It does not take long to figure out that workers and their employers
do not have the same interests. Workers want shorter hours, higher pay,
and better benefits. We want our work to be less boring, less dangerous,
and less destructive to the environment. We want more control over how we
produce goods and provide services. We want meaningful work that
contributes to our communities and world. Our employers, in contrast, want
us to work longer, harder, faster, and cheaper. They want fewer safety and
environmental regulations and they demand absolute control over all
decisions, work schedules, speech, and actions in the workplace.
PRACTICAL BENEFITS OF A UNION
The easiest way to stand up for each other in our workplaces and
communities and the easiest way to improve our working conditions is to
join a union. That is why employers fight so hard, and spend so much
money, to keep unions out of their workplaces. Workers with unions
generally have higher pay and job security, better benefits, and fewer
scheduling problems. More pay equals fewer hours at work and more hours
for enjoying the good things in life. Union workplaces are safer and have
less harassment, discrimination, and favoritism. This is because a union
gives workers the power to make workplace decisions. The less we let our
employers make all of the decisions, the better our lives and communities
will be. Unions also provide mutual aid and community. This means
assistance with problems at work, but it could also mean help with a
community project or fighting a landlord.
WHY EVERY WORKER SHOULD BE IN THE ONE BIG UNION
Whether your job sucks or is "pretty good" (at least today), we in the
IWW believe you should join us for the following reasons. We need to start
sticking up for our coworkers in our workplaces and in our industries. Ask
around on your next shift. How many coworkers have two or three jobs? How
many are one paycheck away from an eviction? We have a duty to our
co-workers, and those who will follow in our footsteps, to make things
better. The only way to do this is to organize together. When we band
together around our common experiences and interests, we can improve our
jobs and industries. Our labor, not our bosses, is what makes our
workplaces tick and we can use our labor power to improve our jobs and our
communities. In a lot of ways, that is what unions are all about.
As an IWW member, you get:
1) volunteer organizers if you choose to organize your workplace and industry.
2) union organizing expertise in areas of strategy, media, community support,
infrastructure building, and bargaining.
3) commitment to democratic unionism, which means members control their own
organizing campaigns and the direction of the union.
4) an international organization dedicated to working together to build worker
power on our jobs and in our communities.
5) mutual aid and support.
6) some practical things: a subscription to the Industrial Worker (union newspaper),
the IWW internal newsletter, the union's constitution, the Santa Barbara GMB newsletter,
and a member button.
ABOUT THE IWW
Founded in Chicago in 1905, the IWW is open to all workers. Don't let
the "industrial" part fool you. Our members include teachers, social
workers, retail workers, construction workers, bartenders, and computer
programmers. Only bosses are not allowed to join. You have a legal right
to join a union and your membership is confidential. It is up to you
whether you discuss the union with your co-workers. If you are currently
unemployed, you can still join. We are a volunteer-driven union, and this
means we, not union bosses, run the union. The IWW is not controlled by or
affiliated with any political party or political movement. No money goes
to politicians. Membership dues are used to maintain the union and assist
organizing campaigns. As a result, monthly dues are low.
JOIN TODAY!
Nothing will change until we organize. Joining the IWW is easy. Just
give us a call. The sooner you do, the sooner things will improve and the
sooner we, and not the bosses, will enjoy the good things in life.
Still unsure? Please keep reading. Here is the
preamble of our constitution, broken down in plain English by Tim Acott.
