100th anniversary of the Wobblies
This year is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), otherwise known as the Wobblies, in the United States.
The IWW was founded in Chicago in 1905 at a convention of 200 socialists, anarchists and radical trade unionists from all over the US, who were opposed to the policies of the mainstream American Federation of Labour (AFL).
The first IWW leaders included Bill Haywood, Daniel De Leon, Eugene Debs, Mary Harris Jones (commonly known as “Mother Jones”), Vincent Saint John and many others.
The IWW was differentiated by its promotion of industrial unionism, the acceptance of all skilled and unskilled workers and of immigrant workers.
They also emphasised rank-and-file organisation as opposed to all-powerful leaders who would bargain with employers on behalf of workers.
They were one of the few unions to welcome women and black workers.
Although the IWW has been in decline for decades, it still exists.
Last year, an IWW union was organised in a New York City Starbucks, a company notorious for its refusal to allow workers to form unions.
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IWW
I think the IWW is the way forward for building a strong international workers movement.