ORGANIZING WITH THE IWW

There is power in a union – and it depends on organization and solidarity

The Realities

Bringing a union to your job is difficult. It involves a degree of risk, and power is heavily stacked in favor of your boss. But all that can change with the strength of good organizing. Whatever problems you are facing now–inadequate pay and benefits, favoritism, safety and health violations, disrespect from your manager, any number of grievances that make work unpleasant or even unbearable–you should know that many others before you have faced the same issues, and they’ve turned their workplaces around. They did it by coming together with their coworkers to build collective power that can effectively rival the power of the boss.

Start small

This process usually involves starting small, with a core group of committed workers who see the need to organize collectively. This group takes responsibility for developing relationships with their coworkers based on a common struggle for a better life at work.

Direct action

By focusing first on small but meaningful grievances that can be won through direct action, a union grows to take on bigger fights with the boss, and eventually changes the balance of power at work, giving workers more control over their own destinies. That is the unbreakable power of solidarity.

Bigger than just your workplace

Solidarity with other workers

The idea of organizing your workplace might feel scary and daunting, far from what appears possible now. But you can do it. And the IWW is here to help. We are a union of workers who have been where you are now and we’ve seen what works and what doesn’t from hard won experience.

Learn from experienced organizers

We offer extensive training, mentorship, and resources for any member who wants to build the IWW on the job. You’re not alone. Contact us and discover what’s possible when you and your coworkers make the choice to stand up and fight.

Ready to make a change at your job?

Contact our Organizing Department and start building a union

Organize

Build relationships

Learn how to start bringing up workplace issues with your coworkers and discovering common issues you can organize around

Develop power

Gain skills for how to talk to your boss about your demands and deal with possible retaliation

Start a union

Find out how to move from talking about common problems with your coworkers to building the organization you need for a union