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Laborwave Radio
William Z. Foster: A Critical Examination on his Theories and Politics
Jun 6, 2022
Nick Driedger discusses William Z. Foster's theories like 'militant minority' and 'boring from within' for union evolution and radicalization. Criticisms faced by Foster's ideas in the early IWW are explored, highlighting his strategies for pulling conservative unions to the left.
43:06
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Quick takeaways
- Foster promoted 'boring from within' to radicalize the AFL, facing criticism from the IWW.
- IWW advocated for independent unionism to reach all workers outside mainstream labor movement.
Deep dives
Foster's Biography and Union Journey
Williamsy Foster, a working-class man from Philadelphia, embarked on his union journey after being involved in the Spokane's free speech fight in 1909 and joining the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Foster later fell in with the French CGT, an openly revolutionary union, and developed a different perspective on the mainstream labor movement. He believed that the IWW should be more militant and promote industrial unionism within the American Federation of Labor (AFL). However, his ideas were met with resistance, and he left the IWW. Foster's journey then took him to the Communist Party, where he became a convinced Bolshevik and rose to prominence as a leader. He organized major strikes for the party but faced setbacks with the anti-communist backlash post-World War II.
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