Definition

Proper noun: * Industrial Workers of the World: A radical labor union and social movement founded in the United States in 1905. Its primary historical goal was to unite all workers into "One Big Union" to oppose capitalism and replace it with a worker-led society. Its influence and membership significantly decreased after World War I.

Usage

• The IWW organized workers across industries, from lumber and mining to textiles and shipping.
• Historians study the IWW for its role in early 20th-century labor struggles and its radical ideology.
• The songs and pamphlets of the IWW were powerful tools for mobilization and propaganda.

Advanced Usage

• "Wobbly": A colloquial and often affectionate term for a member of the IWW. The origin of the nickname is uncertain.
  • The old-time Wobbly shared stories of the famous 1912 Lawrence textile strike.

Variants and Related Words

• Industrial Workers of the World: The full name of the organization, often used in formal or historical writing.
• Wobblies: The plural, informal term for members of the IWW.
  • The Wobblies were known for their commitment to industrial unionism and direct action.

Synonyms

• One Big Union: A conceptual synonym reflecting the IWW's primary organizational aim.
• The Wobblies: An informal synonym for the union itself or its members.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "An injury to one is an injury to all": This was a central slogan of the IWW, expressing its principle of radical solidarity.
  • The IWW's motto, "An injury to one is an injury to all," called for unity among all workers.

Noun

1. a former international labor union and radical labor movement in the United States; founded in Chicago in 1905 and dedicated to the overthrow of capitalism; its membership declined after World War I