IWW
Articles by and about the revolutionary syndicalist union the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).
A soldier returns - letter from an American fighter in the Durruti Column
A letter from an American trade unionist and member of the revolutionary union the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) about his experiences as a fighter in the Spanish Civil War and Revolution of 1936-9 in the International section of the anarchist Durruti Column.
The following letter was published in the paper of the American IWW's paper, One Big Union Monthly in 1937.
Original introduction
Miscellaneous articles by Lucy Parsons
Several short news and comment articles written by Lucy E. Parsons in the US radical, anarchist and workers' press.
Lucy Parson's speech to the IWW in 1905
Lucy Parsons addressed the founding convention [of the Industrial Workers of the World revolutionary union] on two occasions and her speeches touched on issues close to her heart: the oppression of women and how to develop radical new tactics to win strikes. Her ideas clearly were in advance of the time, presage the "sit-in" strikes of the 1930s, the anti-war movement of the 1960s, and her words resonate today. Delegate applause interrupted her speech several times and at the end.
Mattick, Paul, 1904-1981
A short biography of German council communist tool maker-turned academic Paul Mattick.
Born in Pomerania in 1904 and raised in Berlin by class-conscious parents, Mattick was already at the age of 14 a member of the Spartacists’ Freie Sozialistiche Jugend. In 1918, he started to train as a toolmaker at Siemens, where he was also elected as the apprentices’ delegate on the workers’ council of the company during the German revolution.
Curlewis, Richard, 1917-2002
A biography of Australian advocate of workers' control, Richard Curlewis.
Could an avowed anarchist be a member of the Communist Party of Australia? The life of Richard or Dick Curlewis shows that communism is not a monolithic philosophy, but has many currents: some authoritarian; others radically democratic. Richard Curlewis dedicated his life to the rights of working people and their communities, and democracy in the workplace by workers' control.
Lahr, Charles, 1885-1971
A short biography of German-born British anarchist publisher and activist Charlie Lahr.
Charles Lahr
Barker, Tom, 1887-1970
After emigrating to New Zealand and joining the IWW, Tom Barker became an organiser for the syndicalist union, he organised the Auckland general strike of 1913 which led to him being forced to move to Sydney, Australia where he becamse editor of the IWW's Direct Action. He was deported to Chile in 1918 and then travelled the world organising workers, before returning to the UK in 1927.
Tom Barker
Born Westmoreland, England, 1887, died London, 1970
Dolgoff, Sam, 1902-1990
An obituary and short biography of Russian-American labour organiser and anarcho-syndicalist Sam Dolgoff.
Sam Dolgoff, my old friend who died last week, spoke from sidewalk soapboxes and in union meeting halls for more than 60 years, and during all that time, what caught everyone's attention was his tough cocky style, half New York, half Joe Hill. Flames of mockery and indignation danced above his head.
Fletcher, Ben, 1890-19?
A short sketch of life on the Philadelphia ports of black IWW member and dock worker, Ben Fletcher.
Ben Fletcher
Born April 1890 - Philadelphia, USA, died in place and date unknown
"The IWW at least protects the colored man, which is more than I can say for the laws of this country"
- local African Methodist Minister
