From kevin.brandstatter@afrc.ac.uk Mon Oct 3 13:51:58 1994 Received: from sun2.mhs-relay.ac.uk by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id GAA22174; Mon, 3 Oct 1994 06:51:52 -0700 X400-Received: by mta sun2.mhs-relay.ac.uk in /PRMD=uk.ac/ADMD= /C=gb/; Relayed; Mon, 3 Oct 1994 14:50:51 +0100 X400-Received: by mta arcs.afrc.ac.uk in /PRMD=UK.AC/ADMD= /C=GB/; Relayed; Mon, 3 Oct 1994 13:15:51 +0100 X400-Received: by /PRMD=UK.AC/ADMD= /C=GB/; converted (ia5 text (2)); Relayed; Mon, 3 Oct 1994 11:35:45 +0100 Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 11:35:45 +0100 X400-Originator: kevin.brandstatter@afrc.ac.uk X400-Recipients: deke@wps.com X400-MTS-Identifier: [/PRMD=UK.AC/ADMD= /C=GB/;0839351003101994/A13541/AFRCCO] X400-Content-Type: P2-1988 (22) Content-Identifier: 118A1AA32500 From: BRANDSTATTER Message-ID: <0839351003101994/A13541/AFRCCO/118A1AA32500*@MHS> To: deke@wps.com (Non Receipt Notification Requested) In-Reply-To: <199409301744.KAA15146@wps.com> Subject: Re: Fred Chase: GST Nomination Statement (fwd) Sensitivity: Company-Confidential Status: OR Fred Writing to confirm that I received your E-mail. Whether or not you are elected GST (are there any other candidates) I hope we keep in touch. We have a cuple of small organising drives going here. Among London couriers Among Edinburgh College lecturers. Will keep the IW and GOB informed of progress. Kevin Brandstatter From deke Mon Oct 3 17:43:39 1994 Received: from localhost by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id KAA22524; Mon, 3 Oct 1994 10:43:30 -0700 From: deke (Deke Motif Nihilson) Message-Id: <199410031743.KAA22524@wps.com> Subject: Re: Fred Chase: GST Nomination Statement (fwd) To: kevin.brandstatter@afrc.ac.uk (BRANDSTATTER) Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 10:43:30 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: <0839351003101994/A13541/AFRCCO/118A1AA32500*@MHS> from "BRANDSTATTER" at Oct 3, 94 11:35:45 am X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 207 Status: OR Hi Kevin, Deke here.Just a note to let you know that I forwarded your message along to FW Chase. His e-ddress is: 73174@compuserve.com (Fred Chase) Hold the Fort! In Solidarity, --Deke Nihilson, x341697 From deke@wps.com Wed Oct 12 22:32:08 1994 Received: from localhost by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id PAA07963; Wed, 12 Oct 1994 15:30:57 -0700 From: deke (Deke Motif Nihilson) Message-Id: <199410122230.PAA07963@wps.com> Subject: IWW General Affairs To: iww-list Date: Wed, 12 Oct 1994 15:30:56 -0700 (PDT) Cc: iww@igc.apc.org (GHQ) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 1875 Status: OR Just a couple items of potential interest to all wobs. (Please share the word with those not online...) As of 12 October, 1994 e.v., the following people have accepted nomination to the following positions, according to GST Rush's records: G.S.T. --> Fred Chase and Mike D'Amore G.E.B. --> Jon Bekken, Deke Nihilson, Matt Miscreant, Tony Roehrig and Dave Collins Please note that nomination acceptance notice and Candidate's Statements (for publication in the GOB) are due in GHQ by Tuesday 25 October. The G.E.B. has approved $1,000.00 each (in seed money) to both the Film Worker's Organizing Drive and the Black/People of Color Organizing Drive, with (I believe) the standard stipulations about accountability. I don't know the exact wording of the motion(s) they passed (I think it's in the GOB that's in the mail right now), but this obviously doesn't remove the respective funding proposals of each Drive from the forthcoming Referendum Ballot, either, as both were sent there by a superceding power-- (petitions of) the membership itself. Um, that's the big stuff, though I'd love to chat... Oh! The End-Up hearing before the Nat'l. Belabored Relations Bored has been rescheduled for 14 November,1994 at 9 a.m. (breakfast date with the gov't. and the ex-boss...), and of course subsequent days as necessary. BTW-- How's the standard wage-slave supposed to take that kind of indefinite chunk of time off work, anyway? Just tell the boss, "Oh-- I gotta go before the NLRB on charges against a former boss of mine..."? Or, mebbe they've been blackballed, and so live on the street, or in jail, and so it doesn't matter? I just gotta wonder that aloud. Justice-- all you can endure. Eventually. Maybe. ANYway... More later, as it comes to pass. For now, take care as I remain Yours in Solidarity, --Deke Nihilson, Faggot, x341697 S.F. GMB, I.U. 560, IWW From mdamore@moose.uvm.edu Tue Oct 11 17:20:06 1994 Received: from moose.uvm.edu by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id KAA03353; Tue, 11 Oct 1994 10:20:03 -0700 Received: by moose.uvm.edu (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03-UVM/CSO) id AA20549; Tue, 11 Oct 1994 13:19:44 -0400 Date: Tue, 11 Oct 1994 13:19:44 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael D. Damore" Subject: Re: GST To: Freevoice Cc: deke@fido.wps.com, maile@fido.wps.com In-Reply-To: <199410102322.QAA19638@igc.apc.org> Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: OR Josie: I, for one am glad that your response was so detailed. I gues I needed to know that you folks were OK with any plans concerning the GHQ model that I may need to work with. Knowing that you folks are 1) into the possibility of taking on the responsibility of the GA; and 2) have the personpower to handle the op, I now feel better about running. Soli, Mike D' From freevoice@igc.apc.org Tue Oct 11 01:13:03 1994 Received: from mail.igc.apc.org by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id SAA01832; Mon, 10 Oct 1994 18:12:53 -0700 Received: from igc.apc.org (igc.apc.org [192.82.108.1]) by mail.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.49 ) with SMTP id QAA22279; Mon, 10 Oct 1994 16:22:44 -0700 Received: (from freevoice@localhost) by igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.181 ) id QAA19638; Mon, 10 Oct 1994 16:22:39 -0700 Date: Mon, 10 Oct 1994 16:22:39 -0700 From: Freevoice Message-Id: <199410102322.QAA19638@igc.apc.org> To: mdamore@moose.uvm.edu Subject: GST Cc: deke@fido.wps.com, maile@fido.wps.com Status: OR Dear Mike, As always, we would love to have you run, and we are willing to do the office thing if that would help you run, but please don't feel compelled to do anything injurious to your personal situation for it. As Robert Rush reminded me at the Assembly, it only takes 51% of the IWW to change the constitution, so no matter who is GST, or on the GEB, there is only so much an active, organizing, and growing membership can be stopped from doing. Still, it would be great to have you as GST and to have the office on the East Coast for a while. According to Tai, the GST can have the office anywhere and anyway that they want to, so there is no intrinsic reason why, with a little difficulty, you couldn't manage the office on an absentee basis for a while. Between email, fax and phone, we can set up ways in which you would get all documents electronically wherever you have a computer to receive them (We have a scanner here, and we routinely OCR documents, in addition, handwritten documents could be reproduced in graphic form. The main effort would be to synchronize software to insure minimal problems) As such, visiting once every week or two, you would be able to manage the office pretty effectively (Since rent would be much lower here, part of the difference could help defray the costs of commuting) Also, this might become the basis of a more global administration of the IWW. If almost everything is maintained also in electronic form, it can be made available to the entire membership by email (At least every GMB and IU could access them, creating a more Universal, and immediate GOB) This could also build into the goal of every GMB and IU having computer/fax/phone infrastructure. In any event, this situation would primarily only be necessary for the first few months of the year. Since I would be out on the West Coast for Feb.-May, I would also be interested in reinforcing this model of telecommuting. Lastly, since many of the Office's responsibilities are pretty routine, a reliable staff is what would be performing most of these day to day activities. Let me know what you think about this (this whole scheme could be far expanded and refined if there is an interest in doing so) [at any event, one of my jobs has been software consulting which includes designing, programming, and training people on software. Fundamentally, all this technology only increases the possibilities, it does not make a poor administrator good, or a good one bad] Hope that this is at least some more food for thought. We are working on creating something akin to a Joe Hill house in Philadelphia (officially a Ben Fletcher House) to provide a more routine and reliable home for Wobs passing through. Possibilities range from renting the 2nd floor of the Aspace (app $310/month) as a union hall, or expanding our share of the Monkeywrench warehouse (up to $250/month depending on what) to create a bunk style guest room capable of accommodating 4 guests. As we already want to install 2 showers and a washer/dryer in the warehouse as a squatter/homeless support service, this would only take a little more work and time. We currently offer housing to any passing Wobs, but this is on a personal basis, so we can't always depend on it. Anyway, this could help build a more active relationship to the GA for more of the membership (after all, you would not have to worry about housing if you visit the office) I'm sure this is much more than you were bargaining for as a response, and we would gladly work with any other ideas you develop that might make things work. 9 days and counting Josie From iww@igc.apc.org Tue Oct 11 23:08:52 1994 Received: from mail.igc.apc.org by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id QAA04579; Tue, 11 Oct 1994 16:08:51 -0700 Received: from igc.apc.org (igc.apc.org [192.82.108.1]) by mail.