The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), whose members are nicknamed "Wobblies", is an international labor union founded in Chicago, United States in 1905. The nickname's origin is uncertain. [5]

Aug 12, 2011 · The Black Cat -- traditionally drawn as angry with claws bared, arched back, and a brushy tail (pictured, right) -- has long been one of the symbols of the IWW.

The IWW's history is rich and colorful, with a large collection of cultural icons that are deeply embedded in US and World labor history. Each of these icons has a detailed story and an explanation. Here we briefly introduce you to the more famous IWW icons and offer some explanations of their origin, as well as suggested further reading:

Symbol of the IWW, and sometimes a symbol for "sabotage" (i.e. inefficiency at the point of production by disgruntled workers), usually represented by a black cat with bared teeth. Also called "sab kitty", "sabo-tabby", or "the cat".

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is a union of wage workers which was formed in Chicago in 1905 by militant unionists and their supporters due to anger over the conservatism, philosophy, and craft-based structure of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).

American labour activist and Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) member Ralph Chaplin is credited with adopting the symbol as a warning to uncooperative employers that they should be wary of their workers’ potential for ‘wildcat’ strikes and industrial sabotage — in many Western traditions a black cat is seen as a conduit of ...

The following terms are used frequently among more experienced IWW members. Since we do not wish for anyone to get lost in the terminology, this glossary is for you to help clear up any confusion.

Organizing for better conditions at work today and a better world tomorrow. Fighting for effective mutual defense on the job as well as to negotiate and enforce collectively bargained contracts. We place action in all of its forms at the heart of our union. We organize workers across all …

Feb 7, 2024 · The following 17 files are in this category, out of 17 total.

Jul 6, 2020 · During World War I, the image of the black cat was used for the United States Tank Corps–an interesting counter to the IWW’s use of Sab-Cat stickerettes on the nation’s war propaganda posters.