D.C. Industrial Workers of the World

The IWW is coming back to D.C.

This week, six local wobblies (IWW members) met in McPherson square alongside Occupy DC participants to discuss reviving the organization in our area. Aside from myself, most had been active for several years, but as we talked a few new folks joined the conversation. Even without active promotion, interest is growing.

From 2006 to 2008 DC wobblies were strong enough in number and enthusiasm to hold regular meetings, secure a General Membership Branch charter, and take action in a few workplaces. Some time in the last few years the group declined as once-active members left the area, and recently the decision was made by local members and GHQ to de-charter the GMB as a first step to reorganizing it with new member input. A General Membership Branch is an important transitional form of organization lets us collect dues and spend money locally in organizing campaigns. Long term, of course, we’d like to outgrow the GMB form, as those workplaces get together to form industrial unions. We’ve got a ways to go before then.

We’ll hold the first a new series of monthly meetings on Sunday, October 23^rd at 4pm in the Union Station food court UPDATE: Facebook page for this event. These meetings are open to the public; any working-class person, regardless of whether they dig ditches or write software, is welcome. If we find we like that time and location, we’ll stick with it, but this will in any case be the first of many monthly meetings.