Manifesto of the WIIU

It was 85 years ago that the original Workers’ International Industrial Union disbanded, putting an end to one great chapter in the fight for genuine Industrial Unionism and dashing the hopes of many workers around the world that one day the economic despotism that has wrought so much misery on them, and incessantly continues with ever increasing magnitude, might be overthrown.

The new WIIU stands on the principles and goals of the old and we salute those who blazed the trail for all workers to follow. The names of those who came before us may not be familiar to most workers today, but their knowledge and dedication are the foundation upon which the new WIIU is erected. A new day has dawned, and with that new day comes new challenges heaped upon the old calling for renewed determination.

While we acknowledge the contribution of those who went before us, we also realize that we live in a very different world from the one the original WIIU organized to change back in 1908. However, in spite of the myriad of technological advances over the last 100 years, some things remain the same. We still live in a world where a few, the owners of the means of production and distribution, control the lion's share of the wealth while the many, those whose labor produces that wealth, receive only a small portion of that wealth in return. As a result of this inequality all of the industrial and technological advances achieved over the last century have resulted not in greater prosperity for all, not in a reduction in the hours of toil or greater economic security for the working class, but instead have only resulted in larger profits and smaller payrolls for those who own the tools of production.

A horrendous disparity exists in this world, where even though abundance is produced on a daily basis, people go hungry, without decent clothing and without medical attention. There is privation and need in the face of plenty. It is clear that capitalism has refined and perfected the forces of production to the point where it is unnecessary for anyone to suffer these hardships anywhere in the world. It is the historic mission of the working class to unlock this wealth, which for more than a century has rested in the hands of those who do no productive work, and put it into the hands of those who produce it. We will build a new economic system where we who labor will decide how our product is to be distributed and used. No longer will we produce for the profits for a few, instead we will produce for the benefit of all.

The task will not be an easy one. The first step will be to realize that we as workers hold the key positions under the present system. It is we who do the productive work and it is we who run the industries and services from top to bottom. We hold the productive forces in our hands already; the only thing missing is the proper plan, proper organization and unity of purpose required for a successful transition to the new system. It is clear that the present methods of organization, namely trade unions, are entirely insufficient to carry out the task at hand. Trade unions, by design, divide workers and, in so doing, prevent the unity so necessary for building class consciousness and solidarity. What is needed is organization along industrial lines, in production industries and service industries — organization by industry instead of trade. With this method all workers in the same industry are organized into one union, and all industries are united into One Great Union of all workers. It is by this method that we will begin building the new system within the shell of the old and, when the moment arrives, will be perfectly organized to begin production for use instead of profit.

Before the hour for revolutionary change arrives, however, the mission of the WIIU will be to fight the day to day battle against the employers. We will struggle for better pay, better working conditions, greater democracy in the workplace, and greater control over our livelihood. Only by organizing industrially can the workers expect to finally win these daily battles with the massed power of capital. No longer will we scab upon our brothers and sisters as we do under the trade union method of organization. No longer will one part of a plant go out on strike while another part under a different contract continues to work thus guaranteeing defeat of the striking workers. With industrial organization, all workers in a plant will be organized as one unit, and when the need for unified action arises, all workers in that plant will take part. With this method of organization will come victory and the confidence, courage and class unity needed once the time arrives for workers to carry out the true mission of industrial unionism.

Economic organization is important, even critical, but it is only one part of the plan. The workers will also create or endorse a political expression of their desire for a new system. The purpose of the political part of the equation will be to openly express this need for change and to urge workers to join with the movement to build the new system. It will also directly challenge the capitalist parties on the political field in a trial of strength, organization and determination. The political party of working people will also, while capitalist rule prevails, seek to gain immediate relief for our class by supporting various reforms which offer the best hope of easing some of the ills of the present system. The ultimate mission of the political party, once we have sufficient numbers and the revolutionary temperature in society has risen to the boiling point, will be to defeat the capitalist state on its own terms and ground, in favor of the new industrial government and republic of all workers.

In a perfect world this scenario would be carried out like clockwork, but we are realists and realize that things rarely go as planned. It is almost a certainty that once a revolutionary moment arrives, candidates of the political party of workers will be blocked from using the very methods capitalism proclaims as the avenues of change. It is for this reason that it is important to have organization in the economic arena. Firmly in control of the means of production and distribution, the workers will hold the power to stop production until the ruling powers realize that their situation is untenable and acknowledge that class rule is at an end. Thus will begin a reconstruction of our society where the well being of humanity will replace production for profit as its priority.

The original WIIU, during its time, was the only union that embraced both of these elements, political and economic, in its program for the self-liberation of the working class from wage slavery, exploitation and oppression. The renewed WIIU is dedicated to upholding the principles of the original WIIU in its efforts to establish a real workers’ industrial union, replacing what is left of the phony pro-capitalist unions that are autocratically controlled by union officials that are nothing more than “labor lieutenants” of the capitalist class.

Take that first step and join the union of your class! Join the WIIU!