Lessons on Organizing from William Z. Foster

William Z. Foster's organizing methods in the steel industry provide valuable lessons for modern labor movements. Foster's approach to labor organizing was grounded in Marxist theory, which he learned during his time studying in Europe with labor radicals and syndicalists. He believed in working within conservative unions to shift their directions through organizing, agitation, and education. Foster's campaign to organize the steel industry in 1919 faced challenges such as the Spanish flu epidemic and opposition from company owners. Despite these obstacles, Foster managed to sign up 100,000 workers and organized a strike with nearly unanimous support. However, the strike ultimately failed, and Foster later analyzed the failures and published his findings in a comprehensive work in 1920. Foster's work emphasized the importance of being ruthlessly materialist, adaptable to changing conditions, and holistic in organizing efforts. His methods recognized the need for education, social activities, and solidarity among diverse groups of workers, including immigrants and black workers. Foster's approach also highlighted the significance of addressing workers' various needs and organizing campaigns industry-wide. Overall, Foster's work provides important insights into effective labor organizing that are still relevant today.