A Memorable Visit to IWW Chicago

Brunel FW

On a recent (July 2012) trip to the USA during which I spent a week in Chicago, I took the opportunity to visit the IWW head office which is situated there.

I had been a little apprehensive while contemplating my proposed visit not knowing what to expect of such an august place. Was it going to be a big shiny building of glass and steel, so characteristic of Chicago architecture, with a forbidding facade and the words 'Industrial Workers of the World' carved over the entrance? While inside perhaps there might be a plush air-conditioned lobby with a receptionist seated behind a large desk who would ask me what my business was and had I made an appointment? I kind of fancied not somehow, I didn't really imagine that it would resemble the HQs of Unison or Unite and similar mainstream unions, but the IWW is a growing organisation and you never know! A quick phone-call to enquire whether it would be OK to drop by and to check hours of opening, calmed my anxieties as a cheery voice assured me that it would be absolutely fine and signed off with 'look forward to seeing you.'

Next morning I and my partner took the elevated train line, known as the 'El' to Chicagoans, to the suburb of West Montrose, a working-class district a long way from the skyscrapers of down town Chicago. We found the place easily and I was relieved to see what was basically a little corner book store with familiar looking pamphlets, books and IWW paraphernalia displayed in the windows and nothing in the least intimidating about it at all!

Inside I was pleased to meet a bunch of very friendly people and introductions were made. There were five people working there that day, sometimes there are a few more. Customers drop in to browse the very well stocked book shelves of course and they sometimes also get visitors, both FWs like myself, or people who have heard of the IWW and want to find out more about it.

Among the five people there that day there were two interns who, when I asked them whether they were being exploited, replied cheerfully that they were but didn't mind in the least! One of the girls was in the happy position of earning herself credits towards her upcoming course at grad-school where she will be studying political science. (British universities please copy!)

They were all very interested in hearing about our Brunel group, what we were doing and what we were hoping to achieve, in particular with regard to the cleaners and the gains they had made and the battle ahead for the London Living Wage. I was asked to keep them posted on developments. As the 'nerve centre' of the IWW they have their ears close to the ground in any case.

Sam Green, the General Secretary of the union, came out of his office to say hello. We chatted for a while and he showed me one of their ongoing projects, which is the mapping of IWW members throughout North America with a view to connecting single, isolated fellow workers within various areas who otherwise would not know of each other's existence – a very necessary and worthwhile task. I was also shown an urn in a display case which contained the ashes of the famous Swedish born activist and song-writer Joe Hill. I was told that it contained just a portion of his ashes, other portions being in other locations.

They were also still in the process of  re-organising after a fire in their previous office earlier in the year which fortunately resulted only in water damage to the part of the premises they occupied, but meant that they had to spend months finding an affordable alternative space. They were happy in the place they now found themselves in and were settling in well.

I spent some time looking around the shop and bought some pamphlets, papers and a very flash looking red tote bag to put them in! I reluctantly had to leave without any of the very interesting books as I was already packed to the gills and couldn't have managed to fit in anything more, I intend to visit the online shop however.

After taking some photos inside and outside the lovely little office/shop we said our farewells and left.

I would certainly recommend anyone who happens to be in Chicago that they go and visit the IWW HQ and the welcoming, interested and committed people who work there. Actually Chicago itself has played a key part in labour history from the 19^th century onwards. It was there that the Haymarket massacre took place for instance and there is a monument near the city centre to the people who perished and the anarchists who were executed afterwards for their alleged part in the tragedy. The martyrs themselves I was told, are buried in a cemetery further out which is also the final resting place of the once notorious anarchist writer and activist, Emma Goldman. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to go there and pay our respects, but next time perhaps!