OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER oF THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD INDUSTRIALApril 2015 #1773 Vol. 112 No. 3 $2/ £2/ €2 WORKER Eclipse The Past. We Need To Work Revolution In Our Is The Work ‘Ethic’ Usurp The Future Towards Pleasure And Daily Lives Really Ethical? 3 Joy 4 8 9 Work: What Is It Good For? By x675309 go on without you; it doesn’t need you any they don’t have to prove that it’s the best What exactly is work? We could define more than it needs any of the hundreds of system if everyone thinks it’s the only one it as activity for the sake of making money. millions already unemployed, and there’s possible. Is this really how life has always But aren’t slave labor and unpaid no point going hungry for nothing. You been? Now, however, even the future of internships work, too? We could say it’s can join a co-op or commune, but you’ll the economy is uncertain. activity that accumulates profit for some- still face the same market pressures. You one, whether or not it benefits the one can canvas and lobby and protest on behalf Forget about the Economy—What who carries it out. But does that mean of sweatshop workers, but even if you suc- about Us? that as soon as you start making money ceed in getting reforms passed, they—like When the economy crashes, politicians from an activity, it becomes work even you—will still have to work, whether in and pundits bewail the consequences for if it was play before? Perhaps we could maquiladoras or NGO offices. You can go average working families. They demand define work as labor that takes more from out at night in a black mask and smash emergency measures—such as giving bil- us than it gives back, or that is governed all the windows of the shopping district, lions of dollars of taxpayer money to the by external forces. Or perhaps we can only but the next day you’ll have to do your banks that caused the crisis by ripping understand what work is by stepping back shopping somewhere. You could make a off “average working families” in the first to look at the context in which it takes million dollars and still be stuck with your place. What’s going on here? We’re told place. In a world of “diversity,” one com- nose at the grindstone trying to keep your that our lives depend on the economy, that mon thread connects us: we’re all subject lead on everyone else. Even when work- it’s worth any sacrifice to keep it running. to the economy. Christian or Muslim, ers overthrew governments to establish But for most of us, keeping it running is communist or conservative, in São Paulo communist utopias, they ended up back always a sacrifice. or St. Paul, you probably have to spend at work—if they were lucky. All this makes When the economy crashes, mining the better part of your life trading time it easy to feel that work is inevitable, that companies stop blowing up mountains. for money, or make someone else do it for there’s no other way our lives could be Developers stop cutting down forests to you, or suffer the consequences. What else structured. That’s convenient for the ones build new offices and condominiums. can you do? If you refuse, the economy will who profit most from this arrangement: Continued on 7 Syndicalist Union Protests Migrant Worker Exploitation In Berlin Romanian construction workers 2015, Romanian workers—unionized in Berlin fight, with support of with the FAU since November 2014—are the FAU, for their wages—unpaid fighting for unpaid wages totaling in by “Mall of Berlin” contractors. 60,000 euros ($67,000). The bosses pretend to be innocent, From July until mid-October 2014, while masking their business and the comrades worked in the center of personal relations. Germany’s capital to construct the “Mall of Berlin.” For constructing this shopping By André Eisenstein and apartment complex, which opened Evidently, a construction site is noth- solemnly (despite unfinished construc- ing for wet blankets. But besides the hard tion sites and defects in fire safety) at physical work, exploitation and inhuman Potsdamer Platz in autumn 2014, hun- treatment of migrant workers from the dreds of workers from Romania slaved European Union (EU) seems to be the away for 10 hours a day and received only current practice on many German con- 6 euros per hour (or approximately $6). struction sites. What is new now is that Due to problems with the pay and a lack cheated workers are fighting back! In the of promised accommodation, workers autumn of 2014, Polish colleagues found staged protests and crossed their arms. support from the Freie Arbeiterinnen- Finally, in hope for betterment, the work- und Arbeiter-Union (FAU) Freiburg. By ers switched from one subcontractor the end of the year and continuing into Continued on 7 Members of the FAU protest the “Mall of Shame” on Nov. 26, 2014. Photo: FAU Berlin How I Spent My Permanent Vacation Industrial Worker By FW xVeganX sunny day away from me at seven dollars Periodicals Postage an hour. If I suddenly have a new inspira- PO Box 180195 PAID More than what I eat, whether tion or idea, I can pursue it spontaneously Chicago, IL 60618, USA Chicago, IL or not I use drugs, and what bands without having to worry about how it will and additional I go to see, the bottom line for me reflect on my future employment. I’m free mailing offices ISSN 0019-8870 as a member of the hardcore com- to suddenly go on tour with my favorite ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED munity and the counterculture in band, to accidentally run into an old friend general is this: stay unemployed. and spend the day catching up on lost time, Do whatever it takes, but keep my or to stay home all day and write the first time and my labor to myself. I’m chapter of a novel if I am moved to. So my proud to say that it’s been over life contains a great deal more diversity three years now since I worked at and spontaneous opportunity than it would any job for someone else. Here’s otherwise. And because I don’t have to do why—and how. the same thing over and over every day, all day (for example, sell real estate, wait WHY tables, or program computers), I can do First of all, and most importantly, enough different things to keep everything there just isn’t any other feeling that can fresh and exciting. compare with the sensation of complete And of course I do things! I don’t just freedom and self-determination. I wake hang out or sit around—I have all the en- up in the morning, when I want to, and ergy that would otherwise be drained from make plans to do things that day—to do me at work free to use on all the projects I what I want to. Nobody can buy a beautiful Continued on 11 Page 2 • Industrial Worker • April 2015 Remembering Fellow Worker Penny Pixler IWW Literature Committee’s I’d like to add to Patrick Murfin’s smart.” impressive obituary of Penny Pixler (see Penny was a voracious reader. When Working Writers’ Contest “Portrait Of Penny Pixler, Feminist And she made the decision to move to Colo- Fellow Workers! Wobbly,” March 2015 Industrial Worker, rado, several of us helped her pack thou- You can now page 6). sands of her books. The topics included give recognition to As reticent as she was, Penny would international politics, history, women’s the story, essay, car- Letters Welcome! have been embarrassed by all the acco- studies, world religions, poetry, and Irish toon, or song that Send your letters to: [email protected] with lades in this obituary. She wouldn’t have literature. I asked her, “Have you read all has inspired you “Letter” in the subject. appreciated it being posted on social media of these books?” She replied, “All of them. this year! either. And some of them twice.” The IWW Lit- Mailing Address: A few notes: Penny struggled in I think of her whenever I look at my erature Committee Industrial Worker, P.O. Box 180195, school as a child. When her hearing loss, (much smaller) collection of books. If is seeking nomina- Graphic: iww.org Chicago, IL 60618, United States. unknown to anyone, was discovered and there is a heaven I hope it has a good tions for the first annual Working Writ- corrected, she became an excellent student library. Penny wouldn’t want to be there ers’ Contest. Submissions can be in the May Day! May Day! and went on to earn three college degrees. otherwise. following categories: workplace writing, contemporary labor or economic analysis, The deadline for announcements for the I think it was her way of saying, “I AM Karen Nolan agitational cartoons, or songs. annual “May Day” Industrial Worker is We are especially excited to recog- April 3, 2015. Celebrate the real labor You’re Invited To The IWW Regional nize writing published in the Industrial day with a message of solidarity! Send Worker or Solidaridad between May 2014 announcements to [email protected]. Much Organizing Assembly In Baltimore! and April 2015, even if it was written by a appreciated donations for the following When: April 18 - April 19 (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) non-member.