Post on 30-May-2018
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 1/20
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 2/20
•
REBEL WORKER PAMPHLET #2
PRINCIPLES & AIMS of the I. W.A .
as adopted at 1s t Congress , Rerlin 1922
& amen ded at Co ngres ses : jVladrid 193 1,
Par i s 1935. Par is 1938 , To ulouse 195 1,
Puteaux 1953 , ' darse i l les 1956 and
Toulouse 195P . l1eaffirmed at Cong r esses :
J\Tontpellier 1971, Par i s 197f> K 1979.
ISSUED BY REBEL WORKER GROUPSYDNEY JULY 1983
J\1O NTY :\111,l.ER PI1E-SS
f ' . 0 . Box 92 Broadway
2007 Austral ia
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 3/20
p r i n e i p l ~ & ; . T I i m ~ 8t ~ t a t u t ~ ~
o f t h ~
LW-TI.
INTRODUCTION
The age-old battle between the e x p l o i t ~ r s and the
exploited has taken on a forbidding dimension .
Omnipotent capital has raised its monstrous head.
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 4/20
Despite the internal struggles that tear apart the
manageria l classes and the bourgeoise, these
forces have created a powerful relationship which
will enable them to throw themselves with more
strength and unity against the proletariat and
further chain it to the triumphant chariot of capital.
Capitalism is organizing and is passing from a
defensive p osit ion to the aggressive strategy of
directly attacking the working class on all fronts.
This offensive has its origins in specific causes:
in the confusion of ideas and principles in the
working class, in the lack of clarity and agreement .
on the present and future aims of the working class,
and in the dividing of the working class into
innumerable tendencies; in a word, in the weakness
and disorganization of the worker 's movement.
To this violent international attack by exploiters
of every kind there is but one answer: theimmediate organization of the proletarian army
into a combative s tructure which welcomes all
revolutionary workers of all countries. This organ-
izatic)ll must be a granite block against which every
capitalis t maneuver will be crushed and whose
enormous size will bring it victory.
This movement for emancipation cannot accept
the line of those currents of the worker ' s move-ment which hope for harmony between capital and
labor, desiring international peace with capitalism
and incorporation into the bourgeoise state. Neither
can i t accept those currents which propagate the
2
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 5/20
principles of the dictatorship of the proletariat .
All class-conscious workers share a desire for a
society based upon the greatest possible l iberty
and well- being for all.
Against capital 's offensive , and also against
politicians of all colors , the revolutionary workers
of the world must build a rea l International
Association of Workers , each member of which
will know that the emancipation of the workers will
only be possible when the working class is conscious
of i tself and is prepared to jointly adminis ter the
land and the factories through its own organizations.
With this view and this goal before it, the duty of
the working class consis ts of participating in all
actions which lead towards a revolutionary t rans-
formation of society, always keeping this end in
mind. We must make our strength known through
these activities , always striving to give our move
ment , through propaganda and organization, the
necessary means by which it can do away with itsenemies . Similarly, and wherever possible , our
social system must be realized through model and
example , and our organizations must exert , to the
l imits of their possibil i t ies , the greatest possible
influence on other tendencies in order that they may
be incorporated into our struggle (which is the
common struggle against all statist and capitalist
adversar ies) . We must always keep in mind thecircumstances of place and t ime and must remain
faithful to the ends of the liberating workers '
movement.
3
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 6/20
THE PRINCIPLES OF
REVOLUTIONARY SYNDICALISM
Revolutionary syndicalism is based on the class
s truggle and holds that all workers must unite in
economic combative organizations. These organ-
izations must fight for l iberation from the double
yoke of capital and the state. Its goal is the
reorganization of social life on the basis of
l iber tar ian communism, which will be achieved
by the revolutionary action of the working class.
Considering that only the economic organizations
of the proletariat are capable of reaching this
objective, revolutionary syndicalism addresses
i tself to workers in their capacity as producers ,
as creators of social wealth, so that it will take
root and develop among them in opposition to the
modern workers ' part ies , which it declares inept
for the economic reorganization of society .
