Healthy debate is the lifeblood of progress, in unions too. Here, we have a spirited rejoinder to the last piece we published, by Don White: “Solidarity Unionism: What it is and what it isn’t.” MK Lees argues that, in practice, contracts and solidarity unionism are totally opposed.
Don White clears up a common misconception: solidarity unionism is not just direct action. There is quite a bit of confusion around the definition of solidarity unionism. When I speak to people, long-time IWW members included, there seems to be the assumption that solidarity unionism
One of the features we will run on Organizing Work will be stories of campaigns, from the perspective of the workers and organizers involved. These stories will give a sketch of the workplace, how the campaign started and unfolded, and what its successes and challenges
This piece was originally written five years ago, in response to some activity in the IWW, but never published. I learned about it a few weeks ago and was shocked by its contemporary relevance. It talks about an apparently common impulse to take the IWW
A checklist of things a workplace committee should have in place before petitioning for an election with the National Labor Relations Board. The IWW has a good track record when it comes to winning workplace elections. But what does it take to get from a
This will be the first in our series “Reconsidering the strike.” Strikes are probably the most idolized of all the tactics workers use in their struggles, and the one people most equate with worker power. This series will dig into real stories of strikes to
Groups working for social change — including unions — fund that activity in different ways. G DeJunz argues that dues are the only democratic form of funding, and the only one that allows members of the organization to retain control of their activity and mission.