Industrial Workers of the World

Canada, Anarchist journal Linchpin #7 of Common Cause - Women organizing within:

an interview with the IWW Edmonton Women's Committee

Date Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:20:08 +0200

IWW Edmonton Marches on May Day, 2007.

http://edmonton.iww.ca/

---- Women often feel the need to organize as women within larger organizations – including the more radical and leftist ones – in order to fight against inequality between men and women, develop their own voice and feel empowered by it. A great example is the Women’s Committee of the Edmonton, Alberta branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), a union that believes in workers’ power to organize ourselves and take the fight directly to the bosses without other people acting on our behalf. Karine Welm interviewed one member of the Women’s Committee. We hope this interview will empower and encourage other women to organize within their own organizations. ----

Linchpin: Could you explain what the I.W.W. is in brief and tell us a little bit about the Edmonton branch?

Women’s Committee: The I.W.W. is founded on the idea that the working class and the ruling class have nothing in common. Often, the employing class are the only ones who can afford the goods and services the working people provide. Instead of allowing the possibility for workers to be further exploited by giving power to union leaders, the I.W.W. strives to put power of production back into the hands of the workers. In this way, organizing as one class, one union, instead of industry by industry, an injury to one becomes an injury to all. The Edmonton I.W.W. branch was founded in 1998 with 10 members. Since then, the branch has grown to have about 50-60 members, with 25-30 active members.

Linchpin: When and Why was a Women’s Committee started within the I.W.W. Edmonton branch?

Women’s Committee: Gender-related issues came to the forefront in April 2006, with two items on the agenda: women-cut union t-shirts and the formation of a sexual harassment policy. The Anti-Harassment committee was then started. In October of 2006 we were looking into the possibility of starting a Women’s Committee, and by December 2006 we elected our first chair and began operating formally.

Linchpin: Could you explain how the women’s committee started and how it was perceived? Women’s Committee: With the branch rapidly growing in size, the anti-harrassment policy was instated in order to have a structure in place to deal with potential issues that might arise. The Women’s Committee was formed with the desire to continue bringing a feminist voice to the forefront of the worker’s movement, to work with our allies, and other Wobblies, to address issues of sexism and gender discrimination that bosses use to divide the working class. In doing this, we may be truly united in the one big union. Initally, the group was sometimes reacted to with misunderstanding, but the dedication and thoroughness of committee members proved to impress all members of the branch. There’s not a doubt in my mind we’ll continue to do so.

Linchpin: Why do you think it’s important to have this type of group within organizations such as the I.W.W.?

Women’s Committee: The I.W.W. is a union for all workers, regardless of race, religion, nationality, sex, or sexual orientation. In my personal belief, here in the union and otherwise, committees like these are essential: while it is important to see ourselves as a specific group with a specific focus, that should not suggest we ignore or downplay our rich differences as individuals. Our individuality makes us who we are as persons; our united visions make us who we are as a global community.

Linchpin: What activities are the Women’s Committee currently doing or planning on doing in the near future?

Women’s Committee: The Women’s Committee is currently tackling smaller ideas until we’re able to build stronger outreach with other like-minded groups. At present, we’re ordering more women-related books for the Literature Committee, and are at work producing pamphlets. We wish to share our literature with other branches in the union, and do tabling at various local activities. For International Women’s Day and May Day, we’re looking into two separate evenings of documentary screenings and discussion tables. So far, our focus is directed towards unionism of sex trade workers, and transgender workplace issues.

Linchpin: What would you say to other women that are trying to start this type of group within other organizations?

Women’s Committee: Believe, inside and out, that what you’re doing is important, relevant, and neccessary. You can’t fail. Download the pdf from

http://linchpin.ca/collections+/+Anarchist-movement+/+Linchpin-Issue-7

or read online at http://linchpin.ca