that was reached by the NFL owners and bent on losing games in the 2011 season Pro Bowlers and first-round draft picks. mands for taxpayer-subsidized stadiums major stations to air games. In this $4 specifically to squeeze more money out of Disingenuous because it comes at a time or simply lack the ability to pay given most billion deal, the owners got a clause in the the players, as much as humanly possible. when Goodell purports to care profoundly states’ massive deficits, even under threats contract that would guarantee them pay- Many owners didn’t bother to show up for about the health of his players. Ignorant of having their team taken from them and ments even if there was no football played the initial negotiating sessions in March. because it dismisses the thousands of moved to a new locale, the owners are now in the 2011-2012 season. They want their lockout, and they’re going athletes who sacrifice their minds and demanding concessions from the players The NFLPA believed that the owners to exhaust every shitty, awful option they their bodies for a sport that keeps them to retain their levels of profit. Sportswriter took less money than they could have got- can to make it happen.” hanging by a thread for years, shuffling Drew Magary noted: ten in the deal in order to get a guaranteed The U.S. District court, led by Judge them in and out of training camps and “[NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell] revenue stream in case of a lockout. So, the Susan Nelson, ordered mediation between practice squads and never paying them also says that the league “needs” new players took the owners to court in a case the two sides which has had no substantive full value for their services. stadiums in Minneapolis, San Diego, that is still being litigated. gains. On April 25, Judge Nelson ruled in “The reason the average NFL career Buffalo, and L.A. That’s a bald-faced lie. As of this writing, U.S. District Judge favor of the players and ended the NFL’s length is 3.5 years is because for every The NFL doesn’t NEED new stadiums at David S. Doty ruled in favor of the players. lockout. Just days after, the NFL owners Pro Bowler, there are maybe 10 players all. It won’t become financially unviable He said that the TV deal was indeed lock- appealed in the Eighth Circuit Court of who sign contracts and never play a down just because the Bills are still eating ass out insurance and disallowed any access Appeals and got a temporary stay on Judge for their team. They go through off-sea- in Orchard Park a decade to that money by the owners. Judge Doty Nelson’s order. There was a hearing on son conditioning, mini- from now. It WANTS new also ruled that the players may receive June 3 to see if the lockout will remain camps, training camps, stadiums, and it wants the damages for the owners not getting full permanent. A decision was expected from preseason games, then players to help pay for market value in the TV rights deal. The the Eighth Circuit a few weeks after the get cut the week before them.” players are currently seeking $707 million initial June 3 hearing. The players have the season starts. They The owners have also in compensation. received support from all the major sports are told to stay in shape demanded two more News of disrespectful treatment to- unions and the Sports Fan Coalition to end and be ready. We really regular season games. wards players at a negotiation meeting the lockout. like what you’ve done for Commissioner Goodell ex- surfaced and no real substantive gains us, and if someone gets hurt, tols how the fans want to see an 18 game came from any of the bargaining sessions. The Results we’re definitely going to call you. So be regular season. However, recent polls In the last hours before the owners would The owners, as of this writing, still ready!... When you pay attention to the show that the fans do not want two more begin to institute their lockout, the NFL have their lockout in place. As the players heavy attrition every week in the NFL, regular season games but instead want made an offer to the players, which was and owners remain locked in litigation, the the substance of that 3.5 years starts to lower price pre-season tickets. The de- then rejected. owners have further pushed their demand take shape.” mands for more games are even more In a move that shocked many, Com- for profit by instituting furloughs and pay Their careers are finished by the time pernicious when news about concussions missioner Goodell subsequently emailed cuts on their office staff. Approximately they enter their early 30s, and data has and chronic traumatic encephalopathy the deal to every single NFL player so they one-third of NFL teams have instituted shown that football players die much entered the discussion. More and more could decide for themselves whether or not such policies. earlier than other males. Former player medical research has linked head trauma the