Q AND A

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 7, 1 August 1913, Page 2

Q AND A

Q.: Is the I.W.W. against political action ?

A.: The I.W.W. recognises the principle that political power is a reflection of, and has its source in, economic power. The limited, but growing, power of the W orlung Class is measured by the strength of their industrial (economic) organisation. It follows, then, that an increase of power must come by attention to such organisation, and that every moment, every ounce of engery, spent otherwise—such as helping to put working men into parliament, etc.' —-means so much less economic (industrial) strength. Get your strong Working Class t political party, and it is helplesi without a strong industrial organisation. Get a powerful industrial organisation and a Working Class political party is unnecessary. /** # * Q. : Don’t you think that X—and X— are becoming labour fakirs ? A. : We refuse to discuss personalities or give any individual a free ad. Too much of that has been done by the labour press. An intelligent, alert rank-and-file renders the fakir harmless. Let’s turn our attention to the task of educating the backward portion—and incidentally ourselves.

Q. • Is the I.W.W. anarchistic Y

A.: No. The anarchist is more idealist than materialist; the I.W.W. man is a materialist. Anarchists dislike the term £ ‘ Democracythe I.W.W. stands for Industrial Democracy. Some anarchists talk of reforming Society from the top, down; the I.W.W. says from the bottom, up. I.W.’s have some ideas in common with the anarchists. Anarchism is not a class movement ; Industrial Unionism is. # # # Q.: In an I.W.W. pamplilet mention is made of “ Shop Branches;” do you think they will be necessary in these colonies ?

A.: Y es, but tit tbis junctuie we need lose iio sleep over the question. A shop branch would be an integral part of a local industrial union, and provides for solidarity among workers employed in a particular plant or industrial concern. To illustrate: Suppose there are two or more large meat-packing concerns in, say, Sydney. Each concern is complete in itself and covers the whole process in that branch of industry. The workers in each plant, if large enough and conditions called for it, form a shop branch, to promote shop solidarity and adjust minor matters, with a view to finally taking complete control and operating the plant for the benefit of the workers —the Boss to be given an opportunity of doing some useful work. Two or more shop branches would form a local industrial union.

The I.W.W. shows a general outline of the form of industrial organisation best calculated to suit present conditions, and to develop efficiency in carrying on the everyday struggle with the Employing Class, as well as to lay the foundation of the New Society. This form is not arbitrary; on the contrary it will require adjustment in detail to suit changing conditions; the shop branch is one of these details. •

The I.W.W. proposes Local Industrial Unions of all wage-work-ers in a given industry in a given district. The local unions combine and form a National Industrial Union of all wage-workers in that industry. The national union combines with others, of kindred industries, into National Industrial Departments, which, combining, form One Big Union of the Working Class. Briefly, this is THE CONSTRUCTIVE PROGRAMME OF THE I.W.W.