Organising a Union with the IWW
There is power in a union - and it depends on organisation and solidarityOrganising a Union with the IWW
There is power in a union - and it depends on organisation and solidarityFocus on the fundamentals
The IWW is different from many other trade unions in our focus on the fundamentals of turning workplace problems into winnable union demands: the relationships you build with your coworkers.
Some people have the impression that organising a union at your job is just a matter of you and your coworkers signing a piece of paper that authorises the union to bargain on your behalf. But unless you are organised and ready to take action over issues that are important to you, the legal paperwork is just window dressing.
The only way to achieve lasting gains is with a durable, long-lasting workers organisation at your job that is built on strong relationships among you and your coworkers ready to back up your needs with action. The IWW will provide you with support tailored for your situation to help you build that organisation.
Why Relationships?
Your ability to improve your working conditions depends on your collective power with other workers – meaningful solidarity needs organisation and relationships. You can’t go on strike to demand better if you don’t know your coworkers and have some structure for making that decision.
Direct Action
Getting to a formally recognised union at your job takes time and organisation. If you have strong relationships with your coworkers you can already start winning improvements in your working conditions through concerted actions at your job even before formal recognition.
Bigger than just your workplace
Solidarity with other workers
You aren’t alone in the One Big Union – you are organising to be in solidarity with workers of all jobs.
At your workplace your employer relies on people doing jobs in coordination with yours. You use tools, work on materials, and interact with workers from other workplaces in your industry. Those workers are an opportunity to exert more pressure on your employer if they are organized.
That’s why when you organise a union in the IWW you join an Industrial Union that includes all workers in your industry. They are the democratic bodies that coordinate action across workplaces and jobs within an industry and connected within our communities.
Learn from experienced organisers
Get started with organising a union at your job with our organiser training programs
Build relationships
Learn how to start bringing up workplace issues with your coworkers and discovering common issues you can organise 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 organisation you need for a union