quote:

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.

Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world organize as a class, take possession of the means of production, abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the Earth.

We find that the centering of the management of industries into fewer and fewer hands makes the trade unions unable to cope with the ever growing power of the employing class. The trade unions foster a state of affairs which allows one set of workers to be pitted against another set of workers in the same industry, thereby helping defeat one another in wage wars. Moreover, the trade unions aid the employing class to mislead the workers into the belief that the working class have interests in common with their employers.

These conditions can be changed and the interest of the working class upheld only by an organization formed in such a way that all its members in any one industry, or in all industries if necessary, cease work whenever a strike or lockout is on in any department thereof, thus making an injury to one an injury to all.

Instead of the conservative motto, "A fair day's wage for a fair day's work," we must inscribe on our banner the revolutionary watchword, "Abolition of the wage system."

It is the historic mission of the working class to do away with capitalism. The army of production must be organized, not only for everyday struggle with capitalists, but also to carry on production when capitalism shall have been overthrown. By organizing industrially we are forming the structure of the new society within the shell of the old.

quote:

Establishing yourself as an organizer in a new workplace and becoming a social leader

Upon getting hired at a new job, it’s tempting to jump right into agitating and educating co-workers. This approach is problematic for several reasons. Experience has shown that workers who do not first build relationships and establish themselves as social leaders within the shop are apt to be quickly labeled as an arrogant and disgruntled employee by management and gain a reputation among co-workers as a “complainer” and/or just another naive “crazy radical.”

Depending on the workplace it’s generally a good rule of thumb to allow yourself a few months to get acquainted with the social landscape at your new job. During this time, organizing consists of getting to know as many names and faces as possible, social mapping, building positive relationships with everybody - including management and co-workers that you may find personally repulsive and lacking in class-consciousness. While organizing under the radar, having enemies only makes things harder, whether those enemies are worthy of ire or not.

Becoming a social leader requires putting yourself out there, going out of your way to introduce yourself to people and making it a point to say hello to folks both inside and out of your immediate work group. The first few weeks give you a unique opportunity to get acquainted with nearly every worker that passes you by. In many workplaces, departments and jobs are segregated in numerous ways. Intentionally pursuing relationships that force you to move beyond your comfort zone requires seeking out co-workers outside your immediate work group. Doing so will introduce you to a wider, more diverse social milieu, and give you a more informed understanding of the composition of your workplace. This puts you at a tremendous advantage to become a social leader and teaches you a lot about what the organizing committee should look like in order to build substantial workers’ power in your shop or campaign. At the same time, keeping all this information locked up in your head is nearly impossible. The taking of daily notes on the interactions you have with co-workers will prove indispensable when you want pass on that information to another Wobbly or simply organize your own thoughts into a clearer social map. Check with fellow organizers as to how they keep their notes in order so that you can devise a system that best fits your own situation.

Building a reputation as a worker who carries their load, helps others, covers shifts, arrives on time and doesn’t call out sick frequently is another critical element of becoming a social leader. It’s a cliché, but the best workers usually make the best organizers. Working hard and doing a ‘good job’ may increase the rate at which you’re exploited, but it also makes the labor process easier for other workers, and they will take notice. Being known as someone whom everyone likes and respects is invaluable in establishing credibility, which is a vital prerequisite for assuming social leadership in the workplace.

Dreddout posted:

Is this the new PSL thread?

Captain Billy Pissboy posted:

anyone here with the houston chapter? ive tried contacting them before but never got a response

forkboy84 posted:

They also had a great deal recently in the UK around bike couriers getting better conditions which was awesome.

420 Gank Mid posted:

I've known what it stands for since high school but everytime I see "IWW" i instantly auto-complete it as "International Workers of the World" in my head

StashAugustine posted:

So Idk if this is the best place to post this but I might as well go ahead: I'm a college student who's been working part time in a fast food store for like 5 years now (had some trouble but seem to be on my feet now). The franchise is a complete clusterfuck and I know a lot of people are getting burned out. There's a general sense that Something Has To Happen but idk what to do or how to do it or even if its not just best to let it die on its own. I can more if you want but if I could just get recommendations for other stuff that'd be fine too

StashAugustine posted:

So Idk if this is the best place to post this but I might as well go ahead: I'm a college student who's been working part time in a fast food store for like 5 years now (had some trouble but seem to be on my feet now). The franchise is a complete clusterfuck and I know a lot of people are getting burned out. There's a general sense that Something Has To Happen but idk what to do or how to do it or even if its not just best to let it die on its own. I can more if you want but if I could just get recommendations for other stuff that'd be fine too

StashAugustine posted:

Yeah I don't think full-on organization is in the cards, it's a Subway

Kobayashi posted:

So if I’m a dirty computer toucher who is basically being asked to transition into a management position at work, am I to take the OP as saying that I should reject such a change because the IWW would consider me to be as bad as a cop? If so, that’s awesome.

Willie Tomg posted:

unless everyone--and I mean EVERYONE, because ONE cucked scab straying from the complaint under oath totally fucks your case--wants to rumble for 1-2 years about minimum wage or OT manipulation, or be first through the door on a service workers' local, you're hosed. Bail. Nothing whatsoever will change until those dudes or dudettes falling on the Double Grenades walk on short notice. I have seen this play out before. It's never good and OPTIMISTICALLY its a 50/50 shot whether the franchise owner gets their poo poo together, or crawls into whatever their substance vice is and declares bankruptcy and cuts bait and your first warning is coming into work to find the doors locked and a drunkenly misseplled typed note on the door thanking you for your support.

Goast posted:

Kobayashi posted:

So if I’m a dirty computer toucher who is basically being asked to transition into a management position at work, am I to take the OP as saying that I should reject such a change because the IWW would consider me to be as bad as a cop? If so, that’s awesome.

Ace of Baes posted:

won't someone think of the poor bosses

Goast posted:

poo poo, some of my managers when I was working at a chain of small convenience stores never had any hiring/firing power and were just considered by everyone to be a normal employee with a set of store keys and the privilege of being the dedicated raging suburbanite punching bag.

They also got paid 30k/y salary and if they worked less than 60 hours a week for it they were deemed lazy and replaced as soon as possible.

got any sevens posted:

plus the sweaty fat smell of all those nerds in an office is revolting

Goast posted: