How to Fire Your Boss: A Workers’ Guide to Direct Action – Industrial Workers of the World (1968)

1946-1989, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Sabotage/Ecotage, Strike, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The Bourgeoisie, The Workplace, Workers

This pamphlet, first released by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in 1968 and revised in 2022, promotes direct action as a powerful tool for workers to secure better conditions at work. It outlines a range of tactics, from slowdowns and work-to-rule strategies to more assertive actions like “marches on the boss” and organizing sick-outs. Emphasizing the critical role of solidarity among workers, the pamphlet includes historical examples of direct action campaigns that have achieved success.

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One Big Union – Industrial Workers of the World (2000)

1990-2010, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Sabotage/Ecotage, Strike, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The Bourgeoisie, The Workplace, Workers

This document, written in 2000 by the Industrial Workers of the World, outlines the organization of workers and the working class. It includes a brief historical discussion, advantages of one union and organization, union and democracy, and direct action.

“A sane world run by producers for the common good is an aim that should be achieved and can be achieved. The I.W.W. can build the sort of labor movement to achieve this. There is really only one big problem in the world: a working class too disorganized to act for its own good. The I.W.W. has the solution to that problem.”
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Preamble of the Industrial Workers of the World (1908)

1840-1945, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Privatization, Subjectives of Refusal, The Bourgeoisie, The Workplace, Workers

The Industrial Workers of the World is a worker-led union advocating for and working towards direct action, democracy in the workplace, and unionism. This preamble to their constitution updated their mission and struggle.

“Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world organize as a class, take possession of the means of production, abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the Earth.”

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Manifesto of the Industrial Workers of the World (1905)

1840-1945, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Occupation, Privatization, Sabotage/Ecotage, Self Institution, Strike, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The Bourgeoisie, The Workplace, Workers

The Industrial Workers of the World is a worker-led union advocating for and working towards direct action, democracy in the workplace, and unionism. This manifesto explains the power of collective membership since capitalism is a universal evil.

“A movement to fulfill these conditions must consist of one great industrial union embracing all industries, providing for craft autonomy locally, industrial autonomy internationally, and working-class unity generally… All power should rest in a collective membership.”

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