2
Revolutionary syndicalism is the pronounced
enemy of all economic and social monopoly. It aims
at the abolition of privilege by the establishing of
economic communes and administrat ive organs run
by the workers in the fie lds and factories, forming
a sys tem of fr ee counci l s without subordination to
4
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 7/20
any power or political party. Revolutionary
syndicalism poses as an alternative to the politics
of states and part ies, the economic reorganization
of production. I t is opposed to the governing of
people by others and poses self-management as an
alternative. Consequently, the goal of revolutionary
syndicalism is not the conquest of political power,
but the abolition of all state functions in the life of
society. Revolutionary syndicalism considers that
the disappearance of the monopoly of property must
also be accompanied by the disappearance of all
forms of domination. Statism, however camoflaged,
can never be an instrument for human liberation
and, on the contrary, will always be the creator of
new monopolies and privileges.
3
Revolutionary syndicalism hasa
twofold function.I t car r ies on the revolutionary struggle in all
countries for the economic, social and intellectual
improvement of the working class within the l imits
of present day society. I t also seeks to educate
the masses so that they will be able to competently
manage the processes of production and distribution
through the socialization of all wealth. Revolutionary
syndicalism does not accept the idea that the organization of a social system based exclusively on the
producing class can be ordered by simple govern
mental decrees. I t affirms that it can only be
obtained through the common action of all manual
5
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 8/20
and intellectual workers , in every branch of
industry, by self-management, in such a way that
every region, factory or branch of industry is an
autonomous member of the economic organism andsystematically regulates, on a determined plan and
on the basis of mutual agreement, the production
and distribution processes according to the interests
of the community.
4
Revolutionary syndicalism is opposed to allorganizational tendencies inspired by the central ism
of the state and church . These can only prolong the
survival of the state and authority and they system-
- atically stifle the spir i t of initiative and any
independence of thought. Central ism is the artificial
organization which subjects the so-called lower
classes to those which claim to be superior.
Central ism leaves the affairs of the whole communityin the hands of a few - the individual being turned
into a robot with regulated movements and gestures.
In the centralized organization, the ne'cessi t ies of
society are subordinated to the interests of a few,
variety is replaced by uniformity and personal
responsibility is replaced by unanimous discipline.
I t is for this reason that revolutionary syndicalism
founds its social conception on a wide federalistorganization, an organization which works from the
bottom to the top by uniting all forces in the defense
of common ideas and interests .
6
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 9/20
5
Revolutionary syndicalism rejects all parl iamentary
activity and all collaboration with legislative bodies.I t holds that even the freest voting system cannot
bring about the disappearance of the clear contra-
- dictions at the center of present day society. The
parl iamentary system has only one goal: to lend a
pretense of legitimacy to the reign of falsehood and
social injustice.
6
Revolutionary syndicalism rejects all arbitrar i ly
created political and national frontiers and declares
that what is called nationalism is the religion of the
modern state, behind which is concealed the mater ia l
interests of the ruling classes. Revolutionary
syndicalism recognizes only economic and regional
differences and demands for all groups the right toself- determination without exception.
7
I t is for these reasons that revolutionary
syndicalism fights against militarism and war.
Revolutionary syndicalism advocates anti-war
propaganda and the substitution of permanent armies
which are only the instruments of counter-revolution
at the service of capitalism, by workers ' mil i t ias
which, during the revolution, will be controlled by
the workers ' syndicates; it demands, as well, the
7
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 10/20
boycott and embargo of all raw materials and
products necessary to war, with the exception of a
country where the workers are in. the midst of a
social revolution, in which case it is necessary tohelp them defend the revolution. Finally, revolu tion-
- ary syndicalism advocates the preventive and
revolutionary general str ike as a means of opposing
w ar and mili tar ism.
8
Revolutionary syndicalism supports direct actionand supports and encourages all struggles which are
not in contradiction to its own ends . The means of
s truggle are : occupations, s tr ikes , boycotts,
sabotage, etc. Direct action is best expressed
through the general str ike. The general strike must,
at the same t ime, from the point of view of
revolutionary syndicalism , be the prelude to the
social revolution .
