Is Another Unionism Possible? Solidarity Unionism in the Industrial Workers of the World in the U.S. and Canada

Abstract

The article attempts to answer the question “Is another unionism possible?” by an examination of the theory and practice of Solidarity Unionism developing in the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in the U.S. and Canada. In the study, Solidarity Unionism is considered as a variety of unionism with distinct and definable characteristics that set it apart from mainstream trade union models. Taking the model of Solidarity Unionism in the IWW as a case study, the work outlines the historical‐theoretical development of the model through the work of, among others, Staughton Lynd. The distinct and definable characteristics are elaborated and discussed and put into historical context. The research findings, gathered through interviews with IWW Solidarity Union organizers from the U.S. and Canada and a documentary/textual analysis of contemporary IWW literature, both official and unofficial, are organized under topic headings. These topics cover what Solidarity Unionism looks like and feels like; how it sustains participation and democratic involvement and the possibility of mainstreaming the model. The article concludes with a consideration of the prospects for Solidarity Unionism and the possibility of the Solidarity Union model, or elements of it, being adopted by the broader trade union movement in North America and beyond.