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.49 ) with SMTP id QAA15228 for ; Tue, 11 Oct 1994 16:08:27 -0700 Received: (from iww@localhost) by igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.181 ) id QAA11504 for deke@fido.wps.com; Tue, 11 Oct 1994 16:08:22 -0700 Date: Tue, 11 Oct 1994 16:08:22 -0700 From: Melissa Roberts Message-Id: <199410112308.QAA11504@igc.apc.org> To: deke@fido.wps.com Subject: 4ghq Status: OR >From kevin.brandstatter@afrc.ac.uk Tue Oct 11 03:58:01 1994 Received: from sun2.mhs-relay.ac.uk (sun2.mhs-relay.ac.uk [128.86.8.35]) by mail.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.49 ) with SMTP id DAA19886 for ; Tue, 11 Oct 1994 03:57:59 -0700 X400-Received: by mta sun2.mhs-relay.ac.uk in /PRMD=uk.ac/ADMD= /C=gb/; Relayed; Tue, 11 Oct 1994 11:57:23 +0100 X400-Received: by mta arcs.afrc.ac.uk in /PRMD=UK.AC/ADMD= /C=GB/; Relayed; Tue, 11 Oct 1994 11:58:10 +0100 X400-Received: by /PRMD=UK.AC/ADMD= /C=GB/; converted (ia5 text (2)); Relayed; Tue, 11 Oct 1994 12:59:32 +0100 Date: Tue, 11 Oct 1994 12:59:32 +0100 X400-Originator: kevin.brandstatter@afrc.ac.uk X400-Recipients: iww@igc.apc.org X400-MTS-Identifier: [/PRMD=UK.AC/ADMD= /C=GB/;7406591111101994/A31843/AFRCCO] X400-Content-Type: P2-1988 (22) Content-Identifier: 118A5AFA3B00 From: BRANDSTATTER Message-ID: <7406591111101994/A31843/AFRCCO/118A5AFA3B00*@MHS> To: iww@igc.apc.org (Non Receipt Notification Requested) Subject: GEB nomination Sensitivity: Company-Confidential Status: R Freinds and fellow workers Thanks for nominating me to become a member of the General Executive Board. I have discussed the workload of a GEB member with Fred Lee. Unfortunately the coming year is bound to be busy both personally and IWW-wise so I do not think I can commit myself to the extra work needed to fulfil GEB responsibilities properly. I must therefore decline nomination. Good luck to all those who do get elected. I am sure that the next twelve months will see a booming IWW. We seem to be turning our minds towards organising a genuine revolutionary union. This can only be good. Kevin Brandstatter x341505 From deke@wps.com Thu Oct 13 02:06:35 1994 Received: from dub-img-2.compuserve.com by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id TAA08963; Wed, 12 Oct 1994 19:04:26 -0700 Received: from localhost by dub-img-2.compuserve.com (8.6.4/5.940406sam) id WAA22343; Wed, 12 Oct 1994 22:03:21 -0400 Date: 12 Oct 94 21:58:27 EDT From: Fred Chase <73174.77@compuserve.com> To: IWW List Subject: Seed Money Wording Message-ID: <941013015826_73174.77_DHI78-1@CompuServe.COM> Status: OR Here's the wording on the motion seeding the organizing projects. GEB MOTION: FC 12 - That $1,000 in seed money be granted to the Black/People of Color Organizing project and $1,000 to the LA Film Industry Organizing Project, with the following provisions: That monthly reports on the use of this money be submitted to G.A.; that the money shall be used for the purpose of promoting the I.W.W. and that no portion shall be used for promoting any political or anti- political sect; that, should referenda granting larger sums to either of these organizing projects pass, this money shall be considered to be part of the money sought through those referenda. FC12 was suggested by GST Rush, and it makes a lot of sense to me. The purpose of the motion is to give the two organizing projects part of what they seek from the union now and see how they use it before we give them the whole chunk. Please refer to my letter in the latest GOB. I feel the Union has been too quick to give out money in the past with no control over its use. One way to deal with that is to parcel it out and evaluate how it is being handled before we throw good money after bad. These two groups have presented viable proposals for organizing. But, if the referenda they are submitting pass and the efforts fail, we'll be out $16,000. Hopefully this proposal will encourage Wobs to vote against the referenda giving away large sums of money on blind faith. This way we'll only be out $2,000 if the efforts fail. If they are succeeding, we can always give them more later. It was presented as an alternative to the referenda and I hope the membership will consider carefully before voting on the referenda. This motion gives the two groups a start on their projects, but requires that they show the union they can produce before they get large sums for projects which to date only look good on paper. Until we see how this money is used, I strongly urge the membership to vote no on the referenda. And I'd be very interested in hearing what Wobs on this list think. Solidarity, Fred Chase X331591 The vote: BR-X / FC-Y / MD-Y / RE-Y / JF-X / FL-X / HS-Y Passed From deke Fri Oct 14 07:26:34 1994 Received: from localhost by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id AAA15269; Fri, 14 Oct 1994 00:26:34 -0700 Date: Fri, 14 Oct 1994 00:26:34 -0700 From: deke (Deke Motif Nihilson) Message-Id: <199410140726.AAA15269@wps.com> To: deke@wps.com Status: OR Fellow Workers (of whatever genders), I have accepted nomination to the General Executive Board (GEB) of the IWW for the year of 1995, and hereby stand before you for election. It took a lot of thought, as last year upon nomination I respectfully declined, for reasons I cataloged at the time (which weren't published). In a nutshell, I was concerned about burnout factor on the Board, and felt that my activities as an organizer are more important to our Union and more fulfilling personally. I still feel this way, but upon reflection I'm convinced that I'm ready, willing and able to serve my Union, my class and my kind in this role-- at least for a year! But more on that in a minute. First, I guess it's traditional to list one's contributions to the organization in a nomination statement. I'll try to keep this brief. (No, really!) I joined the IWW on Haloween Day 1991, initiated by Melissa Roberts at GHQ. I have been a member in continuous good standing for three years now, with roots in the punk rock and radical Queer activist communities. I was the first wobbly at the End-Up, a queer bar at which I was a janitor. Before this, I was a dishwasher, prep cook, telemarketer, manual labor temp worker, thrift store worker, vagrant, AIDS survey worker, canvasser, activist, zine publisher, and singer in a punk rock band called Comrades In Arms. I was one of several wobblies fired from the End-Up for union organizing with the IWW, and years later that case is still pending against the bosses at the NLRB. Not that that represents our struggle against them-- we picketed for months, our line was recognized by the Teamsters, endorsed by the SEIU, ACT-UP, Queer Nation, the WSA and a local (Queer) politician, amongst others, and our barricades was more of a call to class consciousness issued to queer workers everywhere. This was, and is, our real and ongoing success. In the course of this struggle, I was made a delegate-at-large by then-GST Jess Grant, and remain so to this day. I have not added up the statistics as to how many Fellow Workers I've signed up, tables I've (wo)manned, lit I've handed out, assessment stamps I've sold, picket lines I've walked in solidarity, for such numbers games in this context are tacky. But that's the sort of thing I've been doing as a delegate, and writing letters, and causing trouble, and always remembering in the course to remain responsible to my duties and accountable to my Union. I believe that my record speaks abundantly to this assertion. Also, I was a founding member of the current incarnation of the Santa Cruz GMB. There, in addition to being a delegate and relentless agitator for the One Big Union, I also served in the capacities of mail coordinator, GDC delegate, branch zine producer, branch secretary, e-mail demigoddess, coffee night hostess and cultural bridge. In Santa Cruz, I was a cookie maker and seller, coffee slave, Queer community center volunteer, and unemployed. I played a crucial part, but only a part, of uniting the wage-slave and homeless populations there in a common understanding of our common interests, in the face of a most vehement assault from our most common enemy-- not each other, but the ruling class. I was also one of several core organizers of this year's assembly. You know, I find it really weird to talk about all this so abstractly, to catalog all this like it's up for judgement. Maybe it's just the anarchist in me... Now, I'm back in San Francisco (a/k/a Kook City) where I work at a relatively cutting-edge Internet connectivity service provider. I have continued organizing in permutations of the strains of activities I've listed above, but am in the process of refocusing my most primary organizing energies at the point of production, as ever, like a goddam wobbly! I have set up an online wobs-only mailing list, distributing information and networking with fellow workers and shirkers in cyberspace, never forgetting my roots. One of my major goals for the impending future is to set up what's called a "domain" in netspeak that is primarily (if not specifically) that of the IWW. I haven't broadcast this too much, as the possibility is still rather embryonic-- but imagine if online access (like an e-mail account and oh, so much more) were a standard benefit of IWW membership. This will happen (or not) whether or not you elect me-- the point is, rather, that whatever else I'm doing, it's always with an eye and a hand and a comrade or two (or more) towards worker control of the point of production. This I believe to be the heart (if not soul) of our Union, it's promise and hope, and nothing less than my duty and calling in life, whatever come what may. By extension, it's why Every Worker Is An Organizer, and thank-you UFW for carrying that slogan on. ANYway. That's that in brief (No, Rrrreally!), aside from the two ballot committees and the audit committee and the office work at GHQ and, and, well, you get the point. Most friction I've felt in performing various duties I've taken on has, I believe, come from holding true to our Constitution where it's articulate, and direct action in its spirit (through my own, subjective filters). Also, as our spirit and direct action span almost 90 years at this point, I feel that I've contributed to as I've drawn on this awesome legacy, as does every fellow worker who chooses and pursues the life and the paths of a gawddamn IWW. The pilosophy that will guide me, if elected, springs from this deep and respectful, mutual (if subjectively-rendered) understanding. My belief and understanding of power-- not only in our Union, but generally-- is that the ultimate authority and pentultimate power resides truly and rightly in the rank and file of the people constituting the body itself. Strictly speaking, I'm not really an anarchist (ooooh-- dish the dirt with Deke time!!)-- I'm an Omniarchist. In other words, I believe that we're all in charge, to the point that that's my guiding principle. I think what's gone wrong in the past with "activists" (like we all aren't) in our Union taking on Roles of Authority has been the presumption that individual well-meaning can be a substitute (or at least a proxy) for what will be best for all of us. That doesn't mean I'm not biased towards the organizers-- my Goddess, that's all of what I am!!-- but I also happen to be an ardent member of the Joe Hill Memorial Society, to say nothing of a being a founding (re)member of the Ben Flethcher Living History Collective. And how about that Arturo Giovanniti afer all? To say nothing of Flynn... The point of all this is that we all owe everything we've remembered to do to people who are dead-- and that's a heavy responsibility, indeed. But if we don't do for ourselves, the Union will die, for the Union is no more or less than all of us together. I plan to do what I do despite taking my turn on the GEB. I am the enemy of neither Lit nor GA. I belong to both a GMB and an IU. I am an anarchist organizer as well as a queer wobbly, and am emboldened as I'm humbled by the very same convergences. I will see anything my fellow workers have put themselves on the line for through to the next place at which the entire membership can decide how far onto that line the rest of us can or will go. Think about that-- that's what you can expect of me on the GEB. That doesn't mean I won't have particular opinions one way or another, nor that I won't pursue the pursuasion of others in the ways that I call it. But, my will plus three votes does not substitute for the will of the majority of the Union. That doesn't make the Union infallible. But if it's making bad decisions, it's up to YOU, fellow worker, to bring more people, with more clues, into it. You can rest assured that in that, you'll always have my support, whether I'm on the GEB or Just Another Queer Janitor. Take care, stay aware and in Solidarity as I remain Yours for the Revolution, Deke Motif Nihilson, x341697 S.F. GMB, I.U. 560, Delegate 94-33 Industrial Workers of the World From miballar@leland.Stanford.EDU Fri Oct 14 18:24:44 1994 Received: from elaine33.Stanford.EDU by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id LAA16784; Fri, 14 Oct 1994 11:24:43 -0700 Received: (from miballar@localhost) by elaine33.Stanford.EDU (8.6.8/8.6.6) id LAA13366 for deke@fido.wps.com; Fri, 14 Oct 1994 11:24:23 -0700 From: Michael Ballard Message-Id: <199410141824.LAA13366@elaine33.Stanford.EDU> Subject: Re: All Them Nominations... To: deke@fido.wps.com (Deke Motif Nihilson) Date: Fri, 14 Oct 1994 11:24:23 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: <199410141726.KAA16538@wps.com> from "Deke Motif Nihilson" at Oct 14, 94 10:26:41 am X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 526 Status: OR Deke Motif Nihilson writes: >BTW, shall I add you back on to the iww-list? Top of the mornin' to you FW Deke. Sure, I'd love to get back on the list. Saw something from someone named Kim in my mail. Looked like it was a response from something sent to an iww list. Anyway, I sent her some Wob joining info from my terminal. Luck to you on the candy statement. I remember writing mine and how I reflected on just who I as thought of what I'd say. It's good to do that every once in a while. Your FW in Palo Alto, Mike From iww@igc.apc.org Mon Oct 17 20:22:59 1994 Received: from mail.igc.apc.org by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id NAA25364; Mon, 17 Oct 1994 13:22:58 -0700 Received: from igc.apc.org (igc.apc.org [192.82.108.1]) by mail.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.50 ) with SMTP id NAA24812 for ; Mon, 17 Oct 1994 13:21:41 -0700 Received: (from iww@localhost) by igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.181 ) id NAA21382 for deke@fido.wps.com; Mon, 17 Oct 1994 13:21:26 -0700 Date: Mon, 17 Oct 1994 13:21:26 -0700 From: Melissa Roberts Message-Id: <199410172021.NAA21382@igc.apc.org> To: deke@fido.wps.com Subject: 4ghq Status: OR >From miballar@leland.Stanford.EDU Fri Oct 14 09:45:43 1994 Received: from elaine33.Stanford.EDU (elaine33.Stanford.EDU [36.218.0.17]) by mail.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.49 ) with SMTP id JAA16405 for ; Fri, 14 Oct 1994 09:45:42 -0700 Received: (from miballar@localhost) by elaine33.Stanford.EDU (8.6.8/8.6.6) id JAA12627; Fri, 14 Oct 1994 09:45:34 -0700 From: Michael Ballard Message-Id: <199410141645.JAA12627@elaine33.Stanford.EDU> Subject: GOB Submission To: iww@igc.apc.org Date: Fri, 14 Oct 1994 09:45:33 -0700 (PDT) Cc: miballar@leland.Stanford.EDU X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 1607 Status: RO Fellow Wobs, Just got back from a lengthy journey to find a GOB in my mailbox with news from the IWW Assembly. Lots of activity and that's good, along with funding proposals for some very intriguing projects. My question is: what we will we cut from our current activities to fund the new projects, if they are passed, and how do we plan to trim our already significant monthly deficits? Was the Bari vs. Held law suit won while I was away, yielding the IWW a pay back for the seed money we lent our (former?) FW's lawyers? Has another FW left us some loot in her/his will? I saw a proposal to reduce the amount of deficit spending on the "IW"; but nothing else caught my attention. Perhaps I haven't read the GOB closely enough yet. I'll give it another read; but until I find some reasonable proposals to cut spending, I could never, in good conscience, vote to fund new projects, considering our current financial plight. I think it would be better, if we all started thinking about how we're going to raise money to keep the organization going, instead of how we're going to spend money we don't have. How? Buy some assessment stamps. Organize a few fellow workers. Sell the IW to pay your own dues and perhaps even get a few subs. Set up a table with IWW lit at your local farmers' market. Sorry to sound so harsh. Actually, I think the world of you all. It takes courage, forebearance, and class-consciousness, just to be a Wobbly. Let's face it though, we don't have the dough to become the checkbook liberals of the world. Vote no on all new spending proposals. Mike Ballard X334260 From mdamore@moose.uvm.edu Fri Oct 21 20:38:05 1994 Received: from moose.uvm.edu by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id NAA11839; Fri, 21 Oct 1994 13:38:04 -0700 Received: by moose.uvm.edu (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03-UVM/CSO) id AA148982; Fri, 21 Oct 1994 16:37:32 -0400 Date: Fri, 21 Oct 1994 16:37:31 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael D. Damore" To: freevoice@moose.uvm.edu Cc: Deke Subject: IWW Elections Again Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: OR Josie: I have contacted Bob Rush concerning the logistics of running the office and I have also thought about this pretty seriously, but I have concluded that I really don't think that I could pull off this GST thing. Sorry for being absolutely neurotic about this, jumping back and forth between doing this and not doing it, but I really think that one of the problems was that I didn't want the General office to be anywhere where it could do damage to activist groups aroung the union. After thinking about this, I realized that do this to avoid the possibilities of Ann Arbor fucking it up was the wrong attitude. I really realized that there was a problem with running when I spoke with BOB and he encouraged me to come up with a plan for things that I had not considered, like moving the shit from SF to Philly, getting myself and new staff trained; Fred has a plan for all of this you know. At this point my existence is too transient for me to really make any plans--that's really unfair to all the FWs out there who rely on the GA for services. I keep thinking this way, maybe the Ann Arbor branch won't run things as poorly as they did in the mid *0's when a string of their branch memebrs were GST. They are, in the end, our fellow workers and I do believe the intentions of Fred and the gang are good. Hopefully, you are right that the activists can appeal to the 51% and keep projects running. Since I never responded on the nomination to the GEB, i guess I'll accept that instead. After seeing the list of candidate so far, I think perhaps the board can actually help out organizing projects this coming year. I also still think that Philly would be a great place for the GA someday, and definetly the place to be for the next assembly. Hopefully I'll see ya next time I get around PA. Say hi to Bob for me. Soli, Mike D' PS: Deke don't post on iww-list. I'll be sending a much shorter note to Fred and the list soon. thanks. From deke@wps.com Fri Oct 21 21:02:07 1994 Received: from moose.uvm.edu by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id NAA11887; Fri, 21 Oct 1994 13:50:19 -0700 Received: by moose.uvm.edu (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03-UVM/CSO) id AA101841; Fri, 21 Oct 1994 16:49:54 -0400 Date: Fri, 21 Oct 1994 16:49:54 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael D. Damore" To: iww-list Subject: Elections Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: OR FWs: This short note is to let you know that I have decided not to run for GST for various reasons, most notably my unpredictable life in the next twelve months (ie where I'l be school, work, whatever). Since I was also nominated fore elction to the GEB, I have decide to give it another run for the board. A candidate statement will soon follow. Assuming that no one else will decide to run for GST at this late a date, I wish Fred Chase good luck. Soli, Mike D' From deke Sat Oct 22 23:55:50 1994 Received: from localhost by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id QAA15770; Sat, 22 Oct 1994 16:55:50 -0700 From: deke (Deke Motif Nihilson) Message-Id: <199410222355.QAA15770@wps.com> Subject: SECOND DRAFT GEB STMT To: sciww (Santa Cruz IWW) Date: Sat, 22 Oct 1994 16:55:50 -0700 (PDT) Cc: deke (Deke Motif Nihilson) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 9306 Status: O This is only my Second Draft-- it is NOT TO BE PUBLISHED unless I am in jail (for feeding the hungry) at deadline. In this event, the only authorized copy is in the hands of the S.C. IWW. --Deke Motif Nihilson, X341697 Sat, 22 Oct., 5 p.m. *****begin attachment***** Fellow Workers (of whatever genders), I have accepted nomination to the General Executive Board (GEB) of the IWW for the year of 1995, and hereby stand before you for election. It took a lot of thought, as last year upon nomination I respectfully declined, for reasons I cataloged at the time (which weren't published). In a nutshell, I was concerned about burnout factor on the Board, and felt that my activities as an organizer are more important to our Union and more fulfilling personally. I still feel this way, but upon reflection I'm convinced that I'm ready, willing and able to serve my Union, my class and my kind in this role-- at least for a year! But more on that in a minute. First, I guess it's traditional to list one's contributions to the Union in a nomination statement. I'll try to keep this brief. (No, really!) I joined the IWW on Haloween Day 1991, initiated by Melissa Roberts at GHQ. I have been a member in continuous good standing for three years now, with roots in the punk rock and radical Queer activist communities. I was the first wobbly at the End-Up, a queer bar at which I was a janitor. Before this, I was a dishwasher, prep cook, telemarketer, manual labor temp worker, thrift store worker, vagrant, AIDS survey worker, canvasser, activist, zine publisher, and singer in a punk rock band called Comrades In Arms. I was one of several wobblies fired from the End-Up for union organizing with the IWW, and years later that case is still pending against the bosses at the NLRB. Not that that represents our struggle against them-- we picketed for months, our line was recognized by the Teamsters, endorsed by the SEIU, ACT-UP, Queer Nation, the WSA and a local (Queer) politician, amongst others, and our barricades was more of a call to class consciousness issued to queer workers everywhere. This was, and is, our real and ongoing success. In the course of this struggle, I was made a delegate-at-large by then-GST Jess Grant, and remain so to this day. I have not added up the statistics as to how many Fellow Workers I've signed up, tables I've (wo)manned, lit I've handed out, assessment stamps I've sold, picket lines I've walked in solidarity, for such numbers games in this context are tacky. But that's the sort of thing I've been doing as a delegate, and writing letters, and causing trouble, and always remembering in the course to remain responsible to my duties and accountable to my Union. I believe that my record speaks abundantly to this assertion. Also, I was a founding member of the current incarnation of the Santa Cruz GMB. There, in addition to being a delegate and relentless agitator for the One Big Union, I also served in the capacities of mail coordinator, GDC delegate, branch zine producer, branch secretary, e-mail demigoddess, coffee night hostess and cultural bridge. There I helped organize nonviolent direct-action defense of reproductive health service clinics against physical assault by Operation "Rescue," a far-right, fascist-theocratic gang of terrorists. I was a cookie maker and seller, coffee slave, Queer community center volunteer, and unemployed. I played a crucial part, but only a part, of uniting the wage-slave and homeless populations there in a common understanding of our common interests, in the face of a most vehement assault from our most common enemy-- not each other, but the ruling class. I was also one of several core organizers of this year's assembly. In all of this, I was re-affirmed in one of the primary things that drew me to the Wobblies-- our belief in nonviolent *direct action* at the point of production (or simply of oppression, as the case may be) as the safest, surest tool of Social Revolution. This Precious Thought of ours shines its guidance as surely as the day we first articulated our desire and intention to form the new society within the shell of the old. What can I say-- I'm all about that! ANYway. Now, I'm back in San Francisco (a/k/a Kook City) where I work at a relatively cutting-edge Internet connectivity service provider. I have continued organizing in permutations of the strains of activities I've listed above, but am in the process of refocusing my most primary organizing energies at the point of production, as ever, like a goddam wobbly! I have set up an online wobs-only mailing list, distributing information and networking with fellow workers and shirkers in cyberspace, never forgetting my roots. One of my major goals for the impending future is to set up what's called a "domain" in netspeak that is primarily (if not specifically) that of the IWW. I haven't broadcast this too much, as the possibility is still rather embryonic-- but imagine if online access (like an e-mail account and oh, so much more) were a standard benefit of IWW membership. This will happen (or not) whether or not you elect me-- the point is, rather, that whatever else I'm doing, it's always with an eye and a hand and a comrade or two (or more) towards worker control of the point of production. This I believe to be the heart (if not soul) of our Union, it's promise and hope, and nothing less than my duty and calling in life, whatever come what may. By extension, it's why Every Worker Is An Organizer, and thank-you UFW for carrying that slogan on. ANYway. That's that in brief (No, Rrrreally!), aside from the two ballot committees and the audit committee and the office work at GHQ and, and, well, you get the point. Most friction I've felt in performing various duties I've taken on has, I believe, come from holding true to our Constitution where it's articulate, and direct action in its spirit (through my own, subjective filters). Also, as our spirit and direct action span almost 90 years at this point, I feel that I've contributed to as I've drawn on this awesome legacy, as does every fellow worker who chooses and pursues the life and the paths of a gawddamn IWW. The pilosophy that will guide me, if elected, springs from this deep and respectful, mutual (if subjectively-rendered) understanding. My belief and understanding of power-- not only in our Union, but generally-- is that the ultimate authority and pentultimate power resides truly and rightly in the rank and file of the people constituting the body itself. Strictly speaking, I'm not really an anarchist (ooooh-- dish the dirt with Deke time!!)-- I'm an Omniarchist. In other words, I believe that we're all in charge, to the point that that's my guiding principle. I think what's gone wrong in the past with "activists" (like we all aren't) in our Union taking on Roles of Authority has been the presumption that individual well-meaning can be a substitute (or at least a proxy) for what will be best for all of us. That doesn't mean I'm not biased towards the organizers-- my Goddess, that's all of what I am!!-- but I also happen to be an ardent member of the Joe Hill Memorial Society, to say nothing of a being a founding (re)member of the Ben Flethcher Living History Collective. And how about that Arturo Giovanniti afer all? To say nothing of Flynn... The point of all this is that we all owe everything we've remembered to do to people who are dead-- and that's a heavy responsibility, indeed. But if we don't do for ourselves, the Union will die, for the Union is no more or less than all of us together. I plan to do what I do despite taking my turn on the GEB. I am the enemy of neither Lit nor GA. I belong to both a GMB and an IU. I am an anarchist organizer as well as a queer wobbly, and am emboldened as I'm humbled by the very same convergences. I will see anything my fellow workers have put themselves on the line for through to the next place at which the entire membership can decide how far onto that line the rest of us can or will go. Think about that-- that's what you can expect of me on the GEB. That doesn't mean I won't have particular opinions one way or another, nor that I won't pursue the persuasion of others in the ways that I call it. But, my will plus three votes does not substitute for the will of the majority of the Union. As sketchy as the Constitution can be (everything's so, well, General), it seeks to leave power in the hands of the many, and I exactly agree. When ignored or interpreted for individual purposes, the result is the kinds of Secret Government of Dirty Tricks that Nixon or Reagan so well represent (above the rest of us, they *were* the Law. Yeah, right.) That doesn't make the Union as it's constituted infallible. But if it's making bad decisions, it's up to YOU, fellow worker, to bring more people, with more clues, into it. You can rest assured that in that, you'll always have my support, whether I'm on the GEB or Just Another Queer Janitor. Take care, stay aware and in Solidarity as I remain Yours for the Revolution, Deke Motif Nihilson, x341697 S.F. GMB, I.U. 560, Delegate 94-33 Industrial Workers of the World *****end attachment***** From 