9
While revolutionary syndicalism is opposed to all
organized violence of the state, it real izes that there
will be extremely violent clashes during the decisive
struggles between the capitalism of today and the
free communism of tomorrow. Consequently, it
recognizes as valid that violence which can be used
as a means of defense against the voilent methods
used by the ruling classes during the social
8
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 11/20
revolution. As expropriat ions of the land and the
means of production can only be carr ied out and
brought to a successful conclusion by the direct
intervention of the workers ' revolutionary economicorganizations, defense of the revolution must also
be the task of the economic organizations. Defense
of the revolution is not the task of a military or
quasi-mili tary body developing independently of
these economic organizations.
10
I t is only through the economic and revolutionary
organizations of the working class that it will be
possible to bring about the l iberation and necessary
creative energy for the reorganization of society on
the basis of l ibertarian communism.
NAME OF THE INTERNATJONAl
ORGANIZATION
The international bond of struggle and solidarity
which unites the revolutionary syndicalist
organizations of the world is called the International
Workers ' Association (I. w. A.).
9
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 12/20
ENDS & OBJECTIVES OF THE i.W.A.The IW A has as its aims:
(a) To organize and press for revolutionary
struggle in all countries with the aim of destroying
once and for all the present political and econpmic
regimes and to establish a l ibertarian communist
society.
(b) To give a regional and industrial base to the
economic syndicalist organizations and, where that
already exists, to strengthen those organizations
which are determined to fight for the destruction of
capitalism and the state.
(c) To prevent the infiltration of any political party
into the economic syndicalist organizations and tocombat with resolution every attempt at political
domination within thp. unions.
(d) Where circumstances demand it, to establish
through a given program which is not in contradiction
with the above, provisional alliances with other
revolutionary and working class organizations, with
the objective of planning and carrying out commoninternational actions in the interest of the' working
class . Such alliances must never be with political
parties and with organizations that accept the state
as a system of social organization.
10
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 13/20
(e) To unmask and combat the arbi t rary violence of
all governments against revolutionaries dedicated
to the cause of social revolution.
(f) To examine all problems concerning the worldproletariat in order to consolidate and develop
movements which defend the rights and new
conquests of the working class the world over.
(g) To undertake show s of solidarity in the event of
important economic struggles against the declared
or concealed enemies of the working class.
(h) To give moral and material support to theworking class movements whose management is in
the hands of the workers themselves.
The International only intervenes in the affairs of
a union when its affiliated organization requests it
or when this submits to the general decision of the
International.
CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP
Those who can belong to the IWA are :
(a) Regional revolutionary union organizations which
do not belong to any other International.Membership of a second regional organization of
the same area can only be accepted by an Inter
-national Congress on the basis of preliminary
11
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 14/20
information of a Com mis sion appointed by the IW A
Secretariat . This Commission will be composed of
two members of each of the organizations concerned:the regional organization already affiliated, the
other regional organization wishing to join and the
IWA Secretariat .
(b) Minority groups of organized revolutionary
unionists within national organizations belonging to
other Union Internationals, only where the organ
-ization affiliated to the IWA, if one exists in that
region, accepts their membership.
(c) Unionist professional or industrial organizations
may join if they accept the Declaration of Principles
and Aims of the IW A. These may belong to organ
-izations which are not a part of the IWA, but they
must be accepted by the affiliate of the IW A in that
region, if such an organization exists.
(d) Every revolutionary propaganda organization
which accepts the Declaration of Principles and
Aims of the IWA and which works in an area where
there is no regional organization affiliated to the
IWA.
(e) The IWA is composed of sections, legal or
illegal, organized along regional l ines. Only those
groups of exiles can be recognized as sections ofthe IWA which can clearly prove that they authent
- ical ly represent those organizations which operate
and work in their respective countries.
12
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 15/20
THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESSES
The International Congresses of the IW A are held,
if possible, every two y.ears.
Within a sufficient period of t ime, the Secretariat
asks the sections for themes and topics to be dealt
with at the Congress. Then the Secretariat draws
up an agenda, which, with the motions presented,
are sent to the organizations belonging to the IWAat least six months before the beginning of the
Congress.
