# Industrial Workers of the World

> international union founded in 1905

**Wikidata**: [Q1046722](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1046722)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Workers_of_the_World)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/industrial-workers-of-the-world

## Summary
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is an international labor union founded in Chicago on June 27, 1905, by William Dudley Haywood. Also known as "The Wobblies," the union is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and is characterized by its adherence to revolutionary syndicalism, anarcho-syndicalism, and the "One Big Union" concept. As of 2021, the organization reports a membership of 12,300 and maintains a presence in nine countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Industrial Workers of the World
- **Short Name:** IWW
- **Nicknames:** Wobblies, The Wobblies, I.W.W.
- **Founded:** June 27, 1905
- **Founder:** William Dudley Haywood
- **Instance of:** Labor union, International organization
- **Headquarters:** Chicago, Illinois, USA (2036 West Montrose, 60618)
- **Member Count:** 12,300 (2021)
- **Political Ideology:** Revolutionary syndicalism, Anarcho-syndicalism, Democratic socialism, Labourism, One Big Union, Workers' self-management
- **Member Of:** International Confederation of Labor (joined 2018)
- **Official Website:** https://www.iww.org/
- **Official Shop:** https://store.iww.org/
- **House Publication:** *Industrial Worker*
- **Countries of Operation:** United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Iceland, Italy, Australia
- **Social Media:** Twitter (@iww), Instagram (@industrialworkersoftheworld), YouTube (theiww), Reddit (r/IWW)

## FAQs
**What is the Industrial Workers of the World?**
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is an international labor union founded in 1905. It is often called "The Wobblies" and is known for its syndicalist and socialist political ideologies.

**When was the IWW founded and by whom?**
The union was founded on June 27, 1905, by William Dudley Haywood.

**Where is the IWW located?**
While it operates in nine countries, its General Headquarters is currently located at 2036 West Montrose, Chicago, IL 60618-2117, USA.

**What are the core beliefs of the IWW?**
The organization's political ideology is defined by revolutionary syndicalism, anarcho-syndicalism, democratic socialism, and the goal of "One Big Union" advocating for workers' self-management.

**How many members does the IWW have?**
The union reported a membership of 12,300 in 2021. It also has a significant digital following, with nearly 100,000 followers on social media as of 2023.

## Why It Matters
As a labor union with over a century of history, the Industrial Workers of the World represents a distinct and enduring tradition of radical labor organizing. Founded in the early 20th century, it has been documented in historical reference works such as the *1922 Encyclopædia Britannica* and *The Encyclopedia Americana*. The IWW continues to play a role in the global labor movement through its affiliation with the International Confederation of Labor and its ongoing operations across North America, Europe, and Australia. Its commitment to "One Big Union" and workers' self-management distinguishes its approach to labor rights and industrial organization.

## Notable For
- **Nicknames:** Widely recognized by the unique moniker "The Wobblies."
- **Ideology:** A distinct multi-faceted political stance combining revolutionary syndicalism, anarcho-syndicalism, and democratic socialism.
- **Longevity:** Continuous operation since its founding in 1905.
- **Global Reach:** An international union with active branches in nine countries.
- **Historical Documentation:** Subject of articles in major historical encyclopedias including *Collier's New Encyclopedia* (1921) and the *Encyclopedia of Chicago*.

## Body

### Organizational Identity and Foundations
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), often abbreviated as I.W.W. or referred to by its nickname "The Wobblies," is an international labor union. It was founded on June 27, 1905, by William Dudley Haywood. The organization operates as an "international organization" and a "labor union" with an ISBN publisher prefix of 978-0-917124. Its official logo is widely used, and it maintains a universal label dating back to 1917.

The union's political ideology is a blend of revolutionary syndicalism, anarcho-syndicalism, democratic socialism, and labourism. Central to its philosophy are the concepts of "One Big Union" and "workers' self-management." The IWW has been a member of the International Confederation of Labor since 2018.

### Geographic Presence and Headquarters
The IWW maintains a presence in nine countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Iceland, Italy, and Australia.

The union's General Headquarters (GHQ) has moved frequently, though it has been predominantly based in Chicago, Illinois.
- **Current HQ (Preferred):** 2036 West Montrose, Chicago, IL 60618-2117, USA (Established 2012).
- **Previous Locations:**
    - Cincinnati, OH (2006–2009)
    - Philadelphia, PA (2000–2005)
    - Ypsilanti, MI (1995–1999)
    - San Francisco, CA (1991–1994)
    - Chicago, IL (Multiple addresses spanning 1905–1990, including 1001 W Madison St and 3333 Belmont Ave).

### Membership and Community
As of 2021, the IWW reported a membership of 12,300. The organization has a notable digital footprint:
- **Reddit:** The subreddit r/IWW has 30,986 subscribers (as of Dec 2022).
- **Social Media Followers:** The union's social media following grew from 81,743 in Jan 2021 to 99,944 by Feb 2023.
- **YouTube:** The channel "theiww" was created on June 27, 2011, and has accumulated 30,348 views.

### Publications and Media
The IWW publishes a house periodical titled *Industrial Worker*. The organization maintains a comprehensive digital presence, including an official website (iww.org), an online store (store.iww.org), and active accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. It also operates a Lemmy community at `iwwunion@lemmy.ml`.

### Authority Control and Identification
The IWW is indexed in numerous library and authority systems worldwide.
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n80079695
- **VIAF ID:** 135585641
- **GND ID:** 5053292-3
- **ISNI:** 0000000121632531
- **BabelNet ID:** 00045678n
- **Freebase ID:** /m/097pm
- **Quora Topic:** Industrial-Workers-of-the-World
- **Britannica Online ID:** topic/Industrial-Workers-of-the-World
- **Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID:** 2011269

The organization is also cataloged in the *Encyclopedia of China*, *Canadian Encyclopedia*, *Oregon Encyclopedia*, *Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia*, and the *Dictionary of Sydney*.

## References

1. [Source](https://iww.org/directory/)
2. [Source](https://www.iww.org/headquarters)
3. [Source](https://www.iww.org/headquarters/oldghq.shtml)
4. [Source](http://www.peacehost.net/FinnLabor/Memoirs30.htm)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. [Source](https://iww.org/)
9. Google Knowledge Graph
10. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20241001125507/https://olmsapps.dol.gov/query/orgReport.do?rptId=783018&rptForm=LM2Form)
11. BabelNet
12. Quora
13. YouTube API