73174.77@compuserve.com Sun Oct 23 18:53:22 1994 Received: from arl-img-2.compuserve.com by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id LAA17463; Sun, 23 Oct 1994 11:53:21 -0700 Received: from localhost by arl-img-2.compuserve.com (8.6.4/5.940406sam) id OAA13095; Sun, 23 Oct 1994 14:53:02 -0400 Date: 23 Oct 94 14:48:32 EDT From: Fred Chase <73174.77@compuserve.com> To: Deke Subject: Re.:Fred Chase GEB Reports & GOB letter Message-ID: <941023184832_73174.77_DHI51-1@CompuServe.COM> Status: OR Hi Deke, I'm going to be sending across my GEB and chair reports as well as a letter intended for the GOB. I'll email them to the IWW network address. I do intend for them to go out on the network; but I'm wondering if you could also make hard copies and get them to GHQ by the Wednesday GOB deadline. I'll be mailing or faxing copies there too; but would feel more confident they'll arrive on time if hand delivered. Thanks if you can, understanding if you can't Solidarity, Fred From deke@wps.com Sun Oct 23 19:08:45 1994 Received: from arl-img-1.compuserve.com by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id MAA17502; Sun, 23 Oct 1994 12:04:15 -0700 Received: from localhost by arl-img-1.compuserve.com (8.6.4/5.940406sam) id PAA11814; Sun, 23 Oct 1994 15:03:50 -0400 Date: 23 Oct 94 14:57:26 EDT From: Fred Chase <73174.77@compuserve.com> To: IWW List Subject: Fred Chase: Letter to GOB Message-ID: <941023185726_73174.77_DHI51-2@CompuServe.COM> Status: OR Fred Chase 1137 S. 7th #2 Ann Arbor, MI 48103 ph: 313-662-1529 email: 73174.77@compuserve.com 10/23/94 REGARDING THE BLACK/POC AND THE FILM WORKERS RESOLUTIONS As noted in the latest GEB report, grants of $1,000 have been approved by the Board for each of these projects. Subject to adequate reporting, demonstrated results, and appropriate use of the funds, both projects may apply for further funding in the future. The purpose of this grant by the Board was to provide an alternative for Union members who believe both projects may have merit, but who feel that granting large sums is inappropriate without some evidence that the projects will succeed. It is my personal hope that this alternate procedure for funding will encourage Union members to vote no on both of these resolutions. I'm not opposed to spending money for organizing. I'm opposed to giving away large sums of money before there is any evidence that the IWW will benefit from the grants. I wish there were two votes on the B/PoC Resolution. I'm as certainly in favor of creating such a committee to promote more racial diversity in the Union as I am opposed to funding it to the tune of $5,000 before it starts showing some chance of success. So I'll be voting No to oppose the grant, not the creation of such a committee. The Film Workers Organization tells us that they will pay us back the $10,000 they seek at the rate of $1,000/year for each year that the organization maintains at least 50 members starting in 1995. They don't have 50 members yet. If they don't get 50 members, this would seem to absolve them from the obligation to repay the loan. The board has given them $1,000. Let's see if they can at least come up to 50 members before we consider giving away any more. For the sake of the financial survival of the IWW, and in the name of what I perceive to be common sense, I beg all members to join me in voting NO on both of these resolutions at this time. Once the projects start producing, we can consider their further needs. Solidarity, Fred Chase X331591 From deke Sun Oct 23 19:09:38 1994 Received: from localhost by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id MAA17549; Sun, 23 Oct 1994 12:09:35 -0700 From: deke (Deke Motif Nihilson) Message-Id: <199410231909.MAA17549@wps.com> Subject: Re: Re.:Fred Chase GEB Reports & GOB letter To: 73174.77@compuserve.com (Fred Chase) Date: Sun, 23 Oct 1994 12:09:35 -0700 (PDT) Cc: sciww (Santa Cruz IWW), deke (Deke Motif Nihilson) In-Reply-To: <941023184832_73174.77_DHI51-1@CompuServe.COM> from "Fred Chase" at Oct 23, 94 02:48:32 pm X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 642 Status: O Sure FW, no problem. I'm running FW Tai's GEB candidacy statement down there too (from online), and gotta get mine in too. I work one mere train stop from GHQ, and print stuff out there (work, that is). BTW, take a look at Art. III, Sec. (c) and (d) of the Constitution. Whaddaya think about this, in light of the fact that there's only you running for GST and only seven of us for GEB (that I know of, at least)? I gotta be off soon to the SFGMB meeting, and I'm gonna ask folks there what they think, too... Someone in the Santa Cruz GMB pointed it out to me, so that's why I'm cc: ing 'em... Solidarity, --Deke Nihilson, X341697 From 73174.77@compuserve.com Sun Oct 23 19:54:53 1994 Received: from dub-img-1.compuserve.com by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id MAA17720; Sun, 23 Oct 1994 12:54:50 -0700 Received: from localhost by dub-img-1.compuserve.com (8.6.4/5.940406sam) id PAA19702; Sun, 23 Oct 1994 15:53:57 -0400 Date: 23 Oct 94 15:52:23 EDT From: Fred Chase <73174.77@compuserve.com> To: "INTERNET:deke@fido.wps.com" Subject: Re: Re.:Fred Chase GEB Reports & GOB letter Message-ID: <941023195222_73174.77_DHI78-1@CompuServe.COM> Status: OR Got your reply. Thanks. As I read the constitution, whether or not we have 3 nominees for GST and 21 for GEB, the process is open to write-in candidates. Rush is planning to put spaces for the same on the ballot. Art 3, Sec 3A also allows for reducing the qualifications for GST candidates from 3 years membership, 18 mo.s good standing to 2 years / 18 mos. So that opens the field a little bit. The constitution doesn't seem to deal with the possibility that there might be less than the maximum number of candidates. Past practice, and I feel common sense too, is that you take as many eligible people as you can get; but if you can't get 3 and 21, so it goes. I've been lobbying some people who initially declined to run for the board to change their minds. Not a lot of success. And I don't know anyone besides me and D'amore who was eligible and interested in GST. If you do, you should probably encourage them to write a candidate's statement for the GOB and ask for write-in support, if they weren't nominated at assembly. Is this your interpretation too? Got interrupted after sending the GOB letter. Board report to follow in a few minutes. What kind of work do you do? Solidarity, Fred From deke@wps.com Sun Oct 23 20:12:19 1994 Received: from dub-img-1.compuserve.com by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id NAA17734; Sun, 23 Oct 1994 13:04:19 -0700 Received: from localhost by dub-img-1.compuserve.com (8.6.4/5.940406sam) id QAA20359; Sun, 23 Oct 1994 16:03:26 -0400 Date: 23 Oct 94 15:58:07 EDT From: Fred Chase <73174.77@compuserve.com> To: IWW List Subject: Fred Chase - GEB & Board Chair Report Message-ID: <941023195806_73174.77_DHI78-2@CompuServe.COM> Status: OR Fred Chase 1137 S. 7th #2 Ann Arbor, MI 48103 ph: 313-662-1529 email: 73174.77@compuserve.com 10/23/94 GEB REPORTS RECEIVED : Siitonen 10/1 & 10/8; Elbourne 10/3 (mail) & 10/8 (phone); Lee 10/7 & 10/22; D'Amore 10/11 (e-mail); CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED: Mike Ballard 10/13, GHQ 10/15 (O'ahu request for GMB status) NEW MOTIONS: VOTES: FL 3 (GMB Status for O'ahu - Yes DISCUSSION: FL 3: Congratulations, welcome, and best wishes to the O'ahu group. COMMENTS: As noted in the October GOB, Greg Giorgio is the new alternate to the board. Ray Elbourne called with a yes vote on FC-12 Ongoing questions: 1. Has the Kinko organizing project reconsidered letting GHQ know the nature of the suit which may be brought against them and potentially against the larger IWW as well? 2. What's the status of the lawsuit against Lenny Flank? 3. Will board members be receiving copies of the "Worker's Guide to Union Organizing" from Lehigh? I see in the October GOB that FW Flank wants royalties if we distribute it. We can't decide that until we see it. 4. What was Boulder's response to Brendan's proposals regarding the computer in their possession? Solidarity, Fred Chase X331591 Fred Chase 1137 S. 7th #2 Ann Arbor, MI 48103 ph: 313-662-1529 email: 73174.77@compuserve.com GEB Chair Report 10/23/94 Greg Giorgio is now the new first alternate to the GEB. Since the last GEB report: Motions passed: 1. To grant $1,000 seed money to the Black/People of Color Organizing Committee and $1,000 seed money to the Film Industry Organizing Committee. Motions failed: None Motions expired without resolution: 1. To send the question to referendum of reducing the constitutionally required number of members for a shop card from 5 to 4; Motions pending: 1. To grant GMB status to the O'ahu IWW Group. The seed money for the organizing committees is presented as an alternative option to referenda requesting $6,000 for the B/PoC drive and $10,000 for the Film Industry drive. It would help them get started, only fund the portion of the B/PoC drive which is geared toward IWW organizing, and allow the IWW to retain control over how the money is spent. More could be granted later if the drives prove successful. Current GEB Motions 10/23/94 JF 4 (9/7/94) Send to referendum: In Article II, Section 3. of the constitution, change 5 to 4 (# required for a shop card) BR-X / FC-N / MD-Y / RE-N / JF-Y / FL-N / HS-Y Expired FC 12 (9/28/94) That $1,000 in seed money be granted to the Black/People of Color Organizing project and $1,000 to the LA Film Industry Organizing Project, with the following provisions: That monthly reports on the use of this money be submitted to G.A. by the organizers; that the money shall be used for the purpose of promoting the I.W.W. and that no portion shall be used for promoting any political or anti-political sect; that, should referenda granting larger sums to either of these organizing projects pass, this money shall be considered to be part of the money sought through those referenda. BR-X / FC-Y / MD-Y / RE-Y / JF-X / FL-Y / HS-Y Passed FL 3 (10/16/94) That the O'ahu IWW Group be granted GMB status. BR-X / FC-Y / MD-X / RE-X / JF-X / FL-Y / HS-X Pending From 73174.77@compuserve.com Mon Oct 24 23:14:23 1994 Received: from arl-img-1.compuserve.com by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id QAA21230; Mon, 24 Oct 1994 16:14:04 -0700 Received: from localhost by arl-img-1.compuserve.com (8.6.4/5.940406sam) id TAA13645; Mon, 24 Oct 1994 19:13:13 -0400 Date: 24 Oct 94 19:10:04 EDT From: Fred Chase <73174.77@compuserve.com> To: Deke Subject: Geoff Kroepel's GEB Statement Message-ID: <941024231004_73174.77_DHI70-1@CompuServe.COM> Status: OR Deke, Another statement for you to carry to GHQ if you would. Also Geoff misplaced your phone number. He'll be out there Saturday morning ready to go. If you want to call to confirm or just to leave your number on his answering machine, his number is (313) 769-0695. Solidarity, Fred & Geoff GEB NOMINATION STATEMENT I accept nomination to the General Executive Board. I have been a member of the IWW for five years. In that time I have served as a delegate, have been elected to two audit committees, have been involved in the production of the Industrial Worker, and have engaged in organizing efforts at my workplace and around the area served by our branch. I'm currently employed as a bike mechanic. In the past I've worked as a cook, dishwasher, sewer cleaner, truck driver, purchaser, and maintenance coordinator. I've never met a boss I didn't like to harrass. Our strength lies in our unity and our diversity, not in our checkbooks. We have been spending too liberally. I believe we need to plan for the long range survival of the IWW so that it will be around to help build the new world. Geoff Kroepel From freevoice@igc.apc.org Tue Oct 25 19:05:41 1994 Received: from mail.igc.apc.org by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id LAA24260; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 11:33:21 -0700 Received: from igc2.igc.apc.org (igc2.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.39]) by mail.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.50 ) with SMTP id LAA11530; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 11:33:01 -0700 Received: (from freevoice@localhost) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.4 ) id LAA09439; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 11:33:00 -0700 Date: Tue, 25 Oct 1994 11:33:00 -0700 From: Freevoice Message-Id: <199410251833.LAA09439@igc2.igc.apc.org> To: deke@fido.wps.com Subject: for GOB Cc: iww-list@fido.wps.com Status: OR For the GOB Fellow Workers, I am writing to express my concern for the very arbitrary way in which much of the IWW operates on a national level. At the recent GA I was placed on the Credentials Committee, as the one member not from the SF area. When I talked with FWs Meyer and Collins about the Committee, I was given to understand that, as members of the committee in the SF area, they would collect the information and then make it available to me in Philadelphia so that I could evaluate and assent to the findings of the Committee. I provided phone, beeper, mail, email, and fax addresses so that I could be reached quickly and easily, and so that my geographic location would not significantly hinder the process. However, after not hearing anything for a month, I contacted the Clearinghouse to find out what was happening with the Committee. To my surprise, FW Rush informed me that the committee had met, with his assistance, ruled and informed those nominated of their status without even informing me that they had started the process. When I asked how this could be the case, FW Rush attempted to justify this process by several arguments (even though I was not holding him responsible): 1) That no one from outside the SF area should have been on the committee. 2) That if there were some controversy, I would surely have been notified. 3) That he was not sure of the actual constitutional basis for the Committee. 4) That the committee had not really met, and the he himself had really done the determination. 5) That in any event, 2 out of 3 committee members constitutes a quorum, so it was all legal. He then assured me that he would immediately send me a copy of the findings, so that I would be able to at least see what had been decided in my name. To this date, I have yet to see such a document. As far as I know, there have not been any mistakes made, but at the same time, there has not been any basis for me to know anything. Frankly, what is the point of having a committee to oversee such a potentially controversial matter, if the committee is going to be ignored. I have been given to understand through conversations with some candidates that there are not going to be any contested elections. Surely, if we are going to be so meticulous on the definition of "good standing" we should be equally as meticulous in process for evaluating it. While I am not accusing anyone of any intentional corruption of the process, when some members of the Union are so quick to resort to constitutional fine points, I find it questionable when this happens only selectively, In solidarity x341890 From sciww Tue Oct 25 19:58:44 1994 Received: from localhost by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id MAA24520; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 12:58:43 -0700 From: sciww (Santa Cruz IWW) Message-Id: <199410251958.MAA24520@wps.com> Subject: geb statemnet To: deke (Deke Motif Nihilson) Date: Tue, 25 Oct 1994 12:58:42 -0700 (PDT) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 5687 Status: OR To Robert Rush and the General Membership of The Industrial Workers of the World, I, Tai Miller, accept nomination to the General Executive Board of the I.W.W.. Thank you to the many people in our Union who helped and supported me in coming to this decision. So that you will be more informed voters, here is some of the history of my activities in the I.W.W. and some of my opinions about the things happening in our Union. I have been a member in good standing since November 11th, 1992, when I was signed up by Steve Stafford in Santa Cruz. I joined because I wanted to be an organizer on my job. When the Santa Cruz Branch became official early in 1993 five of the ten founding members were from my jobsite. I have been a delegate in good standing since the founding of the Santa Cruz Branch. During my time in the Santa Cruz Branch, I have served as meeting co-ordinator and then as Branch Treasurer from Aug 1993 to Aug 1994., as well as being on many committees and organizing several fund-raisers. In 1993 I attended the General Assembly in San Francisco where I facilitated one session and was elected to and later served on the Audit Committee. In 1994 the biggest project that I worked on was bringing the General Assembly to Santa Cruz. Originally we had planned to put in a bid for 1995 but we saw the need so we took the chance. It was a learning ex- perience for us all, but we did it. After facilitating the first day of the Assembly I felt confident that we were gathered in good faith and work- ing together for the betterment of our Union. Thanks again to everyone who came, we are still missing you. Throughout my time in the I.W.W. I have been employed at Kinko's, and our Branch has continued an organizing drive there since it's inception. Over the last two years, one F.W. and I have signed up 15 other co-workers, 7 of whom are still in our Union. I have participated in the kinko's co- worker network (an information campaign within Kinko's) by submitting articles to the co-worker factzine, and in the Duplication Workers Network (an I.W.W. organizing drive in the quick print industry) by continuing to be a job site delegate at Kinko's. Currently the workers in our store are engaged in a letter writing campaign to protest the dress code. Whether or not we form a job shop officially, the influence of I.W.W. members at our jobsite has signif- icantly improved safety conditions and the unofficial collective bargaining procedures of the workers. Along with my history, I think it would be appropriate to give you some samples of my opinions so you can be prepared for upcoming G.O.B.'s. After much reading of G.O.B.'s and I.W.'s I've thought of three interconnected things that I think are key to the survival and prosperity of our Union. The first and foremost is fund-raising, and how we go about it. The second is co-ordinated production of our literature and the third is distribution of lit. to our members and the world at large. Fundraising is something we rarely address directly on a Union-wide basis. I would like the G.E.B. to discuss fundraising and put forth some proposals to start getting it done. Keeping the Union finances in order not only entails monitoring chartered bodies and delegates but also raising money to keep our minimal infrastructure going. One way our Union tries to make money is through it's Literature. Since education of the working class is one of our historic missions this makes sense. I think we should support the production of as much and diverse lit. as possible so people will be able to get the Word out (the Working Class and the Employing Class have nothing in common...). I would like to see I.U. 450 become an active entity again! Still on the topic of lit., I would like to extend congratulations to Jon Bekken on his new editorship of the I.W. and to thank the entire collective for it's great coverage of the assembly. I also want to say thanks for stopping the expansion program as I firmly believe that our production and distribution should at least be related. And lastly, related to distribution of everything from buttons to computers, it is my considered opinion that we need to make more delegates. Further, we need to take better care of the delegates we do have. A new more inspiring delegates manual would be very helpful. It might also be interesting to have regional General Organizing Committees to help delegates get the resources they need to keep themselves, their organizing