I W W, which stands for Industrial Workers of the World, is an international labor union and radical political organization. Founded in 1905, the I W W aimed to establish an international and industrial union that would organize all workers, regardless of their skills, gender, race, or nationality. It sought to overthrow the capitalist system and bring about a society based on worker control of the means of production.
The I W W advocated for direct action and class struggle, rejecting the idea of negotiating with employers and instead emphasizing the power of solidarity and collective effort. It promoted the idea of "One Big Union," advocating for the uniting of all workers into a single organization in order to exert their collective strength against capitalist exploitation. The I W W sought to abolish the wage system, advocating for real and meaningful equality in the workplace.
The organization played a significant role in numerous labor struggles throughout its history, including the Lawrence textile strike in 1912 and the Mesabi Range strike in 1916. It attracted a diverse range of workers, including migrant workers, miners, agricultural laborers, and even artists and writers who shared its vision of a world based on workers' rights and social justice.
Though the influence and membership of the I W W declined over the years, it continues to exist today, still advocating for workers' rights and social change. The organization's legacy remains as a symbol of worker empowerment and radical unionism.
