What is the WSA all about

Hello, it's 130AM, just got home from work. Saw this email and thought I'd reply.

There's really nothing to say about this. Past events, long gone and of no relevantcy in 2006.

The very short answer today is that it's pretty difuse at this time. We're a small organization with folks scattered all about. We try and promote and practice solidarity with various struggles; periodically issue leaflets and our
newsletter "workers solidarity". Some of our members are activie in their unions (and there are some dual WSA, IWW members; some are activie in their communities around community issues. And others are less active. One of our main strengths over the years has been our ability to carry out solidarity campaigns, both domestically and internationally. (See http://www.soldiersofsolidarity.com/lettersofsupportfromworkerssolidarityorg.html
for example a campaign we initiated in support of US autoworkers, for example)

WSA members come from various backgrounds; have varied interests and have accumulated decades of collective and individual experiance. A number of us have participated in many events, organizations and struggles since the 1970s.
Our "veteran" WSA members organized the first IWA Section here in the US (1978). These member went on to found the WSA(offical IWA affiliate 1984-2000).

For more WSA background
see:http://www.anarchosyndicalism.net/archive/display/217/index.php or http://www.ainfos.ca/05/aug/ainfos00072.html

After a devasting internal sabatoge campaign by people known as "AIT Minnesota" (and supported by some within the IWA) the WSA hit a low. This has and continues to be a slow process with mixed success.

This past May we held a national conference that was positive.
(http://www.anarchosyndicalism.net/newswire/display_any/295)

While we have never been more than 50 members, we have tried hard over the years to be as constructive and engaging as possible.

WSA can fairly say that we pioneered the opening up contact with the NGWF in Bangladesh (and other Asian contacts); the Nigerian Awareness League; supporting/working with workers centers and aggresively supporting the campaigns of sweatshop workers and the Immokalee farm workers.

Our views can be briefly summerized in the following leaflet we distributed at an alternative workers forum we participated in sponsored by the Coalition of Immokaleee Workers: http://www.ainfos.ca/05/mar/ainfos00291.html

Please also see our "Frequently Asked Questions about Workers Solidarity Alliance": http://www.workersolidarity.org/faq.html

Our views on building a libertarian workers movement have been pretty constant since our founding in 1984 (http://www.workersolidarity.org/ See: About WSA; go to "Unionism" section. BTW, this whole statement is being currently re-written). While fundamentally sound, I would say that the language expressed in this statement is not wholely reflective of some of the more recent developments and not needs to be altered.

For example, part of the alternative workers movement that is often very libertarian in form and content are workers centers and alternative workers groups (such as the CIW). Also, some of the low-wage organizations that have come to the fore in the 21st century. Unlike in 1984, we also see some real solid independent union efforts, like some of what the IWW has been doing, as well as others.

Our view of a libertarian labor movment has and continues to be one of "Self-managed workers' organization, such as workplace assemblies, rank and file coordinating councils, and unions free of top down control, are the kind of organization that can be the basis of self-emancipation."

So, yes, we take a view that every effort should be made to build whatever form of organization it takes under whatever situation we find ourselves. WSA has never said: This is the only way to go".

The WSA has never said it was an anarcho-syndicalist union. We are really an organization of folks who come together supporting basic anarchist/libertarian class struggle and anarcho-syndicalist views and beliefs. Members retain the flexibility to engage in struggles and methods of struggle and mutual aid as they see fit (as long as it doesn't go against our basic viewpoints and principles).

I hope this answers your questions.

Lastly, let me extend a comradely hand of friendship and invite US militants in joining the WSA's efforts. Whether you are engaged in workplace, community, solidarity or other activities or just want to plug in with other anarcho-syndicalists, let's talk.

I just saw this thread. Can you give me or point me to some more info AIT Minnesota? I've been here in MN for about a year and a half, so I'm interested to know about this.

thanks for that info mitch, interesting stuff.