The I. W. W.: A Study of American SyndicalismBrissenden, Paul F. (Paul Frederick)
History
The I. W. W.: A Study of American Syndicalism
Brissenden, Paul F. (Paul Frederick)
Industrial Workers of the World; Syndicalism
Division 4: Mining, milling, smelting and refining coal, ores,
metals, salt and iron.
Division 5: Steam railway, electric railway, marine, shipping,
and teaming.
Division 6: All building employees.
Division 7: All textile industrial employees.
Division 8: All leather industrial employees.
Division 9: All wood-working employees excepting those engaged
in building departments.
Division 10: All metal industrial employees.
Division 11: All glass and pottery employees.
Division 12: All paper mills, chemical, rubber, broom, brush
and jewelry industries.
Division 13: Parks, highways, municipal, postal service,
telegraph, telephone, schools and educational institutions,
amusements, sanitary, printing, hotel, restaurant and laundry
employees.[151]
This section provoked instant debate. In fact, two days and a
half--about half the time given to the whole constitution--were given
over to the discussion of this clause.[152] Many delegates considered
that such a specific division was not only a practical impossibility,
on account of the very definite limits to the jurisdiction of most
industries, but was a very inconsistent step for an industrial
organization to take, since in their opinion it was nothing more or
less than a recreation of craft lines.[153] There was considerable
feeling in evidence that this clause did not satisfy the provision
of the manifesto for "craft autonomy locally, industrial autonomy
internationally, and working-class unity generally." Flaws and
inconsistencies without end could, of course, be found in such a
categorical division, and they were pointed out by critical delegates
with much gusto. The main idea in this attempt at departmental
demarcation of industries was that a centralized administration was
imperative. Most of the delegates agreed to this. They believed that
even the industry, although the unit or cell of the new structure,
should not be the dominant basis of the administration. That must be
departmental.
Any of these industries [said Delegate Goodwin] are subsidiary
and supporting the whole organization.... The tendency of
capitalist development is concentration. We are going from
industrial production to departmental production. It won't
be many years ... till we have departmental production. The
tendency in development in the early stages of capital is to
go into industries, and the later tendency is to divide into
departments, and these departments are international....[154]
As finally amended, the clause omitted any specific category of
departments and industries and simply provided for thirteen departments
with appropriate subdivisions. It read as follows:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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