Industrial Worker
Encyclopedia
The Industrial Worker, "the voice of revolutionary industrial unionism," is the newspaper of the Industrial Workers of the World
(IWW). It is currently released ten times a year, printed and edited by union labor, and is frequently distributed at radical bookstores, demonstrations, strikes
and labor rallies. It contains news relevant to working class people, such as information on economics, industrial conditions, strikes, direct action
against employers, labor history
, and general labor issues.
The newspaper was first printed in journal format in Joliet, Illinois, beginning in January 1906, incorporating "The Voice of Labor," the newspaper from the former American Labor Union
which had joined the IWW, and "International Metal Worker." It was edited by A. S. Edwards, and early contributors include Eugene V. Debs, Jack London, Daniel DeLeon, Bill Haywood, and J. H. Walsh, along with poetry by Covington Hall. When the group led by ousted President Charles Sherman retained physical control over the paper after the union's 1906 Convention, and continued publication under that name for a few months (before giving up the ghost), the IWW instead issued the Industrial Union Bulletin
for several years. A.S. Edwards was elected editor of the Bulletin in 1906. The second series of the Industrial Worker commenced in 1909 in Spokane, Washington
, and has continued to this day, with only one major interruption, during the period of 1913-1916. In the early years, it was printed weekly and mainly circulated west of the Mississippi
, while the IWW's "Official Eastern Organ" was Solidarity
published in New Castle, Pennsylvania and later, Cleveland, which continued until it merged with the Industrial Worker in Chicago in the 1930s.
The Spokane paper was the birthplace of the beloved comic strip
character Mr. Block
, later commemorated in a Joe Hill
song. The Industrial Worker usually ran four pages, with an annual eight page May Day
issue reflecting on gains of the labor movement in the previous year. Circulation fell off due to the repression
of the IWW during and after the First World War, reflecting a decline in the influence of radical unionism more generally.
Long-time Industrial Worker editor Jon Bekken stepped down in 2006, followed by Peter Moore between 2006 and 2008. Diane Krauthamer is the current editor.
Issues of the Industrial Worker are often available on microfilm at university libraries and other research oriented facilities, as they contain a wealth of information on labor issues not easily found in the mainstream press of the time.
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
(IWW). It is currently released ten times a year, printed and edited by union labor, and is frequently distributed at radical bookstores, demonstrations, strikes
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
and labor rallies. It contains news relevant to working class people, such as information on economics, industrial conditions, strikes, direct action
Direct action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...
against employers, labor history
Labor history (discipline)
Labor history is a broad field of study concerned with the development of the labor movement and the working class. The central concerns of labor historians include the development of labor unions, strikes, lockouts and protest movements, industrial relations, and the progress of working class and...
, and general labor issues.
The newspaper was first printed in journal format in Joliet, Illinois, beginning in January 1906, incorporating "The Voice of Labor," the newspaper from the former American Labor Union
American Labor Union
When the Western Labor Union , a labor federation formed by the Western Federation of Miners, decided to overtly challenge the American Federation of Labor in 1902, it changed its name to the American Labor Union . The ALU was created because the WFM wanted a class-wide labor body with which to...
which had joined the IWW, and "International Metal Worker." It was edited by A. S. Edwards, and early contributors include Eugene V. Debs, Jack London, Daniel DeLeon, Bill Haywood, and J. H. Walsh, along with poetry by Covington Hall. When the group led by ousted President Charles Sherman retained physical control over the paper after the union's 1906 Convention, and continued publication under that name for a few months (before giving up the ghost), the IWW instead issued the Industrial Union Bulletin
Industrial Union Bulletin
The Industrial Union Bulletin, was a newspaper published by the Industrial Workers of the World , a radical labor union.During a 1906 split of the IWW into two groups, each claiming legitimacy as the real IWW, one group headed by former President Charles O...
for several years. A.S. Edwards was elected editor of the Bulletin in 1906. The second series of the Industrial Worker commenced in 1909 in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, and has continued to this day, with only one major interruption, during the period of 1913-1916. In the early years, it was printed weekly and mainly circulated west of the Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, while the IWW's "Official Eastern Organ" was Solidarity
Solidarity (U.S. newspaper)
Solidarity, a newspaper published by the Industrial Workers of the World, was an eastern U.S. publication. The newspaper, the official periodical of the organization in its early years, was born of the McKees Rock strike in 1909, initially by the IWW's Pittsburgh-New Castle Industrial Council...
published in New Castle, Pennsylvania and later, Cleveland, which continued until it merged with the Industrial Worker in Chicago in the 1930s.
The Spokane paper was the birthplace of the beloved comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
character Mr. Block
Mr. Block
Mr. Block is a United States comic strip character commemorated in a song written by Joe Hill.Mr. Block, who has no first name, was created November 7th, 1912 by Ernest Riebe, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World . Block appeared that day in the Spokane newspaper Industrial Worker,...
, later commemorated in a Joe Hill
Joe Hill
Joe Hill, born Joel Emmanuel Hägglund in Gävle , and also known as Joseph Hillström was a Swedish-American labor activist, songwriter, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World...
song. The Industrial Worker usually ran four pages, with an annual eight page May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
issue reflecting on gains of the labor movement in the previous year. Circulation fell off due to the repression
Political repression
Political repression is the persecution of an individual or group for political reasons, particularly for the purpose of restricting or preventing their ability to take political life of society....
of the IWW during and after the First World War, reflecting a decline in the influence of radical unionism more generally.
Long-time Industrial Worker editor Jon Bekken stepped down in 2006, followed by Peter Moore between 2006 and 2008. Diane Krauthamer is the current editor.
Issues of the Industrial Worker are often available on microfilm at university libraries and other research oriented facilities, as they contain a wealth of information on labor issues not easily found in the mainstream press of the time.