projects, their assessment stamps and Union Literature on the move. My interpretation of the constitution is that I.W.W. administration was sup-posed to function like a three-legged stool made up of the GST, the GEB and the many GOC's that represented I.U.'s and other chartered bodies. The GOC's were the heart of the Union and furthered responsible de-centralization by promoting local autonomy and local accountability. They also provided a link between the chartered bodies and the international body of the Union. I personally believe that we need that kind of connection right now. We must communicate in order for our work to keep going on. If we are strong separately, we can be even stronger together, and the bosses won't stand a chance. Thank You. Tai Miller X342099 Secret Agent 99, still working for Control... of the point of production. From deke@wps.com Tue Oct 25 21:27:56 1994 Received: from moose.uvm.edu by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id OAA24731; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 14:27:32 -0700 Received: by moose.uvm.edu (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03-UVM/CSO) id AA27350; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 17:26:35 -0400 Date: Tue, 25 Oct 1994 17:26:32 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael D. Damore" To: iww-list Subject: GEB Candidate Statement Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: OR FWs: I wish to accept the nomination for candidacy to the GEB, and decline nomination for candidacy to the GST. I will forgo the usual lengthy dissertation (no offense) which describes the sleighing of dragons and bosses alike during fiery revolutionary crusades, and instead list my experience and a short note on what I will do if re-elected to the board. Past Experience: --two terms on the GEB --three time branch delegate for Lehigh Valley GMB --temp branch secretary for LVGMB --participant in organizing efforts which led to the formation of the Philly GMB, two regional groups and Blvd Bingo Job Shop --participation in various failed organizing attempts that proved a valuable learning experience The IWW is in a financial crisis; this should be news to no one. This year's board will be responsible for the continued financial existence of this union. If elected to the board, I will continue calling for ways to decrease expenditures through responsible decentralization. I will also support the granting of precious funds only to innovative, action projects that show promise for making the IWW grow into an activist organizing union. Look... instead of a long ramble on my part in which I try to pontificate on the future and you sit and analyze what the hell I'm really talking about, I'll ask you to check your back GOBs. For the past two years my votes as a GEB member have been printed there. If you like the way that I have voted, it would be safe to say that you'll probably think that I'd do a good job; if you think that I'm a stupid, ignorant jack-ass, then send me packing. Really, its that simple. In closing, I'd like to thank the FWs who nominated me for both GA positions. I appreciate the fact that you have confidence in my abilities. Soli, Mike D'Amore x341375 From deke@wps.com Tue Oct 25 21:33:27 1994 Received: from moose.uvm.edu by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id OAA24739; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 14:33:11 -0700 Received: by moose.uvm.edu (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03-UVM/CSO) id AA164883; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 17:32:46 -0400 Date: Tue, 25 Oct 1994 17:32:45 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael D. Damore" To: iww-list Subject: Letter to the GOB Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: OR FWs: I wish to take a minute to speak in support of the Philadelphia GMB's proposal to host the 1995 General Assembly. I have seen the activities of the Philly IWW first hand, and I can tell you that there is much going on. The convention would be a great chance for Wobs from all over to come and see the fruits of these projects. I also support their initaitive because the Philly folks really know how to run a convention. During the summer of 1993, I attended an Anarchust Gathering in Philly that was organized by the local anarchist scene, many of these people were Philly Wobs. The gathering organizers coordinated two meetings sites, various entertainment activities and food and shelter for hundreds of people. The weekend was interesting, informative and went along without any major problems. In the past, anarchist gatherings have not been the most peaceful events (for better or worse) but the Philly gathering was smooth, peaceful and effective. I hope to have the opportunity to see all of you this fall at the IWW assembly in Philadelphia, PA. Soli, Mike D'Amore x341375 From jbekken@igc.apc.org Tue Oct 25 23:44:27 1994 Received: from mail.igc.apc.org by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id QAA24938; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 16:28:30 -0700 Received: from igc2.igc.apc.org (igc2.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.39]) by mail.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.50 ) with SMTP id QAA25104; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 16:28:08 -0700 Received: (from jbekken@localhost) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.4 ) id QAA12234; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 16:28:08 -0700 Date: Tue, 25 Oct 1994 16:28:08 -0700 From: Jon Bekken Message-Id: <199410252328.QAA12234@igc2.igc.apc.org> To: deke@fido.wps.com, freevoice@igc.apc.org Subject: Re: for GOB Cc: iww-list@fido.wps.com Status: OR Fellow Workers, I find this account quite disturbing. While the primary purpose of the Credentials Commitee is surely to resolve disputes that may arise over eligibility, it is nonetheless essential that all Committee members be appraised of each step of the process and be able to ensure through their own personal oversight that all is done according to the rules (over which people have been known to differ from time to time on interpretation). I urge immediate transmittal to the FW the record of who was found ineligible, eligible and on what basis. Jon Bekken From maile Wed Oct 26 12:35:19 1994 Received: from localhost by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id FAA27162; Wed, 26 Oct 1994 05:35:17 -0700 From: maile (Maile Pickett) Message-Id: <199410261235.FAA27162@wps.com> Subject: For the GOB To: deke (Deke Motif Nihilson) Date: Wed, 26 Oct 1994 05:35:15 -0700 (PDT) Cc: freevoice@apc.igc.org X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 5594 Status: OR Deke- Please make sure this gets into the GOB- sorry to be so last minute about it. Thanks! soli, maile ATTN: ROBERT RUSH FOR THE GOB October 25, 1994 Dear All, First, on behalf of the Santa Cruz GMB I would like to again thank everyone who participated in and or supported the 1994 General Assembly and Action in Santa Cruz. Special thanks to the San Francisco and O'ahu branches for their vital last minute financial contributions, these really made a difference. If we were exhausted at the outset from all the planning and coordinating we were soon revived by meeting all of you and experiencing the increasing activity of our union. Individually I am writing to discuss my enthusiasm and slowly resolving hesitations in regard to the three new ORGANIZING proposals up for consideration on the November referendum. After being torn about these proposals for quite a while I believe I am going to vote in favor of all of them, despite the funding issues, and here is why: 1). We must do something drastic with this union. We must find ways to directly support those who intend to do the full time WORK of organizing, both as a way of helping to focus the energies of this union and to increase the arena of possible involvement for membership in actual organizing drives. 2). We must utilize every opportunity to train new organizers as this is the only way we will become effective. We are not a professional business union that will hire outside experts to do our organizing for us (besides they'd be too expensive wouldn't they?) All we've got are us and so we'd better start doing something with exactly who we are right now. 3) Being fiscally conservative can only slow the decline in funds; organizing stands the chance to replenish this union, and not just financially but with an influx of energy, membership and direction. 