|
Edmonton General Membership Branch
|
What's New?!? A Not-So-Comic Book Interviews with young workers plus the real-life experiences of the artist participants provided the material for the 5 uniquely illustrated stories that are contained in the graphic story anthology that is Shift in Progress: A Not-So-Comic Book. Some of the moving stories in this book simply draw a vivid picture of some of the ways young workers are oppressed; others propose actions that workers can take towards bettering their workplaces. It is hoped that the book may inspire workers young and old to make changes of their own. The launch party for Shift was a great success! People bought copies and had them signed by the artists at Happy Harbor Comics on November 20, 2008. Look for copies at local (Edmonton) comic book stores or order yours directly from the branch (link to order form below)! Shift in Progress is a publication of the Edmonton branch of the Industrial workers of the World and was funded through Edmonton’s 2007 Cultural Capital Community Program, “Voices Less Heard."
About the IWW
We are the Industrial Workers of the World because we organize industrially -- that is to say, we organize all workers on the job into one union, rather than dividing workers by trade, so that we can pool our strength to fight the bosses together. Since the IWW was founded in 1905, we have recognized the need to build a truly international union movement in order to confront the global power of the bosses and in order to stand in solidarity with our fellow workers no matter what part of the globe they happen to live on. We are a union open to all workers, whether or not the IWW happens to have representation rights in your workplace. We organize the worker, not the job, recognizing that unionism is not about government certification of employer recognition but about workers coming together to address our common concerns. Sometimes this means striking or signing a contract. Sometimes it means refusing to work with unsafe equipment or following the bosses' orders so literally that nothing gets done. Sometimes it means agitating around particular issues or grievances in a specific workplace, or across an industry. Because the IWW is a democratic, member-run union, all policy decisions are made by referendum. The IWW has just one (modestly) paid officer, the General Secretary-Treasurer. The seven member General Executive Board is elected annually by the entire membership. All officers may be recalled by referendum. IWW workplaces and branches make their own decisions about bargaining and strategy. |
MAY DAY PHOTOS:
WOBBLY DISPATCH: Use the links below to check out our branch newsletter:
ONLINE LIBRARY: The IWW EDMONTON ONLINE LIBRARY is a collection of online articles, documents, books, digital collections, online self-study courses, etc. that promote a worker’s understanding of the origins and nature of class struggle throughout humanity’s history and varied societies. MEETINGS: The IWW Edmonton General Membership Branch has been educating, agitating, and organising since 1998. The branch holds a monthly general meeting on the second Thursday of the month, with informal and committee meetings throughout the month. Please email the branch for the time and location of the next meeting. JOIN THE IWW: If you are a worker and not an employer, agree to abide by the IWW constitution and regulations, and will study the IWW's principles and make yourself acquainted with its purposes, you may join the Industrial Workers of the World. Monthly dues are: *unemployed/low income: $3/month The initiation fee is the same as one month's dues. Email the branch to sign up or for more information. CONTACT THE BRANCH:
IWW Edmonton GMB LINKS: Resources for radicals and labour activists can be found on our LINKS page.
|
The IWW is a union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the job, in our industries and in our communities both to win better conditions today and to
build a world without bosses, a world in which
production and distribution are organized by workers
ourselves to meet the needs of the entire population, not
merely a handful of exploiters.