The Wobblies on the Water

The Industrial Workers of the World, or “Wobblies”, were a strong force for labor in the 1930s. The Marine Transit Workers Industrial Union (MTWIU) was the maritime division, section 510 of the IWW. They published 4-8 page spreads regularly, blasting shipping companies, charitable organizations, and government organizations for their poor record in helping labor. The MTWIU was radical, refusing contracts with ship owners, demanding sweeping change, and serving up scathing words for anyone who did not share their views.