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 miballar@leland.stanford.edu

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