The IWW is a union for all workers — One Big Union!
Join the NYC General Membership Branch today!
As a result of a motion passed on September 1, 2019, at the North American IWW General Convention, all new members signing up through General Headquarters (GHQ) Red Card will become members of their correspnding branch no later than January 1, 2020 (whereas this was not the case before; at-large Wobblies paying through Red Card currently will soon become members of their correpsonding branch as well). In addition, begining October 1, 2019, members joining through Red Card will be automatically opted-in to receving the new, stampless, plastic, membership cards. Contact the IWW NYC GMB at [email protected] (public key) or General Headquarts at [email protected] for more information.
Who can join the IWW?
As long as you are a worker — not an employer — you can join the IWW. Members of other unions (except officers), students, retirees, the unemployed, the self-employed, those in informal professions, and those unable to work may also join. Learn why you should join the IWW.Choosing an IU
You can choose an Industrial Union based on your current job.Show list of IUs
Department 100 - Agriculture and Fisheries
- IU 110 - Agricultural Workers
All workers who cultivate land, raise crops, or work with livestock including those workers on farms, ranches, orchards and plantations, and those workers in supporting industries such as breeding and large animal veterinary services. - IU 120 - Forest and Lumber Workers
All workers on tree farms, in forestry and logging operations, in saw and shingle mills, in preparing wood for fuel and manufacture, and in bark, brush and sap collection. - IU 130 - Fishery Workers
All workers who fish and harvest on oceans, lakes, and rivers including those workers who are engaged in receiving, unloading, and processing catches at the wharf and those workers who specifically distribute these products. - IU 140 - Greenhouse & Nursery Workers
All workers who produce, harvest and process crops grown under cover including those workers in nurseries, flower gardens, green- and hot- houses, and those workers involved in the distribution of these products. Department 200 - Mining and Energy
- IU 210 - Mine Workers
All workers in mines extracting metals, coal, or minerals including those engaged in smelters, mills, and other reduction works, as well as workers engaged in processing and distributing these materials. - IU 220 - Energy Workers
All workers who are involved in all forms of energy exploration, production, and harvesting including workers in refineries and processing facilities, and workers engaged in the distribution of these products. Department 300 - General Construction
- IU 310 - Civil Construction Workers
All workers who build transportation, water, and pipeline infrastructure. - IU 320 - Ship and Boat Builders
All workers who build and repair ships, boats and small vessels including dry dock and support workers in these facilities. - IU 330 - Building Construction Workers
All workers who construct, renovate, or demolish buildings including those workers employed by general construction contractors and in prefabrication of houses and major components. - IU 340 - Building Maintenance and Landscaping Workers
All workers in routine commercial and residential building maintenance such as painting, plumbing, HVAC, and gutter cleaning. All workers not otherwise engaged who provide janitorial and landscaping services in privately owned establishments. Department 400 - Manufacture and General Production
- IU 410 - Textile and Leather Workers
All workers who manufacture material from natural or synthetic fibers, process or distribute leather and leather substitutes, or fabricate wearing apparel. - IU 420 - Wood Processing and Furniture Workers
All workers who process wood products or build wood furniture. - IU 430 - Chemical Workers
All workers who produce chemically-based products such as drugs, paint, rubber, explosives, medicines, chemicals, plastics, and synthetic fibers. - IU 440 - Metal and Machinery Workers
All workers in metal production including steel mills, aluminum plants, tool and die shops, and other metal-related industries. All workers engaged in the production, repair, or maintenance of metal or composite products including agricultural machinery, automobiles, locomotives, bicycles, or aircraft. - IU 450 - Printing and Publishing Workers
All workers who produce and distribute newspapers, books, catalogues, and other printed matter including reporters, journalists, staff writers, photographers, graphic artists, researchers, and programmers within the publishing industry. - IU 460 - Food Product Workers
All workers, except agricultural and fishery workers, who produce, process and distribute foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco products. - IU 470 - Electronics and Instrument Workers
All workers who manufacture and assemble electronic devices, musical instruments, jewelry and timepieces, and components of technical, medical, and scientific instruments. - IU 480 - Glass, Pottery, and Mineral Workers
All workers who produce glass, pottery, chinaware, tile, bricks, wallboard, lime, gypsum, cement, abrasives, and other non-metallic mineral products other than fuels. - IU 490 - Pulp and Paper Mill Workers
All workers in pulp and paper mills. Department 500 - Transportation and Communication
- IU 510 - Marine Workers
All workers in cargo and passenger transportation by water. All repair, maintenance, and supply workers specific to the marine industry. All workers in ports, including food, beverage, and newsstand workers. - IU 520 - Railroad Workers
All workers in long distance railway freight and passenger transportation. All repair, maintenance, and supply workers specific to the railroad industry. All workers in railroad terminals, including food, beverage, and newsstand workers. - IU 530 - Ground Transportation and Transit Workers
All workers in freight and passenger transportation by ground including truck, commuter rail, bus, limousine, cab, and pedicab. All workers in towing and storage of motor vehicles. All repair, maintenance, and supply workers specific to the industry. All workers in bus and transit stations, including food, beverage, and newsstand workers. - IU 540 - Postal, Express, and Message Delivery Workers
All non-governmental workers in processing, transfer, and delivery of letters and messages by motor vehicle and bicycle. - IU 550 - Air Transport Workers
All workers in freight and passenger transportation by air. All repair, maintenance, and supply workers specific to the aviation industry. All workers in airports including food, beverage, and newsstand workers. - IU 560 - General Distribution Workers
