This International Women’s Day the Industrial Workers of the World commemorate the working women of Ireland and the world over, and acknowledge the work still to be done in advancing women’s equality in the workplace. From the very beginning as a radical labour union dedicated to organising all workers, women have played an important role in the IWW, such as Lucy Parsons, the African-American anarchist and industrial unionist who was one of the founding members of our union in 1905.
It is in this spirit and in the spirit of solidarity with all workers that we condemn the gendered aspects of capitalist oppression. The poor conditions - low pay, long hours, understaffing - facing workers in professions predominantly held by women such as nursing and other care work, are a reflection of how undervalued women’s work remains in our society.
We have seen this keenly as the Nurses from all over Ireland were driven out to strike in 2019 and 2020 and we commend their determination in using industrial action to demand better.We stand in solidarity with all working women around the world, from garment workers in Bangladesh who face abuse and violence for unionising to demand safer conditions, to migrant women forced into precarious employment, working mothers struggling to make ends meet on unfair wages, transgender women facing high levels of unemployment, and sex workers who face legal oppression along with exclusion from other trade unions.
The IWW know that solidarity is key. By organising together we can fight for and win improved working conditions for all women and all workers.
An Injury To One Is An Injury To All!