4) Finally, I really think we CAN make these different organizing drives "successful" but only if we view them all as a collective effort and not as some sort of "test" of the powers of a few catalytic yet isolated folks. Yes, its true that these proposals, the Black/People of Color Organizing project, the Poor People's Movement for Survival and the Film Worker's Organizing Drive are all big funding requests which have already incurred some very condemning letters in last month's GOB as well as an interesting response from the GEB. As some may know and others may not, the Film Workers Organizing drive and the Black/People of Color Organizing project were each awarded $1000 as "seed money." While I can see that in part the intention for awarding this money is to give these projects something to initially work with, a second no less significant intention is to discourage union membership from voting for these proposals in their current form. Organizers for these projects are expected to then "prove" their viability. Now, is that the viability of the projects or the organizers...? Are we engaged in a collective effort to change the world or are we conducting lab experiments on "success" -/burn-out ratios for overworked, under-funded organizers...? Really, we need to look at the way we are responding to real efforts by members of our union to organize workers. How are we ever going to grow if we are constantly responding to organizing efforts with such disdain? Isn't it true that part of the reason we are operating with a deficit each month is because we are not increasing membership or doing any adequate fundraising...? Fundraising isn't done in a vacuum. Successful fundraising usually centers around an organizing drive. This doesn't mean that I have no criticisms of these particular proposals. All of these proposals should have been (will be?) accompanied by more detailed information. But then this in part a wider problem with the way we as an organization communicate and make decisions. We tend to construct things as positions before having complex conversations. Voting is a very limited form of participation and it is certainly not a conversation. It is a yea or nay decision and if you have a problem with something on the ballot you are supposed to vote "no" to voice your concern; never mind that such a vote might also effectively kill the positive aspects of whatever is under consideration. I strongly believe that at this particular juncture if we do not figure out a way to do A LOT more organizing of workers than we have been doing, our union will fail no matter what the fiscal situation. While this doesn't necessarily mean funds must be the method of support, we must ask ourselves what then we do intend to do as individuals or branches to support these efforts...? What resources can we offer; equipment, infrastructure, time? Can we make time in our lives to go to these different regions? What kinds of organizing aids do we at each branch have access to? Can we construct a more lateral fundraising network between interested GMBs? How can we use these current proposals and the energies behind them to orient, focus and link the different efforts of all our union members? These efforts will not be "successful" if we as members imagine that we can vote for (or against..?) them and then wait and see. Instead we must look at these efforts as challenges and opportunites for immediate direct involvement. Perhaps with each of these decisions the question is not "can we afford to do this" but rather; "how can we afford not to"? Maile Pickett Treasurer, Santa Cruz GMB X342615 From iww@igc.apc.org Wed Oct 26 17:15:04 1994 Received: from mail.igc.apc.org by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id KAA27943; Wed, 26 Oct 1994 10:15:03 -0700 Received: from igc.apc.org (igc.apc.org [192.82.108.1]) by mail.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.50 ) with SMTP id KAA29038 for ; Wed, 26 Oct 1994 10:14:54 -0700 Received: (from iww@localhost) by igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.181 ) id KAA01709 for deke@fido.wps.com; Wed, 26 Oct 1994 10:14:53 -0700 Date: Wed, 26 Oct 1994 10:14:53 -0700 From: Melissa Roberts Message-Id: <199410261714.KAA01709@igc.apc.org> To: deke@fido.wps.com Subject: 4gob Status: OR >From jbekken Tue Oct 25 19:28:53 1994 >From jbekken Tue Oct 25 19:28:59 1994 Received: (from jbekken@localhost) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.4 ) id TAA29469; Tue, 25 Oct 1994 19:28:53 -0700 Date: Tue, 25 Oct 1994 19:28:53 -0700 From: Jon Bekken Message-Id: <199410260228.TAA29469@igc2.igc.apc.org> To: bfax:4156262685 Subject: candidate statement iww Cc: iww Status: R Jon Bekken Fellow Workers, I accept nomination to the General Executive Board (and decline nomination for General Secretary-Treasurer; I am certain FW Fred Chase will do an fine job as GST). I have been a member of the IWW since 1978, have served on the GEB and as GST, and am acting editor of the Industrial Worker. I am a teacher (presently unemployed), and have been working with other FWs in the education industry for the past two years to build the IWW's Education Workers Industrial Union 620. While the IWW's situation is not quite as desperate as it was a year ago, it remains serious. We must continue our efforts to organize new members, to expand the IWW's presence and visibility in our communities and, especially, in industry, and to bring expenses under control. Ultimately, the survival (and growth) of this organization will depend upon the extent to which we, as IWW members, take responsibility for the organization. At the most recent General Assembly, one fellow worker said the IWW existed as a funding agency ~- as a mechanism for financing disparate local efforts. We must put this sort of thinking behind us, for it is wrong on two counts. First, the IWW's limited (and rapidly vanishing) treasury cannot serve as a substitute for local initiative and the efforts of our member. We cannot afford it, and it doesn't work. If you examine IWW organizing efforts of the past two decades, you will find a clear relationship between the amount of money spent on an organizing drive and its success. The more we spend, the less successful the drive is. Organizing relies on the commitment of fellow workers on the job and in the local branch; without those there can be no progress no matter how much money or how many lawyers are thrown at the problem. Second, and perhaps more important in the long run (our treasury, after all, will not long be with us unless we make dramatic changes in the way we operate), this kind of thinking negates the IWW's very reason for being. The IWW is not, and was never intended to be, a mere umbrella group for a series of disconnected local campaigns. We were founded as an organization with a common (if broadly stated) set of principles (the IWW Preamble) and a common program (the organization of revolutionary unions at the point of production to struggle for better conditions here and now, and to reorganize production in the interests of the great majority once we have succeeded in building One Big Union). The IWW's literature (which is in need of expanding and updating), our press, and our general administration are all essential parts of our effort to sustain this common purpose and to bring the IWW's message of revolutionary industrial unionism to the millions of our fellow workers who have not yet taken out their red cards and joined the union of their class. If I am elected, I will press for issuing a new edition of the IWW Organizing Manual in 1995; for maintaining the Industrial Worker and building a campaign to get it into the hands of our unorganized and misorganized fellow workers; and for greater financial accountability and restraint. We have been without an IWW organizing manual ever since the 1988 General Executive Board withdrew the 1987 edition (which I coordinated the writing of) from distribution and revoked its status as official literature. While that edition now needs some updating, it is time to circulate it among the members, incorporate any desired revisions, and republish it and other materials that would assist IWW members around the world in organizing our fellow workers. In recent years, the IWW has expended vast sums on "organizing" projects. Few of those projects have ever reported back to the membership on how those funds were expended or what results were obtained. This lack of accountability is unacceptable. The members deserve to know how our funds have been spent, and what the results have been -~ both to inform our decision-making processes on future funding requests and also so that we may learn from the successes and failures of past organizing campaigns. If elected to the GEB I will press for an accounting for all projects funded by the organization over the past five years, and also for a return to our earlier method of handling such funds whereby the monies were retained at GA and expended only when actual receipts or bills were presented. No matter whom you vote for, I urge you to examine carefully the record and program of each candidate. We can no longer afford (if we ever could) to entrust the supervision of our union to people who casually spend IWW funds, thousands of dollars at a time, without regard to the organization's resources or to the practicality of the projects they are funding. I urge similar scrutiny to the funding proposals on the current ballot. I will be voting against each one. The film workers' proposal is not sufficiently detailed, and I see no evidence that it has been fully thought through. While the Black Workers Organizing Project is more detailed, I feel this project needs more discussion and refinement (do we, for example, need another office?). I also believe that we should be organizing workers into the IWW, not into independent organizations. The proposal to contribute to the Zapatistas, while no doubt as well-intentioned as all the rest, strikes me as inappropriate. When Wobblies joined the Mexican Revolution in 1913, they did not call on general organization funds; they financed their efforts themselves. Our more recent efforts to raise funds to assist Solidarnosc (when it was underground) and the Spanish CNT were similarly financed by voluntary assessments (much like what the Southeast Michigan GMB is proposing to assist our Haitian fellow workers). It is not at all clear that $1000 could make any real difference to the Zapatistas (even if it gets there -~ most the funds collected in their behalf never arrived). We would do better to show solidarity with our Mexican fellow workers by donating our time to actions against repression, by joining with our fellow workers to act against the companies that exploit and oppress them; and by organizing our own communities and workplaces to wage the class war more effectively. Yours for revolutionary industrial unionism, Jon Bekken, X331117 From sciww Wed Oct 26 19:53:49 1994 Received: from localhost by fido.wps.com (8.6.5/wps.com-hackery) id MAA28402; Wed, 26 Oct 1994 12:53:48 -0700 From: sciww (Santa Cruz IWW) Message-Id: <199410261953.MAA28402@wps.com> Subject: Tai's GEB statement To: deke (Deke Motif Nihilson) Date: Wed, 26 Oct 1994 12:53:48 -0700 (PDT) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 230 Status: OR Hiya Deke-- Just a brief note to ask ya if you could put Tai's Candidacy Statemaent on-line. I'd attempt it myself but you've got copy that you had to re-format. Thanks and see ya on Samhain &solidarity PETERJ