Revolutionary Industrial Unionism
The Industrial Workers of the World in Australia

A history of the International Workers of the World (IWW) in Australia, this book is both lively and scholarly.

Verity Burgmann (Author)

9780521476980, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 1 January 1995

360 pages, 17 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.53 kg

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in Australia are better known for the stories told about them than for any document historical significance. Renowned for their audacity and hooliganism the 'Wobblies' were particularly notorious for their active opposition to World War I. This landmark book conveys the vitality and drama of Wobbly activity, and also assesses the impact of the IWW on Australian political and labour history. Drawing from an impressive range of sources, Verity Burgmann writes with vigour and passion about Wobbly culture, and describes their doctrines, methods and organisation. The book highlights the unique nature of the IWW in Australia, and traces Wobbly influence in much post-war activity. Now, with the widespread collapse of communism and the inadequacies of labour parties, the IWW, as an alternative form of revolutionary working-class politics, merits renewed investigation.

1. 'Flowers to the rebels failed'
2. 'On the industrial as well as on the political field': the IWW Clubs, 1905–1910
3. 'Wild men from Yankeeland': the arrival of the Chicago IWW, 1910–1914
4. 'Education, organisation, emancipation': the revolutionary project
5. 'We, the hoboes': who were the Wobblies?
6. 'No barriers of race': the challenge to working-class racism
7. 'It's great to fight for freedom with a rebel girl': the answer to the Woman Question
8. 'A real democracy': organisation and practice
9. 'A poor day's work for a poor day's pay': ethics and economics, 10. 'Bump me into parliament': the critique of Labourism, 11. 'An injury to one an injury to all': direct industrial action, 12. 'Let those who own Australia do the fighting: opposing the war, 13. 'With the ferocity of a Bengal tiger': the state responds, 14. 'Set the twelve men free': the release campaign, 15. What happened to the Wobblies?

Subject Areas: Biography: historical, political & military [BGH]