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F R E N D Z of martian
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I had this interesting mail in response to the W4U site.
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Subject: W4U and IU560?
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 11:46:24 -0400 (EDT)
From: Flint Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Fellow Worker Martian,
Well... where to begin. About two years ago, I had the same idea
you did. So, I went looking around the web, went to some email discussion
lists, etc... I tried contacting some unions like the U.S. based CWA
(Communications Workers of America). Then, someone on a list directed me
to Local 23 Telecommunications and Computer Workers
(http://iww.org/iu560/local23/) of the Industrial Workers of the World
(http://iww.org).
Local 23 started in San Francisco by a couple of radicals who had
experience in unions and the IWW. They were working in high-tech... some
in networking, some in phones, some in other designs. Many of them were
working for 4SD a cooperative tech company, some of them split to form
Collective Networking Technologies (CNTech) that did alot of wiring for
non-profits and the like. The coop didn't succeed facing the problems
that coops often do (lack of capital) but many of them are back into the
more cut-throat San Francisco-Silicon Valley market.
Since they were wobblies, a good bit of the effort went in to making the
IWW the second union on the Web (An Israeli teachers union was first, but
the IWW was way ahead of the U.S. AFL-CIO). They pioneered using email
lists for union organizing, its helped build communication and democracy
inside the union, helped coordinate actions across the world and helped
grow the internatioanl sections. Considering the IWW isn't limited to
just hi-tech workers (for instance we have members in Restraunt work,
dockers, etc...) its a pretty major accomplishment that more than 10% of
the union is online. This is partially responsible because we run our own
servers, pay for connection (some DSL) out of volunteer contributions,
were up to 8 now on 2 continents in 3 countries (US, Canada and
Australia). Were an international union, as as I said... were spreading
alot with technology workers. For instance, we've got some coders in
Italy and Finland.
Anyway, we've been getting over some barriers recently with our expansion.
Part of the idea is that each of those servers is a seed for future locals
IU560s branches... its working. Were bringing in our second industrial
union branch now in Toronto, Canada... along with the TAO as union job
shop (http://www.tao.ca/yin.html). As you could imagine, were spread all
over in many different companies and jobs. So, our gains in controlling
workplaces is pretty limtied now with some small co-op efforts. We've
fought the bosses a couple of times now... we've won a few victories but
nothing that has resulted in a contract with a hostile boss (atleast, none
in IU560). But with our growing momentum, its only a matter of time.
Anyway, we try to maintain good contacts throughout the industry with
others who are organizing. In the States, the only union that is making
any serious effort is the CWA (Communications Workers of America) most
notably through their affiliate WashTech. We've got some "dual-carders"
(members who belong to more than one union) in WashTech. The IWW has alot
of dual carders in alot of other industries besides hitech.. who are
usually trying to move their unions towards a broader focus, more rank and
file democracy, lower dues, less bureacrats, less corruption, more
solidarity. Basically, we believe that a union should be a fighting
organization, not something that tries to keep peace between the workers
and the bosses. Some think this is a pretty radical idea, but noone could
ever accuse us of selling out!
I noticed your connection with marsbard.com, and thus Keebele online.
Lots of similarties I think between Marsbard/Keeble and TAO/DAMN.
Many Wobblies (which is what IWW members call themselves) are involved
with Mumia support, Reclaim the Streets, J18... the upcoming protests
against the WTO in Seattle, hacktivists, etc... We've got strong ties to
the Free Radio/Micropower (pirate) movement in the U.S.
(http://jones.iww.org/radio/)...
Anyway, we should be working together, whatever happens. Thats why I
joined your mailing list. Something that might help your site is one of
my own that has some pretty extensive links to issues in our industry.
http://baltimore.iww.org/gmb/560
Solid,
Flint
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