One Big Union in Practice
The One Big Union concept was adopted and promoted by the Industrial Workers of the World after the publication of the One Big Union pamphlet in 1911, and is still used by the organization. Members of the IWW historically, and currently, signed letters (and other communications) with the closing, "Yours for the O.B.U." Many commentators consider One Big Union to be synonymous with the Industrial Workers of the World. One of the popular IWW publications was called One Big Union Monthly.
The One Big Union concept was promoted by the IWW in various ways, including as an invitation to racial equality. One IWW leaflet proclaimed:
To Colored Workingmen and Women: If you are a wage worker you are welcome in the I.W.W. halls, no matter what your color. By this you may see that the I.W.W. is not a white man's union, not a black man's union, not a red or yellow man's union, but a working man's union. All of the working class in one big union.
The IWW used the same sort of arguments to welcome women into the workforce. The appeal subsequently proclaimed the intent to organize "all wage workers . . . into One Big Union, regardless of creed, color, or nationality . . . An injury to one is an injury to all." The immediate goal of One Big Union was better pay, shorter hours, and better surroundings. The IWW propagandized, "Organize in one big union and fight for a chance to live as human beings should live. All together now and victory will be ours."
Read more about this topic: One Big Union (concept)
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