Internationalist Workers Party (Fourth International)
Encyclopedia
The Internationalist Workers Party (Fourth International) was a Trotskyist group in the United States. It was the American affiliate of the Morenoist
International Workers League (Fourth International). It was unique in that it was the first American Trotskyist organization whose membership came principally from the Hispanic demographic.
The group began as the Revolutionary Workers Front-Frente Revolucionario de los Trabajadores in March 1980. The original core included two individual members of the International, exiled Sandinistas
and people who had left the Socialist Workers Party
. Others were recruited during the RWF-FRTs "general political work with independent workers". By 1982 the organization had 120 members in seven U.S. cities, fractions
within ten unions and two newspapers, the Spanish El Bolschevique and the English Working Class Opposition.
When the Morneoist international, International Workers League (Fourth International), was holding its world congress in early 1982 both the RWF-FRT and the Revolutionary Unity League, or Turnerites
sent representatives. With the encouragement of the leadership of the International the two groups set up a "leadership team" to co-ordinate joint strikes, demonstrations and campaigns. The two groups also had discussions where their political differences were hammered out and eventually planned a unification convention. This convention met on June 26-27, 1982 and a new organization, the Internationalist Workers Party (Fourth International) was founded.
The unity convention elected a nine member central committee
: Harry Turner, Leon Perez
, Susana Fernandez, Roberto Cardenas, Loretta Sylvis, Carol Williams, Anna Gomez, Rolando Cordoba, Marc Elliott, and alternate member Fredrico De Leon. A control commission
was also elected made up of Susana Fernandez, Numa Alvarez and Sonia Morales. At the central committees first meeting a political bureau was elected consisting of Turner, Perez and Gomez. Leon Perez was also named "national organizer".
The political resolution adopted at the founding conference charecrering the new organization as "an action oriented propaganda group" and favored the creation of a labor party, provided the IWP(FI) would be allowed to exist as an organized group within it and "transform it into a truly revolutionary party." In practice they worked within the Peace and Freedom Party and was able to win three PFP primaries in 1984: Sonia Cruz
for state senator
in Los Angeles
; James Green
for Congress in California's 24th congressional district
; and John O'Brien
for an assembly seat
. In other elections it urged its members to vote, where possible for the SWP, Workers World Party
, and Communist Party
candidates in that order.
The group worked to bring together the various Trotskyist groups in the Us under one hoster two Emergency National Trotskyist Conferences in 1983 and 1982. It was also in talks to merge with the Revolutionary Workers League. However, in July 1984 a sever factional crisis wracked the party with the eventual establishment of the International Socialist League (Fourth International) with Turner in the leadership. The IWP(FI) remained the official Morenoist affiliate in the United States, though the ISL(FI) remained a "sympathizing section". The ISL(FI) began publishing a newspaper, Workers Organizer, in November 1985, stating it had branches in New York, Los Angeles
, Minneapolis and Wisconsin
.
Nahuel Moreno
Nahuel Moreno was a Trotskyist leader from Argentina. Moreno was active in the Trotskyist movement from before World War II until his death....
International Workers League (Fourth International). It was unique in that it was the first American Trotskyist organization whose membership came principally from the Hispanic demographic.
The group began as the Revolutionary Workers Front-Frente Revolucionario de los Trabajadores in March 1980. The original core included two individual members of the International, exiled Sandinistas
Sandinista National Liberation Front
The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
and people who had left the Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (United States)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far-left political organization in the United States. The group places a priority on "solidarity work" to aid strikes and is strongly supportive of Cuba...
. Others were recruited during the RWF-FRTs "general political work with independent workers". By 1982 the organization had 120 members in seven U.S. cities, fractions
Fraction (politics)
A parliamentary group, parliamentary party, or parliamentary caucus is a group consisting of members of the same political party or electoral fusion of parties in a legislative assembly such as a parliament or a city council. Parliamentary groups correspond to party caucuses and conferences in the...
within ten unions and two newspapers, the Spanish El Bolschevique and the English Working Class Opposition.
