Category Archives: union organizing

IWW expands in Finland

The Finland IWW Regional Organizing Committee has been chartered by the IWW administration for Europe. The charter was issued by the delegate council of the IWW WISE-RA (Wales, Ireland, Scotland & England Regional Administration). The Whatcom-Skagit Branch congratulates and welcomes the Finland Regional Organizing Committee (FINROC) as the latest international section to be formally charterContinue reading “IWW expands in Finland”

St Jo’s NURSES picket is ON!Tuesday April 22

Nurses at Bellingham’s St.Joseph Hospital rejected management’s “last, best, and final” offer yesterday. It was “pretty insulting” a nurse reported. See the 4/17 post on this website See you on the picket line!

Nurses plan picket at St. Jo’s on April 29

Excerpted from Cascadia Daily News 4-17-2025 [edited for brevity and with comments by IWW]: Nurses plan to picket outside PeaceHealth St. Joseph’sr on Tuesday, April 29, one month after rejecting a proposed contract (follow that link for more on the story- IWW). The picket is on if the hospital and union do not come toContinue reading “Nurses plan picket at St. Jo’s on April 29”

MOVIE NIGHT APRIL 16– SALT OF THE EARTH

Salt of the Earth [1954] is one of the most influential films in US history. It’s a feminist drama based on a 1950 strike by Chicano and white miners in New Mexico. The pro-union film was censored by the House Un-American Activities Committee. The directors and several of the actors were blacklisted by mainstream Hollywood;Continue reading “MOVIE NIGHT APRIL 16– SALT OF THE EARTH”

IWW organizes in Cyprus

As promised a couple days ago- IWW members in Cyprus have been organizing lately. Visit their website. Go there to read about a strike in an IWW-organized digital media company, Optilink, and contribute to their strike fund. Our Cypriot Fellow Workers are a Regional Organizing Committee within WISERA- the Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England RegionalContinue reading “IWW organizes in Cyprus”

IWW in Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England- going strong

Let’s not forgot that the Industrial Workers of the WORLD is an international union. There is a strong presence across the pond; in fact the Wobs are sufficiently numerous over there to have their own independent administration, separate from ours in North America. They are the same IWW; but with different labor laws and organizingContinue reading “IWW in Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England- going strong”

IWW MOVIE NIGHT WEDNESDAY!

The best solidarity movie ever! We all could use a positive jolt these days, this is it! First film in our movie night series. Third Wednesday of Feb, March, April, May. Review? “I hate this move”- anti-union homophobe; “Best movie ever!” Everyone else.

No NLRB? No Problem

by x364181 This article appeared in the February 7, 2025 issue of IWW’s Industrial Worker, our union’s official online news and opinion site. Subscribe for free here. art by x364181. Last week Trump fired two members of the National Labor Relations Board, leaving the body without quorum and the ability to process cases. Many unionsContinue reading “No NLRB? No Problem”

PEETS COFFEE TRIES TO BUST IWW UNION

Baristas in the Peet’s Coffee chain have been organizing into IWW’s Peet’s Labor Union for several years. In 2023, workers at three Peet’s stores in Berkeley and Oakland decided to organize with the IWW. In 2024, workers at the 4th Street store in Berkeley and at the NE Broadway store in Portland joined the IWW.Continue reading “PEETS COFFEE TRIES TO BUST IWW UNION”

UNION PICKET AT BELLINGHAM REI November 16

INFORMATIONAL PICKET AT BELLINGHAM’S REI Saturday, November 16th, from 1-4 REI’s union members will  leaflet customers to keep them informed on corporate delays at the bargaining table . ALL ARE INVITED! Drop by anytime between 1 pm and 4 pm to show your support for the workers! Wear your union pin and colors (shirts, hoodies,Continue reading “UNION PICKET AT BELLINGHAM REI November 16”

Bellingham Starbucks Union Organizer Fired!

PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUPPORT FUND. https://gofund.me/50af181c On February 17th, Sehome Starbucks union organizer Gwen Williamson was cruelly fired by Starbucks bosses when she had to call out of work due to a housing emergency. This is an inhuman way to treat anyone, but we are gettng really used to this behavior from Starbucks Inc.Continue reading “Bellingham Starbucks Union Organizer Fired!”

Picket line at Mount Baker Roofing in Bellingham- an update

Around 20 roofers at Mount baker Roofing company called a work stoppage this morning. The picket line was at the company’s offices but the workers were from the MB Roofing shop in Skagit county. Yesterday, a group of workers presented a demand to the Skagit manager to follow state health and safety rules, and toContinue reading “Picket line at Mount Baker Roofing in Bellingham- an update”

The IWW Today- a presentation at Village Books Feb 15, 7PM

An IWW member from Bellingham presents ‘The IWW Today’ at Village Books. Register in advance to reserve a seat [its free]: https://www.whatcomreads.org/event/the-iww-today/ This talk will explain how the IWW works in North America and elsewhere today, with examples of some of our union campaigns. We’ll have a literature table.  

Starbucks Workers United Strike in Bellingham

Shuts down three stores all weekend Union workers at Bellingham Starbucks stores at Sehome Village, Cordata, and Iowa & King struck all weekend, and kept the three stores closed. Pickets from other organizations, including IWW of course, showed up to add to the picket line. Starbucks corporate made no effort to open the stores. TheContinue reading “Starbucks Workers United Strike in Bellingham”

WWU STUDENT WORKERS FORM A UNION

Students employed by Western Washington University have formed a new union, unionized as Western Academic Workers United, affiliated with the United Auto Workers. A large majority of graduate and undergraduate student employees who do research or instructional work filed for union recognition on December 2 with the Washington Public Employment Relations Commission. The Union hopesContinue reading “WWU STUDENT WORKERS FORM A UNION”

Sehome Starbucks votes UNION- YES!

Baristas at the Starbucks in Sehome Village just voted to join Starbucks Workers United. The vote was 15-6. A small group of Starbucks workers from the three union stores as well as some Wobblies milled around outside waiting for the for the vote tally, which was announced at 6:25 PM. Three down, two stores toContinue reading “Sehome Starbucks votes UNION- YES!”