The agreements and resolutions adopted by the
Congresses are binding for all membership
organizations, except when those organizations,
through the resolutions of a regional Congress
or by referendum, reject the resolutions of an
International Congres s.On the request of a minimum of three regional
membership organizations, an international
decision can be submitted for revision by general
referendum in all sections.
In the International Congresses and referenda
each membership organization disposes of one vote
it being understood that an attempt to obtain
unanimity is to be recommended before the voteis taken.
13
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 16/20
INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY
Each member of an organization belonging to
the IWA, who has paid their dues, but is living in
a region other than where they are affiliated, must.
at a maximum of one month after their arrival ,
car ry out their t ransfer to the corresponding local
organization belonging to the IW A. This t ransfer
must be approved by this regional organization
without any additional charge.
THE SECRETARIAT
A Secretar ia t is elected in order that the
international activities of the IWA may be efficiently
coordinated, so that information may be obtained
and disseminated on the struggle in all countries
and so that the resolutions of the International
Congresses will be put into effect in the best way
possible. This Secretar ia t is to be composed of at
leas t three people living where the IWA has its
headauarters. The General Secretary is electeu by
the Congress or by international referendum. The
other members must be elected by the section orsections designated by the Congress.
The members of the Secretariat share between
them the various tasks and work. The Secretar ia t
14
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 17/20
and the Secretary are elected as indicated above
for the period between Congresses . The Secretariat
and the Secretary may only serve two t e rms
concurrently. The place of residence of the Secret-ariat will be decided at the Congress. I f that is not
possible it vvill be decided by referendum.
The Secretariat must give a vvrit ten repor t of its
activities during-its term of office. The repor t
must be presented in advance so that the member
Sections are acouainted with i t before the Congress
takes place. At the same t ime a financial and
administrat ive report must be drawn UT) andpresented to the sections. The Congress nominates
a commission during the Congress to inspect the
reports and records .
FINANCES
Each member of an organization belonging to theIW A must annually pay, as international dues , the
sum of 6.00 French frances or the equivalent sum
in international currency, taking into account the
rate of exchange between the two countries in
question. Dues are charged so that the IWA can
develop and consolidate its international activities,
so that it can give its written propaganda a firm
foundation, so that its publications can appear
regularly, so that it can participate in revolutionary
unionist movements in various countries and so
that it can promote the ideas of revolutionary
15
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 18/20
syndicalism in regions where our ideas and t a c t i ~ s have only a small influence. Dues are also charged
in order that the IwA can reply at once, and in a
satisfactory way, to appeals for solidarityaddressed to it.
For those sections in a difficult situation the
dues are fixed in agreement with the IWA Secretariat .
Each member section decides independently on the
procedure to follow in obtaining dues from its
members . For those sections that desire it, the
IWA has a special stamp for the membership cards
of its members . The affiliated organizations send
the dues money requested to the IWA quarterly.
PUBLICATIONS
The Secretariat edits:
(1) A publication which should appear as frequently
as is possible. I t is desirable for each periodical
edited by the affiliated organizations, or those in
sympathy with the IWA, to reserve a special space
for information from the IW A concerning appeals of
solidarity and for propaganda in general.
(2) Propaganda brochures directed specially at
areas where our movement has no regional section.
(3) All publications, periodicals or not, on which
the Congresses decide.
16
8/14/2019 Principles, Aims & Statues of the I.W.A
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/principles-aims-statues-of-the-iwa 19/20
ADDRESSES
INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT(1983-85)
APDO DE CORREOS 14836
MADRID, SPAIN
ENGLISH SPEAKING SECTIONS:-
D. A. M. (Direct Action Movement)clo THE AUTONOMY CENTRE,
RAVEN PRESS ,
8-10 GREAT ANCOATS St,
MANCHESTER 4, U.K.
L. W. G. (Libertar ian Workers Group)
P.O. BOX 692
OLD CHELSEA STATIONNEW YORK , NY 10113, USA
(W orkers Emancipation)
p . O. BOX 40400
SAN FRANCISCO
CA 94110, USA
LOCAL CONTACT : -