All workers in general wholesale and warehouse facilities not attached to a particular industry. All workers engaged in support activities for transportation and storage of goods including packing and crating services, inspection and survey services, freight-forwarding services, etc. - IU 570 - Communications and Internet Technology Workers
All workers who provide and maintain telephone, internet, telegraph, satellite communication and computer operations, including programming and networking. All workers engaged in the installation, maintenance, and repair of communications cable, signal towers, transmitters, etc. - IU 580 - Information Service Workers
All workers who collect, store, and retrieve information by conducting market research, opinion polling, fundraising, and archival and statistical research services. All workers in telephone call centers, telephone answering services, captioning services, mailbox and mail forwarding services. All workers not otherwise organized who work in communications and public relations. - IU 590 - Video, Audio, and Film Production Workers
All workers who produce recorded music, video games, motion pictures, and radio and television programs or distribute them for sale, rental, or broadcast. All workers involved in providing auxiliary services to the industry including food and beverage, catering, talent booking, set and costume production, equipment and location rentals, bulk duplication of recorded media, etc. Department 600 - Public Service
- IU 610 - Health Service Workers
All workers employed in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and medical offices, including workers in rehabilitation centers, medical research services, health-maintenance organizations, medical billing services, and other industries auxiliary to health services. - IU 613 - Incarcerated Workers
All incarcerated workers in the prison industry. - IU 620 - Education and Research Workers
All workers in educational institutions including educators, students (except those mainly employed outside the education industry), and those in industries auxiliary to education including testing services, educational consulting services, dedicated school bus services, etc. All workers in research institutions including foundations and museums, enterprises primarily engaged in providing technical and scientific services, and in research laboratories not attached to educational institutions. - IU 630 - Performing Arts, Recreation, and Tourism Workers
All workers involved in the creation and dissemination of the performing arts including writers, dancers, and performing artists in theaters, concert halls, opera houses, movie theatres, and similar establishments. All workers involved in the recreation and tourist industries including amusement parks, carnivals, race tracks, casinos, cruise ships, guiding services and tourist information centres. All workers involved in providing auxiliary services to the industry including food and beverage, catering, talent booking, set and costume production, equipment and location rentals, etc. - IU 631 - Freelance and Temporary Workers
All workers who are engaged in multiple industries on a temporary or short-term contractual basis who obtain their own clients or are engaged through employment and temporary staffing agencies including writers, editors, language teachers, translators, photographers, videographers, sound technicians, visual artists, graphic artists, designers, programmers, call centre workers, warehouse workers, construction workers, etc. - IU 640 - Restaurant, Hotel, and Catering Workers
All workers in facilities for food and beverage services, public accommodation, and catering services not dedicated to serving a particular industry. - IU 650 - General, Legal, Public Interest, and Financial Office Workers
All workers who provide legal services including those in law offices and attorneys who are actual wage- workers, title settlement offices, title-search services, notary offices, and those who provide services to the legal industry including law publishers, private investigators, legal researchers, and brief-writing and transcription services. All workers who provide financial and insurance services including those in banks, stock and commodities exchanges, real estate, accounting, and insurance companies. All workers for enterprises primarily engaged in providing humane services to the public, other than health services, including those in religious, charitable, public advocacy, employment agencies, community, and service organizations not otherwise organized. - IU 651 - Government Workers
All civil service workers at the federal, state, provincial, county, and municipal levels not otherwise organized including office staff, librarians, utility and construction inspectors, firefighters, recreation workers, and public works. - IU 660 - Retail Workers
All workers in retail establishments unless otherwise organized. - IU 670 - Utility & Sanitation Workers
All non-government workers engaged in the supply, maintenance, and transmission of gas, electric, water, and sewer services. All workers employed in the collection and processing of disposable and recyclable materials. - IU 680 - Household and Personal Service Workers
All workers performing services in and around the home including homemakers, cooks, maids, and house cleaning services. All workers performing personal services for individuals and families including barber shops, beauty salons, massage services, dry cleaning and laundry establishments, tailor shops, funeral parlors and crematoria, veterinary offices and other animal care centers. - IU 690 - Sex Industry Workers
All workers who use sexuality as the primary tool of their industry including telephone and webcam sex workers, actors, erotic massage services, erotic and escort services, and dancers and models in night clubs, exotic dance clubs and peep shows.
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Dues
You select your dues level based on your self-reported current monthly income. Your first month as a member will include an initiation fee that is the equivalent of your dues rate. A breakdown of our current dues rate can be found below, as well as on page twenty-six of the IWW's constitution.- $6 — if you are financially burdened by unemployment, underemployment, being a student, or other circumstances
- $11 — if you make less than $2,000 per month
- $22 — if you make between $2,000 and $3,500 per month
- $33 — if you make more than $3,500 per month