History of Labor and Work
Discussion Questions
- Who did the Wobblies organize during WWI and what made the Wobblies so appealing to these workers?
- In terms of strategy and tactics the IWW proved to be a rather creative organization. The tactic they were most noted for was Sabotage (though its debatable as to how often they actually engaged in the act). Based on the IWW Elizabeth Gurley Flynn’s definition, do you think sabotage can it be justified on moral grounds?
- The IWW was for all intensive purposes crushed by the government and vigilantes during and immediately following WWI. Do you think they could have done things differently, (i.e., not openly and defiantly opposing the war) and perhaps lived to fight another day.
- Although the country was divided about entering the war and the “Left” remained adamantly opposed (e.g., IWW, Debs, Socialists, anarchist), unions grew rapidly during the war years (AFL membership went from 2 million to 3 million from 1916-1919), the question is why? What led to the surge in membership?
- Based on Harvey O’Conner’s recollections of the Seattle general strike of 1919, what were the workers trying to accomplish? What was the purpose of the strike? Was it to help the shipyard workers or was there an expectation that the general strike would spread to other cities? And what do you think about the way the strike was portrayed in the press?
- And finally, based on “The Killing Floor” and the readings, why did 4 million workers go on strike in 1919 and why did it all come crashing down for Labor and end in near total defeat? (Note: Again, the AFL lived to fight another day.)
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