union was acting in the players’ inter- It is imperative that we see this labor Dave Meggysey stated that players were that athletes experience to degenerative ests. Players, very quickly and publicly, battle in the wider scope of the war against giving up their right to a middle age by brain diseases. sided with their now decertified union. organized labor in this country. One side playing football. Meanwhile, the owners As Commissioner Goodell institutes Most notable were the comments from supports locking out the workers, demand- of the different franchises sit on their bil- fines for devastating hits and trumpets Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe ing steep concessions without justifying lions of dollars in net worth, demand that how importantly the NFL takes player who mocked Goodell’s form letter: need, putting workers into even more taxpayer money finance construction of safety, they undercut all that lofty rhetoric “Dear Employee #1364 – dangerous working conditions, and pun- new stadiums for their teams and have when they demand that the players take I am sending you this impersonal ishing other employees to further cement shut down an incredibly profitable sport more risks in their short term and long form letter because I care about you as their billions in net worth. There is only simply so they can get even more money term health by playing even more games so a player (snicker). As such, I urge you to one side to be on here and it is on the side by getting concessions from players. the owners can rake in even more profits. accept our last offer, one that would cut of the NFL’s players. Page 12 • Industrial Worker • July/August 2011 Response To The ISC’s Statement On Cuba Dear Fellow Workers of the International Solidarity Commission, We don’t believe that your solidarity statement, “Message to Cuban Comrades: You Are Not Alone,” which appeared on page 12 of the June 2011 Industrial Worker is the position the IWW should take, especially by FWs living in the United States. Some of us have visited Cuba firsthand, visited workplaces, labor organizing schools, attended cultural events and talked with a myriad of people that comprise Cuban society. We have heard complaints and criticisms from these Cubans about the state of their lives and government policies, but are heartened by the fact that the great major- The IWW formed the International Solidarity Commission to help the union build ity believe that the gains of the Revolution outnumber and offset the mistakes of the the worker-to-worker solidarity that can lead to effective action against the bosses Revolution and that they understand intimately and are overwhelmingly committed of the world. To contact the ISC, email [email protected]. to the principle of overcoming factional and individual tendencies that create divi- sion in their society. They are painfully aware of the eagerness of the United States Tearing Down The North-South Divide to punish Cuba for the ideals and accomplishments of the Revolution. By Matt Antosh His answer: Lifting the 49-year U.S. embargo of Cuba could do much more for these “Cuban About three years ago, I was taking “You don’t! For too long, ‘develop- comrades” than writing long rhetorical diatribes from, as you say, “us, male and a class at the Menno Simons Collegiate, ment’ has only meant ‘outside control.’ We female workers….who, in our own countries, resist the neo-liberal, authoritarian a Mennonite college affiliated with the don’t need any more of your development. policies of the capitalists and their gendarmes in Seattle, Washington; Mexico City; University of Winnipeg. The class I was What we need is solidarity. You are there Paris; Caracas, Venezuela; San Francisco, and Buenos Aires.” Resist the embargo! enrolled in was named “Participatory Lo- to be with us, stand behind us and help us Defend these Cuban comrades who, as you say, “represent the liveliest, most cal Development.” It was a pretty amazing when we ask for it. Solidarity is treating splendid bequest of the Cuban revolution, which refuses to perish despite the canker class, both in the knowledge from lectures each other as brothers and sisters, which of bureaucracy…..decent folk who have risked their lives in service to others.” But don’t and the sense of empowerment that the we learn from each other as we work do it by sanctimoniously belittling the difficult decisions that the Cuban state has to professor installed in us. The goal of the together.” make to maintain its independence from the vice of global capitalism. Do it in the course was to help students learn about I remember leaving that class and im- spirit of people like Brian Wilson, who risked his life and lost his legs when he sat in ways people throughout history have tried mediately telling my wife that my entire front of train to block it from leaving Concord, Calif., with a railcar full of munitions to address issues like