The International Workers of the World (IWW), also known as the Wobblies, was a radical labor union founded in 1905 with the goal of organizing all workers into "One Big Union" and promoting workers' rights and interests internationally. The IWW believed in direct action, industrial unionism, and solidarity among all workers, regardless of skill, ethnicity, or gender.
In Washington state, the IWW had a significant impact during the early 20th century, particularly in the lumber and agricultural industries. The union played a key role in organizing and leading strikes, including the 1916 Everett Massacre in which five members of the IWW were killed by local law enforcement and vigilantes while attempting to support striking shingle workers.
The IWW also led successful campaigns for labor rights, such as the 1911 Brotherhood of Timber Workers strike in the Pacific Northwest and the 1916 West Coast Longshore Strike. The union's influence waned in the 1920s and 1930s due to government repression and internal rifts, but its legacy in Washington state and beyond continues to inspire labor activists and advocates for workers' rights.
What was the International Workers of the World? What was their impact in Washington?
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make it shorter please
The International Workers of the World (IWW), or the Wobblies, was a radical labor union founded in 1905 to organize all workers and promote their rights internationally. In Washington, the IWW had a significant impact on industries like lumber and agriculture, leading strikes and campaigns for labor rights. Their influence waned in the 1920s and 1930s due to government repression, but their legacy in Washington and beyond continues to inspire labor activists.