Founding and Philosophy of the Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), colloquially known as the "Wobblies," is an international labor union that was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1905. The establishment of the IWW marked a significant moment in the history of the labor movement due to its unique combination of general unionism and industrial unionism. Its founding convention was a convergence of revolutionary ideas, spearheaded by prominent figures in the socialist, syndicalist, and anarchist labor movements.
Founding of the IWW
The IWW was formed by a coalition of militant workers and unionists who were dissatisfied with the prevailing American Federation of Labor, which they perceived as being too conservative and exclusionary. The founding convention brought together influential leaders like Eugene V. Debs, Bill Haywood, and Mother Jones, who were pivotal in articulating the vision of a unified working class. This gathering led to the establishment of a union that aimed to unite all workers, irrespective of their trade, into a single and powerful entity.
Revolutionary Industrial Unionism
The philosophy of the IWW is encapsulated in the concept of "revolutionary industrial unionism." This ideology underscores the belief that all workers should organize as a single class to challenge the entrenched power of the employing class. The IWW's foundational document, the Preamble to the IWW Constitution, declares:
"The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of the working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life."
This philosophy reflects a broader class struggle narrative, which posits that meaningful change can only occur when workers themselves seize control of the means of production, thus abolishing the wage system and living in harmony with the Earth.
Opposition to War
The IWW has historically maintained a strong anti-war stance, which was emphatically articulated during the World War I era. At its 1916 convention, the organization passed a resolution against U.S. participation in the war, framing it as a conflict where the interests of the ruling class were prioritized over the lives of working people. The Wobblies argued that wars are capitalist ventures where the wealthy profit, while workers perish fighting battles that serve only to enrich others.
The IWW's anti-war rhetoric was illustrated in its publications, such as the Industrial Worker, which decried the war as a tool of capitalist exploitation.