Hi Dee Ho my loyal readers…..today is Labor Day when the country celebrates our workers and the jobs they do……
Back in the 80’s and 90’s I was an organizer for the IWW……so today I thought I would give my readers a look into this union and its activities for the last 100 years……
The role of Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.) in the history of the United States of America.
The Industrial Workers of the World was established in Chicago, in 1905, by members of the socialist-led Western Federation of Miners and other groups opposed to what they saw as “class collaboration” by the American Federation of Labor (A.F.L.).
The driving force behind the I.W.W. was William D. Haywood, the leader of the Western Federation of Miners, which had established a reputation for work stoppages in Colorado mines. Joining Haywood at the launch of the I.W.W., which he described as the “first continental congress of the working class,” were Eugene V. Debs of the Socialist Party and Daniel De Leon of the Socialist Labor Party. Also present were Mother Jones, the “angel of the miners,” and Lucy Parsons, whose husband had been executed in the Haymarket affair.
Source: Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.)
Most Americans have NO idea about the IWW and the important part they played in American Labor……
This may not be my only post today….for I want to spend some time with family…..doing the BBQ thing and a few beers…..but Labor Day is an important day and an important part of our history.
I hope everyone has a wonderful day…..I will be back tomorrow.
In Saner Thought 
Reference: “. . .Most Americans have NO idea about the IWW and the important part they played in American Labor……” – – – – It looks to me like most Americans have no idea of the important part American Labor has played in their lives owing to the way they seem to have allowed the established controlling elite to decimate it so badly since the 1940s.
Yeah let’s blame all economic ills on unions…typical response. Few want to know what unions have done only what they have done lately….sorry this was a little history and that is not welcome…I understand.
I will agree that the American worker chose the wrong direction back in the early days…they went with the AFL-CIO…they were about so-called economic power instead of political power….they screwed themselves.
I liked the money and the benefits I enjoyed during my years with the UAW even though I feel they screwed me in the end.
Most members feel that way…..like I said they would have been better today if they had chosen a different path than the one laid out by Gomper (sp?)
The Marxist mantras “All power to the workers” and “Workers of the world unite” and “dictatorship of the proletariat” sound very appealing to me these days. Unions are the only advocate the working class has.
Sadly true…..the DC bunch cares little except for an endorsement now and then……
Have a great Labor Day….chuq
I suppose I’ll be in the tradition – cutting hedges and trimming trees. Do I pay myself ?
The fun things in life you do without pay…where’s the fun in that…LOL