Timeline

The purpose of this timeline is to show how the IWW has grown throughout the years. While you read the timeline, you will notice that

many years were skipped, those were years in which little or no important events occurred. Also, you will notice that many of these events occurred in other countries besides the U.S, that is to show that the IWW was a big

enough organization to spread worldwide.

1904-1905

1904• Meeting of six industrial unionists in Chicago issues called for a conference

to discuss the creation of a revolutionary working class organization.

1905• January 2: Conference of 23 industrial unionists in Chicago releases an

Industrial Union Manifesto scheduling an industrial Union Congress to be held in Chicago June 27.

• IWW Founding Convention - June 27: The "Continental Congress of the Working Class" creates the industrial Workers of the World with cooperation from Socialist Labor Party/Socialist Trades & Labor Alliance, Socialist Party of America, Western Federation of Miners and survivors of International Working People's Association.

1906-1908

1906• Bill Haywood, George Pettibone and Charles Moyers, WFM leaders,

framed for attempting to kill the governor Frank Steunenberg, of Colorado.

1907

• National Industrial Union of Textile Workers, 1st chartered IWW industrial union, founded.

1908“Fourth convention results in split between political actionists, led by Daniel DeLeon of the SLP, and direct actionists, led by Vincent St. John and J.H. Walsh. DeLeonists set up rival IWW in Detroit and accuse Chicago IWW with “anarchism.”

1912

1912• Wobblies join Magonistas in insurrection in Baja California, briefly

proclaim the Baja Commune. U.S. troops invade Mexico for crush the rebellion; IWW-led General Strike in Tampico, Mexico for the release of politicians kept imprisoned by the army.

• William Foster, an important IWW representative, leaves IWW and forms Syndicalist League of North America from within AFL.

• Socialist Party forbids those who oppose political action or advocate sabotage to belong to the party.

• Bill Haywood recalled from NEC. Many IWWs leave SPA.

1913-1915

1913• Strike instigated by IWW dual-carders in AFL Hotel and Restaurant Workers

Union against the Astor and other premier hotels in New York City.1915• Detroit IWW, aka Workers International Industrial Union, dissolves.

• Joe Hill Executed—Joe Hill, IWW organizer, executed by copper bosses in Utah.

• Everett Massacre—IWWs murdered by hired guns in Everett, WA. Seventy-five held for murder of deputy, acquitted.

• IWW Convention adopts anti-war resolution.

1917 & 1920

1917• Oil Workers Industrial Union and Metal Mine Workers Industrial Union chartered.

• Lumber Workers Industrial Union established.

• General Construction Workers Industrial Union formed; construction strike in Exeter, CA. Construction strike in Seattle wins IWW hiring hall; Construction strike in Rockford, IL;

1920• Palmer Raids—Palmer Raids round up and deport thousands of alien radicals.

• Congress of Red Trade Union International attended by delegates from IWW and Canadian OBU. Their reports of political domination by Communists convinced IWW not to affiliate.

• 46 IWWs out on bail on the espionage convictions start prison terms. Bill Haywood and 8 others jump bail and flee to Russia.

1924,1934,&1944

1924• Emergency Program / Four-Trey Split—IWW splits: Emergency

Program-IWW sets up headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

1934• Cleveland, Ohio, organizing takes off. Strikes at Ohio Foundry,

Draper Steel Barrel, Perfection Metal Container, Permold Metal Container, American Stove, National Screw, Cleveland Wire Spring, Republic Brasswin recognition for IWW.

• IWW votes to affiliate with IWA (AIT), then reverses itself.1944• IWW forced to join AFL affiliate on a tunnel project in Bishop, CA,

because AFL held contract with the contractor;

1946, 1967, & 1970

1946• IWW Convention adopts “no check-off” rule prohibiting

practice of having employers collect union dues from workers’ pay.

1967• Boston, MA: Resistance anti-draft group joins IWW.

• IWW referendum votes to allow students to join IWW as members of Educational Workers IU 620.

1970• IWW-affiliated Le Presse Popuiaire du Montreal closed by

police under War Measures Act.

