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PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD
The working class and the employing class have nothing in common.
There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among
millions of the working people and the few, who make up the
employing class, have all the good things of life.
Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers
of the world organize as a class, take possession of the means of
production, abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the
Earth.
We find that the centering of the management of industries into
fewer and fewer hands makes the trade unions unable to cope with
the ever-growing power of the employing class. The trade unions
foster a state of affairs which allows one set of workers to be
pitted against another set of workers in the same industry,
thereby helping defeat one another in wage wars. Moreover, the
trade unions aid the employing class to mislead the workers into
the belief that the working class have interests in common with
their employers.
These conditions can be changed and the interest of the working
class upheld only by an organization formed in such a way that
all its members in any one industry, or in all industries if
necessary, cease work whenever a strike or lockout is on in any
department thereof, thus making an injury to one an injury to
all. Instead of the conservative motto, "A fair day's wage for a
fair day's work," we mush inscribe on our banner the
revolutionary watchword, "Abolition of the wage system."
It is the historic mission of the working class to do away with
capitalism. The army of production must be organized, not for
everyday struggle with capitalists, but also to carry on
production when capitalism shall have been overthrown. By
organizing industrially we are forming the structure of the new
society within the shell of the old.
___________________________________________________________________
Workers, students, homemakers and homeless--this is your union.
To join the Wobblies, send the following information to
IWW 1095 Market Street, Suite 204, San Francisco, Ca 94103
Name____________________ Occupation______________________
Address______________________ City__________________________
State/Prov____________________ Country________________________
Phone_________________________
Dues are $3 a month for those making less than $800 a month
$9 a month for those making $800 to $1,700 a month
$12 a month for those making over $1,700 a month
Initiation fee is equal to one month's dues, so low income
worker can join for $6.
Make check to IWW.
Total amount enclosed: $__________ Initiation_______ Dues________
Membership includes a subscription to the "Industrial Worker".
You also receive each month the General Organization Bulletin.
The GOB is your vehicle to express your view to the membership.
All policy decisions are made by the members themselves by
referendum. All branches maintain full autonomy on matters within
their jurisdiction. Job branches (IWW groups composed of workers
at a single job-site) set their own demands and strategies in
negotiations, free of meddling internationals or sell-out business
agents.
E-mail inquiries are welcome. Please send your questions to
iww@igc.apc.org