When the Morneoist international, International Workers League (Fourth International), was holding its world congress in early 1982 both the RWF-FRT and the Revolutionary Unity League, or Turnerites
Turnerites
Under a variety of names and within a number of organizations over at least 17 years, the group around Harry Turner, or Turnerites was a presence within Trotskyism in the United States.- History :...
sent representatives. With the encouragement of the leadership of the International the two groups set up a "leadership team" to co-ordinate joint strikes, demonstrations and campaigns. The two groups also had discussions where their political differences were hammered out and eventually planned a unification convention. This convention met on June 26-27, 1982 and a new organization, the Internationalist Workers Party (Fourth International) was founded.
The unity convention elected a nine member central committee
Central Committee
Central Committee was the common designation of a standing administrative body of communist parties, analogous to a board of directors, whether ruling or non-ruling in the twentieth century and of the surviving, mostly Trotskyist, states in the early twenty first. In such party organizations the...
: Harry Turner, Leon Perez
Carlos Petroni
Carlos Petroni is an Argentinian author and political activist.-Overview:Born, August 8, 1947 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Carlos Petroni was a leader of the Morenoist tendency of Latin American Trotskyism from 1973 to 1988 and was a close collaborator of the founder of this movement, Nahuel Moreno...
, Susana Fernandez, Roberto Cardenas, Loretta Sylvis, Carol Williams, Anna Gomez, Rolando Cordoba, Marc Elliott, and alternate member Fredrico De Leon. A control commission
Control commission
A control commission is an independent regulatory body. Control commissions are most often found in regulated industries and political organisations...
was also elected made up of Susana Fernandez, Numa Alvarez and Sonia Morales. At the central committees first meeting a political bureau was elected consisting of Turner, Perez and Gomez. Leon Perez was also named "national organizer".
The political resolution adopted at the founding conference charecrering the new organization as "an action oriented propaganda group" and favored the creation of a labor party, provided the IWP(FI) would be allowed to exist as an organized group within it and "transform it into a truly revolutionary party." In practice they worked within the Peace and Freedom Party and was able to win three PFP primaries in 1984: Sonia Cruz
Sonia Cruz
Sonia Yesenia Cruz Ayala is a Salvadoran beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Nuestra Belleza El Salvador 2010 and represented her country in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant.-Early life:...
for state senator
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
; James Green
James Green
-Politics:*James Green , Roman Catholic archbishop and diplomat*James Green , American historian and labor activist*James Green , New Zealand politician...
for Congress in California's 24th congressional district
California's 24th congressional district
California's 24th congressional district covers most of Ventura and inland Santa Barbara counties.The district is currently represented by Republican Elton Gallegly.-Voting:-List of representatives:-Election results:-1952:...
; and John O'Brien
John O'Brien
- Public life :* John O'Brien , New Zealand political candidate and party leader* John O'Brien , far right figure, onetime leader of the British National Front...
for an assembly seat
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
. In other elections it urged its members to vote, where possible for the SWP, Workers World Party
Workers World Party
Workers World Party is a far-left political party in the United States, founded in 1959 by a group led by Sam Marcy. Marcy and his followers split from the Socialist Workers Party in 1958 over a series of long-standing differences, among them Marcy's group's support for Henry A...
, and Communist Party
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
candidates in that order.
The group worked to bring together the various Trotskyist groups in the Us under one hoster two Emergency National Trotskyist Conferences in 1983 and 1982. It was also in talks to merge with the Revolutionary Workers League. However, in July 1984 a sever factional crisis wracked the party with the eventual establishment of the International Socialist League (Fourth International) with Turner in the leadership. The IWP(FI) remained the official Morenoist affiliate in the United States, though the ISL(FI) remained a "sympathizing section". The ISL(FI) began publishing a newspaper, Workers Organizer, in November 1985, stating it had branches in New York, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Minneapolis and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.