Industrial workers of the world
The IWW was formed in 1905 by a group of labor radicals, most of whom were socialists. Also nicknamed "the Wobblies", the union wanted to organize all workers according to industry without making distinctions between skilled and unskilled workers. They believed in endorsing strikes, as well as the idea that "the working class and the employing class have nothing in common". They believed all workers should be organized into "One Big Union", trying to organize the unskilled workers who were ignored by most unions. Most IWW strikes failed. They only had one great victory, the Lawrence Strike.
In Lawrence, Massachusetts, after a textile company cut wages, 250,000 workers went on strike. After ten weeks the company reversed the cuts on wages.
The IWW never gained many members, but its radical philosophy and controversial strikes helped many people to view the organization as subversive.
*Subversive-destruction; something that overthrows*
In Lawrence, Massachusetts, after a textile company cut wages, 250,000 workers went on strike. After ten weeks the company reversed the cuts on wages.
The IWW never gained many members, but its radical philosophy and controversial strikes helped many people to view the organization as subversive.
*Subversive-destruction; something that overthrows*