hunger and poverty academic career was dead. My entire headed to arm the Contras, who were used as a proxy army against the Sandinistas and then to try their hand at creating conceptualization of “development” was of Nicaragua. Do it in the spirit of Key Martin, who was in the thick of the “Battle in changes on a local level. destroyed, and I could no longer go on Seattle” and documented on film the face of the repressive state here—someone who For one thing, the majority of assign- with the sham that was “international gave up his life in the struggle when he died less than two years later from complica- ments were based on creating images and development.” tions caused by inhaling the tear gas. These people risked their lives here to stop the handicrafts rather than simply writing Looking back on it now, as a graduate U.S. government’s neo-liberal policies that wreak havoc on people around the world papers. For their final exam, students put of Menno Simons with a three-year Bach- by starving them into submission and/or holding a gun to their heads. on a play about hunger called “Unequal elor of Arts in International Development You say, “We know our enemies are on alert.” But we say to you in the ISC, please Harvest.” The play was performed in front Studies, I can see that, while the edifice of get this straight: Cuba is not our enemy! It is a friend and ally to the working class of a sold-out audience of 120 on Dec. 14, “development” and North-South transfer the world over. And like it or not, the Communist Party of Cuba had a critical role in 2008, at the Prairie Theater Exchange. was torn down, it was replaced with a developing policies that established Cuba’s independence from global capitalism and One of the most memorable days was monument to Global Solidarity. Through thus the ability to aid and assist the working class. when two Haitian speakers came to talk this person-to-person solidarity, we can The Communist Party of Cuba’s VI Congress is a very pivotal and controversial about the history of local and rural devel- build movements in support, from Haiti event. We encourage all FWs and the ISC to study the proceedings and comment on opment in Haiti, and the role that the West to Palestine to Madison and Cairo. their endorsements and reforms. But remember that the Cubans have been engaged played. Through a translator, they spoke The International Soldarity Commis- in making input and studying these reforms for the past year and it is the right of about how the international rice market sion plays an important role for Wobblies self-determination for the Cubans, by themselves, to make the decisions about how has destroyed the ability of rural farmers in organizing this solidarity. It is the they proceed in Cuba. We welcome detailed analysis of certain provisions that are to compete, the role of religion in imperi- strength of this solidarity, the ability of controversial. Let’s discuss them. What are the specific reductions in the presence of alism (“we were told the devil was black Wobblies to get behind people in struggles, intellectuals and workers and the increase in technocrats? And if they are deemed like us”) and the slow and painful, yet re- that empowers us and keeps us true to our necessary, how is it explained? Please share some of the works and activities of the warding steps out of the darkness. What I creed of “an injury to one is an injury to “prestigious Cultural Theory Center,” poets and community activists. remember most, though, was the question all.” We love having more people active as Yes, we are aware that the Party has recommended reducing the size of the gov- I asked and the answer I received. ISC liaisons or just as members sitting in ernment, or as you prefer to call it, “the Nanny State.” They acknowledge that that I raised my hand and asked, “From and participating in our conference calls government payroll has become a canker. Cuba is learning from its mistakes. At some your perspective, how do we, from the and email list. We need you to build global point we hope the State does wither away. However, we note that while Cubans are Global North, do development work in the solidarity! To get involved, contact the ISC weaned from unproductive or unnecessary government jobs, the government plans Global South?” at [email protected]. on ensuring that the social safety net is funded and new economic models for work are developed. And these new economic models for work are being developed with care not to bring back capitalism. Bullying At Catering Giant Makes Workers Sick How should a workers’ state look and how do we get from here to there? Let’s By Harald Stubbe and day in fear of new humiliations and abuse. ask those questions of ourselves, and acknowledge the difficulty of the task, as we Monika Vykoukal Eurest in Germany employs 8,400 show solidarity with workers in Cuba who are also engaged with those questions and The IWW in Germany