Industrial Workers of the World

To fan the flames of discontent

The Industrial Workers of the World is a union open to wage and salary workers in all industries, and to members of the working class in all countries.

Our aim is to enable workers to resist being used against each other either:

• to undermine each other's jobs in peacetime or
• kill each other in war.

Our hope is to make this planet a good place for all of us. We seek to beuild a new world in the shell of the old through direct control of industry by workers on the job.

The IWW was founded in 1905 by unions in North America concerned with industrial organising to prevent each trade union from being used against the others. In Australia it was built from 1908 by unionists worried by the weakness of trade unions and the arbitary divisions inspired between workers by conservative union bosses.

Our history has been one of skirmishes in industries and occupations where unionism was not taken for granted, and where workers won their own rights to unions, despite the lack of solidarity or downright opposition of the trade unions. Where we have organised, we have left behind us stronger unions, more powerful workers, scared bosses and better working and living conditions.

The IWW has wants a shorter working day, and a shorter working week. This will:

• reduce unemployment
• increase paid leisure
• stop the stress and illness caused by overwork

We have always resisted the petty discriminations of society, and united behind rights for all workers regardless of sex, race, sexuality, language or religion.

To work with us, get in contact through the links on this page.

Together we can do things we can't do alone.