Ben Waber reviewed Wobblies on the Waterfront by Peter Cole
An Incredible, Focused Look at the IWW
5 stars
There are far too few academic books on the IWW ("wobblies"), and Cole rectifies this in thrilling fashion. Using the wobblies in Philadelphia as a lens into the broader movement, this book shows how the IWW differed from other unions and associations of the time by actively seeking solidarity across racial (although notably not gender) boundaries, to the extent of having representative leadership. Cole shows how this solidarity initially led to big wins, while their loose association with Communism and later infighting with the movement ultimately caused their dissolution. Highly recommend
There are far too few academic books on the IWW ("wobblies"), and Cole rectifies this in thrilling fashion. Using the wobblies in Philadelphia as a lens into the broader movement, this book shows how the IWW differed from other unions and associations of the time by actively seeking solidarity across racial (although notably not gender) boundaries, to the extent of having representative leadership. Cole shows how this solidarity initially led to big wins, while their loose association with Communism and later infighting with the movement ultimately caused their dissolution. Highly recommend