is fighting a people at about 700 locations. The Com- the struggle to live in the acute economic, social, and environmental crisis of global real giant: Eurest, the largest canteen pass Group PLC, listed on the London capitalism. and catering company in Europe and a Stock Exchange amongst the Top 100, has We agree with your sentiments that revolutions tend to develop bureaucratic part of the interna- an estimated 388,000 “cankers,” and so the revolution must continue from below until it is no longer neces- tionally exploitative employees around the sary. However, this must be done without throwing the baby out with the bath water. Compass Group. As globe. The IWW has Despite any liberal positions the Obama administration may seemingly take to- Eurest squeeze their an Industrial Union wards Cuba, the island is still suffering from years of a crippling embargo. It is very workers relentlessly, (I.U.) 460 shop group hard for any country to continue to maintain public services and create jobs for its workers tell us again at a Eurest-run Com- people when under such pressure. It is remarkable that Cuban socialism has survived and again how they merzbank canteen in as long as it has while constantly under attack from the North. Perhaps that alone are put under pres- Frankfurt. says something about where the Cuban people’s political desires really are. Of course, sure and bullied by Eurest depends on we do not rule out the fact that there are many factors in play with regards to that. their supervisors. their customers’ belief The thing is, we live in a world where the imperialist U.S. government is seemingly A colleague at that they are getting unchecked in the arena of global politics. If you think the United States cannot, or Graphic: wobblies.de the Ford canteen in their food from a truly would not, make the time and pull together the resources to pound the Cuban workers Cologne eventually slashed her wrists. socially responsible company. This is not into dust with bombs and bring the island under the dominance of U.S. capital once Workers in the canteen of Deutsche a single case, but part of Eurest’s daily more, then think again. The U.S. government and its NATO partners can basically Bank in Frankfurt let us know that those menu! If you have a canteen near you do whatever they wish, and the suffering endured by the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, who took sick leave were forced to clean which is run by Eurest, take a closer look. Pakistan and Libya is proof. The U.S. government is also trying to regain control of the kitchen as punishment when they Talk to the workers. Make their mess countries such as Egypt, which had revolutions earlier this year. The United States returned to work. Now our colleague public! can, and will, try to hijack any movement in Cuba. If it is successful, not only will the Ida Lipeck, a fellow worker who worked Tell catering giant Eurest that their people of Cuba suffer, but the toil of the Cuban people will, from then on, contribute at the canteen of the Stadtwerke (i.e., bullying and abuse of workers makes to a global capitalist machine that sows misery for workers everywhere. council services) Frankfurt, has resigned you feel sick too! To support the struggle We, as people living in the heart of imperialism, must be careful when criticizing following her doctor’s advice. The man- for decent working conditions at Eurest, regimes targeted by “our” governments. Even if we criticize from the left, we risk play- ager’s harassment was making her ill. please send messages of protest to Eurest- ing into the war fever that the government constantly pushes. We risk sowing apathy In her resignation she writes how the Germany at info.eurest@compass-group. among our ranks and among our anti-war and anti-imperialist friends in the United manager seems to think they are slaves de, or directly to the director at juergen. States. “What good is opposing a war when that country was bad to begin with?” our and that she goes to work every single [email protected]. friends might say when it comes time to oppose yet another one of the bosses’ wars. We continue to support the good work the ISC does, and we are not calling for apathy towards this group in Cuba. All we are saying is that we must be mindful of Support international solidarity! our privileged positions as people in the belly of the American beast, and we must be Assessments for $3 mindful of the global context. If you wish to help these FWs in Cuba, great, just keep and $6 are available the anti-Cuba rhetoric low-key. from your delegate or Sincerely, IWW headquarters PO Nicholas DeFilippis, Richmond GMB Liaison to the ISC, X372040; David Boothe, Box 180195, Chicago, Richmond GMB Treasurer, X363703; Brennan Chambre, Socialist Party CVA Trea- IL 60618, USA. surer, X371534; Peggy Sterling, Richmond GMB Communications Officer, X374244; Forrest Cook, former Socialist Party CVA Chairman