While I don't see syndicalism as an end point in my personal politics I certainly see the value in it as a tool for creating a class consciousness amongst workers and organising for change. For a long time I had been trying to organise the various workplaces I was at, sometimes with success, sometimes without, but with a growing frustration at the self-imposed limitations of the mainstream labour unions. During this time i had sussed out the IWW but for one reason or another communication between myself and the Australian Wobs failed. In the Oceania forum a fair while ago there was a discussion on how best to pool resources etc in Australia and NZ and whether yet another organisation should be set up as a federation style thing IIRC. The secretary of the Australian Wobs chimed in with his thoughts and the ensuing discussion was quite robust. I thought that he put forth his arguments really well without harsh judgements of people with different opinions. This is what won me over in the end... that and the fact that i didn't really see the point in trying to re-invent the wheel when I believed that there was definately a place for the IWW in Australia still. Another organisation was started - Working Class United but though it has some good essays, it's still a work in progress and one that I am hoping to re-engage with.
All the best.
gregg. x354788 I.U. 620 - student 
Why I joined the IWW
First, welcome. Glad to have you. Second, I think the 'new society in the shell of the old' was left a bit ambiguous on purpose. I agree with everything you advocate and don't think the preamble conflicts with any of those goals. The IWW was made to be a clearing house for all working class ideologies as long as joining workers ultimately agreed with the radical end goals of the union and believed in direct action as the main weapon of the class struggle.
The way I interpret the line, at least in the modern sense, is that in the anti-capitalist struggle the IWW as an organization allows us to tackle other social ills in the organizing process. For example, we should tackle sexism, homophobia, xenophobia and racism as a class struggle organization and once we institute 'a new society in the shell of the old' we will have eliminated these other oppressive hierarchies as well.
Now that that is done, I love use the 'new society' line in essays. It packs such a punch: an optimistic calls to arms that demonstrates the true power of the labor movement.
NB There is a difference between "forming the new society" and "forming the structure of the new society". The latter is what the preamble says.
I think the theory was that the Industrial Unions could after the revolution manage production and distribution of products. Whether this was possible or desirable in 1905 is moot now i think. The structure of the new society will be created in the struggle against the old, which in this day and age does not mean a simple build-up of organization but a "rupture with the fucking mundane".
I joined because I thought it was an anarchist union, i stayed because although it isn't an anarchist union, it is still the only one worth joining imho.
id have to say its the only one with a libertarian structure and communist policies but its not the only union worth joining.
destroy the exchange economy and replace it with one based on use or need. A society of worker managed enterprises producing goods for sale or exchange is still a capitalist society. I
While I agree with your first sentiment entirely, i'm not sure a 'society of worker managed enterprises producing goods for sale or exchange is still a capitalist society." Maybe this would be more of a market socialism. The objection I have to it is that workers would still be subject to coercive market forces and this could (and currently does) lead to auto-exploitation.
Wobbly Comrades!
We need specifically anarcho-syndicalist unions. These are structures that allow us as anarchists to put our beliefs into action now, which have the potential to make a revolution and which are the foundations of the economy after a revolution. Syndicalism is fine as an organising method but, as we saw in the strike waves before, during and after the First World War, syndicalism which isn't specifically anarchist is prone to being diverted into reformism or being led up a cul-de-sac by the parties of the left.
I say to those of you inside the IWW - you are anarchists; you are syndicalists. Join with the anarcho-syndicalists of the Solidarity Federation and help to build revolutionary unions with anarchism as their aim. There are no short cuts to the revolution, comrades!
The Historyman
as we saw in the strike waves before, during and after the First World War, syndicalism which isn't specifically anarchist is prone to being diverted into reformism or being led up a cul-de-sac by the parties of the left.
It is not like the non-aligned IWW was walking hand-and-hand with the bosses singing kumbaya during WWI.
Wobbly Comrades!We need specifically anarcho-syndicalist unions. These are structures that allow us as anarchists to put our beliefs into action now, which have the potential to make a revolution and which are the foundations of the economy after a revolution. Syndicalism is fine as an organising method but, as we saw in the strike waves before, during and after the First World War, syndicalism which isn't specifically anarchist is prone to being diverted into reformism or being led up a cul-de-sac by the parties of the left.
