Success and Failure in Solidarity Unionism

We are members and organizers in the Industrial Workers of the
World. We write this article not as a representation of the
organization, though, but as individuals with common political and
theoretical commitments. In our experiences in the IWW success and
failure are not always what they seem. While we are all for any
improvement in the lives of workers, in some cases improvements –
ostensibly gains – can create be regressive, as for instance when the
boss improves conditions in the attempt to limit disatisfaction and
workers end up aligning with the boss against other workers. In other
instances, lack of improvement – ostensibly failures – can bring about
transformation and useful experience for workers. In order to address
this further, we will first talk about the type of organizing in the
IWW that we are most excited about.