1976

1976

• Chicago, IL: Strike support work for striking child-care workers (Augustana Nursery); Cook County Hospital nurses; and Capitol Packaging; Enforces Boycott of Kingston Mines nightclub to force owner to pay wages earned to a band, which included two Wobs; Health Workers IU610 Organizing Committee established; Construction Workers job branch established on South Side.

• New York City General Defense Committee establishes international Libertarian Labor Fund to raise money for CNT in Spain. Sponsors tour of North America by veteran anarcho-syndicalist Augustin Souchy. The tour raised over $3000.

• Job branch established at Kochum’s Shipyard, Malmo, Sweden.

• IWW Shop Stewards Committee in AFSCME local at Bangor (ME) Mental Health Institute leads one-day wildcat strike.

1977

1977• Chicago’s IU440 Committee takes on organizing drive at Mid-America

Machinery, Virden, IL. Majority of workers in the shop, concerned primarily about safety, sign-up in union and demand recognition. Boss locks them out. IWW files ULP charges and pickets the work-site and auctions. Company sues union and organizer for $50,000 each (both suits later dismissed). Wob Rick Wehlitz fired for sabotage.

• IU670 (Public Service Workers) organizing campaign among CETA trainees and Bus Washers in Santa Cruz, CA. For some CETA trainees the IWW won better wages, health and dental benefits, safer working conditions, grievance procedures, legal insurance, paid holidays and vacations, 32 hours’ work for 40 hours’ pay, retirement benefits, profit sharing, and the elimination of sexual, racial and other forms of discrimination. Bus washers: 100% signed up, two fired but company forced to re-hire, and harassment of union members. Finally workers forced to join other union which had previously barred them.

1977(cont.)

• IU 630 (Entertainment and Recreation Workers) Network Conference establishes a Clearinghouse in Chicago and issues a model contract for use of musicians when landing gigs; Branch solidarity with Dresher Manufacturing strikers who were abandoned by Teamster Local 743. Support helps win decent contract.

1978

1978

• Virden, IL: IU440 strike threat forces boss to back down from threatened lay-off. More picketing at auctions costs boss thousands of dollars. NLRB issues directed bargaining order; boss appeals. NLRB orders Wob James D’Aunoy re-instated.

• In June IWW strikes Mid-America for recognition but fails to budge boss. Strike called off after three months.

1978 (cont.)

• Chicago: IU610 (Health Care Workers) Committee issues a pamphlet aimed at workers in area hospitals. Propose to form alternative to Health Employees Labor Program (HELP), a lash-up of the Service Employees International Union Local 73 and Teamsters Local 743. The drive is opposed from the beginning by a member of the Chicago Branch who is also a business agent for Local 73. This opposition eventually succeeds in thwarting the IU610 Committee’s efforts to gain Branch support and causes IU610 Committee members to leave the IWW.

• IWW Conference establishes new Industrial Organizing Committee.

1979

1979

• IWW IU660 (General Distribution Workers) organizing begins in Ann Arbor, MI. Defeat lockout at CharingCross Bookstore. Win NLRB election at University Cellar Bookstore at UM in Ann Arbor and win contract following brief strike. Contract includes significant workers control provisions.

• IWW IU450 (Printing and Publishing Workers) contract signed at Eastown Printing, Grand Rapids, MI.

1983

1983

• People’s Wherehouse job branch in Ann Arbor wins recognition without election and begins negotiations on first contract gains.

• Chicago, IL: IWW supports boycott of Coca Cola in solidarity with occupation of Coke plant in Guatemala.

• Bellingham, WA: IWW initiates Food for People project to feed unemployed and underemployed. Program ends when powers that be pressure landlords into not renting space.

• IWW, through the Vancouver Unemployed Action Center, initiates campaign against Job Mart Employment Agency which was selling job lists to the unemployed for up to $50. Through a combination of leafleting, pickets and legal action the campaign succeeds in closing down job Mart and getting some of the victims of the scam their money back.

• Rank and File Organizing Committee established to counter IOC.