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(1996) “Black bus workers fight ‘plantation’ conditions” by Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin
An article by Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin about discrimination in the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority. Originally appeared in the Industrial Worker #1589 (March 1996) Ralph Williams is a city bus driver for the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) in Chattanooga, Tenn. He has worked for the bus company for almost ten years, and in… Continue reading
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(2005) “AFL-CIO splits: business unionism in crisis” by Jon Bekken
An article by Jon Bekken about the 2005 split in the AFL-CIO that eventually became the Change to Win (CtW) Federation. Originally appeared in the Industrial Worker (September 2005). The AFL-CIO suffered a devastating split as it celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding July 25-28, with three unions representing nearly a third of its… Continue reading
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(2013) “Re-remembering the Mexican IWW” by J Pierce
An article by J Pierce on the history of the Mexican IWW. Originally appeared in the Industrial Worker (November 2013). The history we tell ourselves about the Mexican IWW is quite brief. Two events are most often repeated that carry the IWW banner: the Insurrectos that invaded Baja, Calif., and proclaimed the Tijuana Commune in… Continue reading
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(2014) “A Reader’s Response To “Nonviolent Direct Action And The Early IWW” by Lowell May (x333295)
An article by Lowell May claiming that the early IWW’s views on violence weren’t as straightforward as ‘for’ or ‘against’. Originally appeared in the Industrial Worker (March 2014). If Stephen Thornton’s article on nonviolence in the early IWW (“Nonviolent Direct Action And The Early IWW,” December 2013 Industrial Worker, page 11) was meant as an… Continue reading
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(2007) Workers Power column #6: “Goals. Strategy. Tactics” by J. Pierce
A piece by J. Pierce advocating a way of thinking about union organizing. Originally appeared in the Industrial Worker (October 2007) First, we dream up our goals. Our ultimate goals are visionary and they inspire us. Our intermediate goals are the stepping stones that create the conditions for us to achieve our vision. Then there… Continue reading
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(2013) “Nonviolent Direct Action And The Early IWW” by Stephen R. Thornton
An article by Stephen R. Thornton about what he sees as the nonviolent tradition of the early Industrial Workers of the World. Originally appeared in the Industrial Worker (December 2013). Wobbly organizer Matilda Rabinowitz took the stage to address hundreds of striking mill workers and the townspeople who came to gawk: “I apologize to the… Continue reading
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(2007) Workers Power column #5: “Who Can Say?” by Colin Bossen
A short piece by Colin Bossen about how he encouraged someone to continue workplace organizing, despite hitting setbacks. Originally appeared in the Industrial Worker (September 2007). Recently I received a call from Seth, someone I have been advising on how to organize a union for his workplace. Seth has been diligently slogging away for months,… Continue reading
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(2007) Workers Power column #4: “Solidarity unions must be more than paper tigers” by Todd Hamilton
An article by Todd Hamilton that elaborates on the IWW’s conception of ‘solidarity unionism’. Originally appeared in the Industrial Worker (August 2007) Simply put solidarity unionism is organizing collectively (or as a group of workers) to directly implement our desires whether that’s in the workplace, industry, or economy. It is simple, but the practice has… Continue reading
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(1998) “A Wobbly Martyr’s Grave” by Bob Helms
An article by Bob Helms about finding the former home and grave of Martynas Petkus, a IWW member who was shot and killed by police during a strike in 1917. Originally appeared in Industrial Worker #1617 (November 1998) I am pleased to announce that the grave and the home of fellow worker Martin Petkus (Marciionas… Continue reading
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(2007) Workers Power column #3: “Confidence and Solidarity” by Nate Hawthorne
A follow-up by Nate Hawthorne to ‘What kind of solidarity forever?‘ which claims that activism wins out over workplace organizing due to lack of confidence. Originally appeared in the Industrial Worker (July 2007) In my last Workers Power submission in June I talked about what I called solidarity unionism and solidarity activism. Solidarity activism is… Continue reading
About
Wobbly History is an unofficial blog focused on reposting or transcribing original writing by members of the Industrial Workers of the World from 1905-2015.
Recent Posts
- (1933) “Revolutionary Spain: unionists vs politicians” by Vizzittelly
- (2014) “The best brick you’ll ever read: why Wobblies should read Capital” by Lou Rinaldi
- (2013) “Reports, discussion abound at the 2013 IWW General Convention” by Mathieu Dube
- Tin Jesus and the Two Detectives by K. King
- (1981) “Rebel wedding” by Susan Fabrick
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