The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Information:
Phillip A. Ruiz
Incarcerated Worker Organizing Committee
TEL:(816) 866-3808 or (323) 691-0557
wobista@protonmail.com

International Prison Strike Slated to Begin September 9th

IWW General Headquarters, Chicago, IL. Sept.9th, 2016

The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC) announces that the first internationally coordinated prison strike in history is scheduled to begin today, with the support of the IWW and the participation of over eight hundred incarcerated IWW members. The prisoners who began organizing the strike had originally sent out this request: “To every prisoner…we call on you to stop being a slave, to let the crops rot in the plantation fields, to go on strike and cease reproducing the institutions of your confinement.” September 9th was chosen as the date to begin the strike because it is the 45th anniversary of the Attica Uprising in New York state, the most notorious prison rebellion in US history.

The Industrial Workers of the World-Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWW-IWOC), reports that there are presently more than 800 IWW union members who are currently prisoners. Organizations partnered with the IWW to support this action, include (in part): The National Lawyers Guild, the Anarchist Black Cross, and the Free Alabama Movement. The strike and supporting actions are now expected to be participated in to some degree by prisoners in Greece, Germany, France, Great Britain, Canada, and the USA. September 9th is the 45th anniversary of the Attica Uprising in New York state, the most notorious prison rebellion in US history.

The total number of participants is impossible to predict, says IWOC organizer Philip Ruiz. “It often takes at least seven days for a strike to gather strength. Give it time to get going.” Fellow IWOC organizer Cole Dorsey offered “This is just the beginning. We will learn from this and keep organizing.” The IWW predicts that as union organization grows among prisoners strikes will become more frequent, and more widespread, until fundamental change is affected. Visit https://iwoc.noblogs.org for more in-depth information.