The Point Gorda Strike - Marine Workers Industrial Union Pamphlet

This pamphlet is fascinating, but perhaps the real gems here are the preamble to the MWIU and the list of headquarters on the back page. MWIU were a militant communist organization. They were the marine section of the Trade Union Unity League who were directly affiliated with the Red International of Labor Unions (RILU). In the early 1920's the communist international's strategy was to form "red" communist run unions instead of trying to enter and radicalize existing AFL unions.

In the United States, MWIU set to work building a militant industrial union for waterfront workers. Most of their activity was in New York. They advocated industrial unionism exclusively and laid the foundation for the major surge in organizing in the mid 1930's with the formation of the Committee for Industrial Organizations. Most of the TUUL sections would transition into CIO unions. The MWIU helped establish the National Maritime Union (CIO), Likewise, the Cannery & Agricultural Workers Industrial Union of the 1920's laid the foundation for the CIO's United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing & Allied Workers.

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International Longshoremen's & Warehousemen's Union - C.I.O. Local Union list

This is a working list that is continually being expanded and cross referenced as I work through archival material. You will notice I pose questions next to some of the locals or include various notes. If you use this list as a reference please know it may not be 100% accurate. This is a continuation of my project to map the Congress of Industrial Organizations. You will notice several different charters with the same local number. The International reused local numbers as they amalgamated or ceased to exist. Making this research a tad bit more difficult. ILWU Local 1 - RAYMOND, WA (longshore) *** chartered ’37 ILWU Local 2 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA (shipscalers) *** chartered ’37 ILWU Local 3 - STOCKTON, CA, (Barge / Power Boat) *** chartered ’37 in 1950 Local 3 becomes catch all for the International Fisherman & Allied Workers after they are expelled from the CIO. Below is a list of locals that became Local 3 in 1950. I believe these numbers correspond w...

United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing & Allied Workers of America C.I.O. - 1938 Membership Book

"Being fully aware that the conflict between capital and labor grows with intensity from time to time and tends to work disastrous results on the working millions unless we combine for mutual protection and benefit, and realizing fully that the struggle to better our working and living conditions is in vain unless we are united to protect ourselves against the organized forces of the employers and exploiters of labor, and Knowing full well that the old craft and isolated local forms of trade union organizations are unable to defend effectively the interests and improve the conditions of the workers, THEREFORE, WE, THE WORKERS ENGAGED IN THE CANNING, AGRICULTURAL, PACKING AND ALLIED INDUSTRIES form an organization which unites all workers in our industry on an industrial and democratic basis, regardless of age, sex, nationality, race, creed, color or political and religious beliefs, and pursues at all times a policy of aggressive activity to improve our social and economic c...

International Longshoremen & Warehousemen's Union No. 6 C.I.O. - 1946 - Constitution & Rules of Order

I recently acquired an old moldy Constitution and Rules of Order book for ILWU Local 6 - “Warehousing, Processing & Allied Workers No. 6” C.I.O. I wanted to share with you, their declaration of principles adopted in 1946 and a few observations. To put it in context, these principals were adopted by our warehouse division 73 years ago. 9 years after the founding of the ILWU. 7 years before we even adopted the 10 guiding principles of the ILWU at the 10th Biennial convention in 1953. I often think of our 3rd guiding principal - the one centered around “there can be no discrimination…” - and how powerful a statement it was in 1953, a year before Brown vs. the Board of Education - keep that in mind when reading through these. Also, having a different character and make up from the longshore division, notice also in 1946, “men and women” - “brother or sister” - “his or her”… If you dig into ILWU history, you realize that all the different divisions, regions, industries b...

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