The Industrial Union Bulletin & Industrial Worker, 1907-1913
These two key newspapers were published in the United States, and were widely read in British Columbia where the IWW had a presence in organizing in several key industries. Visit the Industrial Union Bulletin & Industrial Worker digital archive (external link).
The first iteration of the Industrial Worker launched in January 1906 in Joliet, Illinois, incorporating previous labor publications. Edited by A. S. Edwards, it featured prominent contributors like Eugene V. Debs and Jack London. However, its publication was disrupted after the 1906 IWW convention when an ousted faction maintained control, prompting the IWW to issue the Industrial Union Bulletin instead.
The Industrial Union Bulletin, also edited by A.S. Edwards, served as the IWW’s newspaper for several years. It experienced challenges during the 1907 economic panic, shifting from weekly to bi-weekly and even suspending publication temporarily. Its final issue appeared on March 6, 1909.
Just days later, on March 18, 1909, the second series of the Industrial Worker commenced in Spokane, Washington. The Industrial Worker typically ran four pages, with an expanded May Day issue. Its circulation, however, declined significantly due to government repression of the IWW during and after World War I. Later, it merged with Solidarity, the IWW’s “Official Eastern Organ.” The collection is organized by title, then by date.
Each issue is linked to a PDF download. Locating content relevant to British Columbia requires extensive searching.