[Iyf-ct] FW: IWW - Contact

Tue Feb 2 02:38:00 PST 2010

And more...

From: movyk at thing.net
To: mandymoussouris at hotmail.com
Subject: Re: IWW - Contact
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 18:51:57 +0000

Hi,

Thanks, I just did not want to assume about the language... In terms of branch: it is possible to have one branch across cities, but only really makes sense if you manage to meet up, I think; one main benefit is that once you have a branch you keep a percentage of your dues locally so you can use that to organize. No, I just wanted to know where you all work to get a better idea. 

Just get back to me once you have had a chance to look at and share the info, and we will take it from there...
But of course, feel free to ask me more in the meantime if things come to mind.

Best,
Monika

On 1 Feb 2010, at 11:58, Mandy Moussouris wrote:

Dear Monika,

Great to hear from you! English is not a problem, it is my home language as we were an English colony and most peopl ehere speak english. Thanks you for all the info...

We have around 5 people at the moment but should be able to get it up to ten. At the moment we are in Cape Town but have comrades in Johannesburg who might be iterested, which could then take us to ten (almost immediately) - perhaps we could think about having an South Africa Branch - with some in CT and some in JHB. Or would we need to have a branch in CT and one in JHB? Those of us who are in CT meet pretty regularly alrady so it woudl not be a problem to meet for IWW. 

I will need to get back to you on everyones positions, work and salary. I work for an NGO. I am a project manager - but as I am sure you kow in NGO's this is not the same as a manager in a business, I just run the project for which we get funding - hope this is not a problem.

We do know Abahlali. I have not heard much from them lately, but can find out and let you know how things are going with them.

At the moment we don't have any plans for campaigns or organising plans as yet, we though innitially we should get the branch together first - then we can start to make strategies and plans. Ofcourse we do believe its a really good idea and we feel that there is a very big need for a real working class union with liberterian principles in SA. 

Not sure if that covers all the questions, will get back to you with the outstanding information ASAP. It is good to be intouch, if you have any suggestions or ideas they would  be most welcome.

Very best
Mandy

From: movyk at thing.net
To: mandymoussouris at hotmail.com
Subject: IWW - Contact
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:16:21 +0000

Dear Mandy,

I got your information from Koala Largess, the current chair of our General Executive Board (GEB), which I am an elected member of for 2010. I am happy and honoured to be your contact on the GEB now. We are of course thrilled that you are considering starting an IWW-branch in South Africa and I will try to facilitate this for you. 

I'll start of by attaching some documents to this e-mail for you to go over, and of course for any other person who may want to join. So, where to begin?

1. You need a group of at least 10 of you to join. 
2. Details of how to join can be found here: http://www.iww.org/join/joinnow.shtml. I would recommend you read this and also the preamble and constitution, if you have not done so. Apparently the attached text is also useful, but I have not read it yet myself. 
3. Branch: To be chartered as a branch your group of 10 or more than needs to elect a Secretary-Treasurer (who will keep an overview of funds, and dues paid and report at least monthyl to the Unions General Secretary Treasurer at Head Quarters), to adopt bylaws (I can provide you examples of those, it is a guideline on how the branch is organised, when and how you meet, roles, how decisions are voted on, etc.) and at least one delegate. 
4. Delegates: Your group, once you have all become members, will have to elect at least one delegate. This person will then receive materials (cards, dues stamps, delegate crede
5. At least 10 members need to be in good standing (have paid their dues regularly) when you apply to be chartered as a branch. There are forms for this. You then send this appication to Head Quarters and the General Executive Board will make a decision (over the public forum of the geb-list), and once everything is in order, issue a charter. 

If you are the first branch in your country, you will be connected to the General Administration, with our current Head Quarters being in Chicago. Part of your monthly dues will go back to them for the support of the Union infrastructure, and in return they will supply you with materials such as membership cards, the Union newspaper, copies of the constitution etc, etc. (For me, being based in England, this is a little different, since the UK have a regional organizing committee). 

My other contact ways are skype: monikavyk, and phone: +44 1902 , or +44 7967230880 (mobile). 
I am obviously not expert on this, but will consult with FWs who have more experience of use to the situation, once I have a better idea of what other information you need!

To get a better idea, I would also welcome if you could tell me:
1. How many you are?
2. Are you all in Cape Town, and if so, in close enough proximity to meet up regularly, or scattered around?
3. Type of job(s) you do.
4. Type of income level(s) you have. This will help ascertain a correct dues rate, for one, as income will obviously be different from US.
5. If there are any specific likely organizing plans/campaign needs etc./ or if you just thought the IWW is a really good idea (it is, of course!). 

I look forward to hearing more from you about organising in South Africa and hope that's of some use for you to get started! In the meantime, I have also contacted some FWs in Germany, since they only started IWW there in the last couple of years... Also, forgive my ignorance, but let me know if there are any language needs... I am originally from Austria, and I do not want to assume you can understand everything I write easily, so if I say something you don't get, just tell me! 

Solidarity,
Monika

PS: I met two people from the Abahlali network in the UK last summer, it seemed like they were doing amazing stuff in their area...

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