The Rise of IWW and the Break with Producerist Tradition

In the early 20th century, labor unions were increasingly signing national agreements with employers that restricted workers' ability to strike. This led to the emergence of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in 1905, which stood out by refusing to sign contracts and adopting a stark class conflict view. The IWW's rejection of the harmonious relationship between labor and capital, a cornerstone of traditional unions, marked a clear break from the producerist tradition of the 19th century. The IWW's anarcho-syndicalist approach contrasted sharply with the views of historical figures like Abraham Lincoln and the Knights of Labor, emphasizing a pure product of industrial capitalism and the organization of unskilled industries without relying on political patronage.