I say to those of you inside the IWW - you are anarchists; you are syndicalists. Join with the anarcho-syndicalists of the Solidarity Federation and help to build revolutionary unions with anarchism as their aim. There are no short cuts to the revolution, comrades!
The Historyman
Nice one duke
historyman wrote:
Wobbly Comrades!We need specifically anarcho-syndicalist unions. These are structures that allow us as anarchists to put our beliefs into action now, which have the potential to make a revolution and which are the foundations of the economy after a revolution. Syndicalism is fine as an organising method but, as we saw in the strike waves before, during and after the First World War, syndicalism which isn't specifically anarchist is prone to being diverted into reformism or being led up a cul-de-sac by the parties of the left.
I say to those of you inside the IWW - you are anarchists; you are syndicalists. Join with the anarcho-syndicalists of the Solidarity Federation and help to build revolutionary unions with anarchism as their aim. There are no short cuts to the revolution, comrades!
The Historyman
Nice one duke
I wouldn't argue for anarcho-syndicalism even as a joke.
historyman wrote:
Wobbly Comrades!We need specifically anarcho-syndicalist unions. These are structures that allow us as anarchists to put our beliefs into action now, which have the potential to make a revolution and which are the foundations of the economy after a revolution. Syndicalism is fine as an organising method but, as we saw in the strike waves before, during and after the First World War, syndicalism which isn't specifically anarchist is prone to being diverted into reformism or being led up a cul-de-sac by the parties of the left.
I say to those of you inside the IWW - you are anarchists; you are syndicalists. Join with the anarcho-syndicalists of the Solidarity Federation and help to build revolutionary unions with anarchism as their aim. There are no short cuts to the revolution, comrades!
The Historyman
Nice one duke
it sounds like you...if you made press releases... 
OliverTwister wrote:
historyman wrote:
Wobbly Comrades!We need specifically anarcho-syndicalist unions. These are structures that allow us as anarchists to put our beliefs into action now, which have the potential to make a revolution and which are the foundations of the economy after a revolution. Syndicalism is fine as an organising method but, as we saw in the strike waves before, during and after the First World War, syndicalism which isn't specifically anarchist is prone to being diverted into reformism or being led up a cul-de-sac by the parties of the left.
I say to those of you inside the IWW - you are anarchists; you are syndicalists. Join with the anarcho-syndicalists of the Solidarity Federation and help to build revolutionary unions with anarchism as their aim. There are no short cuts to the revolution, comrades!
The Historyman
Nice one duke
it sounds like you...if you made press releases...
Hah no, its clearly a parody of anarcho-syndicalism. I certainly wouldn't advocate unions as the foundations of the economy after the revolution.
I joined the IWW because I wanted to work with others on organizing in my own and other people's workplaces, without being paid staff and with a lot of input into how the organizing and organization a whole is run. I stick around for those reasons and because of the many great comrades I've met and gotten close to in the union.
..syndicalism which isn't specifically anarchist is prone to being diverted into reformism or being led up a cul-de-sac by the parties of the left.
Erm, actually didn't the anarcho-syndicalist CNT end up with members becoming government members? Read your history, historyman!
I say to those of you inside the IWW - you are anarchists
Wrong!
Though I see no reason why both organisations can't work together on certain projects.
OK, so this subject may have been covered a bit in other threads, but I thought it would be interesting to see what other people have to say.
For me I joined not because I have an uncritical acceptance of syndicalism or unionism but because I see the IWW as a good way of meeting and organising with other militant workers, students and unemployed in my local area (and internationally).
I read the preamble and thought it was pretty much spot on. The only real problem I have with it was the “forming the structure of the new society within the shell of the old” bit. In my view, for Capitalism to be fully abolished it is necessary not only for the workers to manage industry, but to also destroy the exchange economy and replace it with one based on use or need. A society of worker managed enterprises producing goods for sale or exchange is still a capitalist society. It is necessary for us all to abandon any illusions about workers (or housing or land) co-ops!