Phoenix IWOC meeting this Saturday @ 12 PM at Fair Trade Cafe!

Join Phoenix IWOC at Fair Trade Cafe (by Roosevelt lightrail station) at 12 P.M. on Saturday, May 15th as we discuss the latest updates and new developments in the prison abolition movement. Additionally we'll discuss how it is that we on the outside can organize to make this struggle as connected and powerful as possible.

The Phoenix Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (Phoenix IWOC) is a branch of the national IWOC which is affiliated with the radical labor union, the IWW. (Industrial Workers of the World) Members of the IWW have created the IWOC, which functions as a liaison for prisoners to organize each other, unionize, and build solid bridges between prisoners on the inside and fellow workers on the outside. We formed based on a general callout for support for the Texas Prisoner strike which began on April 4th, and has culminated with the current strike by the Free Alabama movement, which started on May 1st. Much of the actions taking place on the inside and out are a build up to the call for a national strike on September 9th, the 45th anniversary of the Attica prison rebellion.

We are based in Phoenix and periodically host letter writing events, organizing meetings, and benefits to support the efforts of IWOC, both locally, and nationally.

More info about Phoenix IWOC: http://phoenixiwoc.blogspot.com/

We can be reached at (480) 296-3106 and phoenix.iwoc@riseup.net Referrals of loved ones behind bars are greatly appreciated. Reach out to get involved!

More information the growing prisoner movement can be found here

More information about the IWW and the Incarcerated Worker Organizing Committee
 
More info about the Free Alabama Movement

More information about the September 9th call for prison work stoppage

What's new with Phoenix IWOC: Week of May 9th

The past couple weeks we have been busy continuing to contact members and prospective members inside the ADOC and elsewhere. At this time, we have made contact with around 70 individuals, and have been able to send copies of the Incarcerated Worker, membership forms, and other literature into the prisons. We could not have made this possible without the ongoing support we have received, in the form of stamps, use of a copier machine, envelopes, and monetary donations to supply our activities. We wholeheartedly thank everyone who has continued to support us, and IWOC's efforts, especially those who allowed us to conduct stamp and envelope drives at your events! We also thank comrade Francisco for providing translation!

Some letters about to go out

Around the country, there has been an uptick of activity, most notably the prison strikes initiated by the Free Alabama Movement on Mayday which has received extensive media coverage. Also, IWOC itself has received some good coverage as of late. Additionally, the Texas prison strike which launched on April 4th has come to an end, after having achieved some results. Please make sure that you share these stories and interviews and continue to spread the word!

At this time, IWOC - Phx's plan is to continue to make new contacts, and solidify our efforts. We will be hosting an open meeting soon, which will be announced via this blog and the Phoenix IWW facebook page so keep a lookout. As far as needs go, we are looking for Spanish translators, and collaboration opportunities with existing organizations, as well as on an individual basis. If you are interested in helping us out, please get in touch!

Also, if you are an IWOC branch and are interested in receiving a copy of an initial contact letter we have come up with, or just extending a line of communication, please reach out.

If you are interested in contributing to our efforts, shoot us an email at Phoenix.iwoc@riseup.net or leave us a message at (480) 296-3106

Solidarity Forever,

Phoenix IWOC

IWOC May 2nd Press Release

IWW General Headquarters, Chicago, IL. May 2, 2016

The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee announces that the Texas prison strikes initiated by IWW members have achieved their desired short-term results and that the first phase of planned long-term strategic strike actions is drawing to an end. The strike actions began on April 4, 2016 and spread to at least a half-dozen locations.

IWW sources within the Texas prison system report that even with lockdowns and other forms of coercion against those who refuse to work as slaves, the strikes have resulted in Texas Department of Criminal Justice authorities now giving more prompt attention to prisoner’s previously ignored grievances. Organizers are now ready to pause and regroup while considering their next move in the struggle for humane treatment. Despite lockdowns and corporate media blackout, an IWW Union member was able to get a strike report outside, stating that “Since this strike action started the prison administration has been much more responsive, and we have had a much easier time getting our grievances addressed.” She shared that the administration just ignored grievance complaints before the strikes began, but now they are addressing them with unprecedented speed. This confirms the power of Union direct action in the form of organization, strikes, and work slow-downs.

The IWW is actively organizing prisoners into the newly formed Incarcerated Workers Industrial Union #613, now the largest prisoner’s union in labor history. Membership is currently free of charge, being underwritten by donations from Union members and other supporters seeking an end to the legal slavery and inhuman conditions of imprisonment. IWW prison organizing is now actively taking place in Germany, the United Kingdom, and across the United States of America. Encouraged by the Texas IWW action, prisoners in Alabama have announced that they will begin a similar strike starting on May 1, 2016. The Alabama action is being organized by the Free Alabama Movement, which includes IWW members in their ranks. The IWOC predicts that as the Union organization grows strikes will become more frequent and more widespread until fundamental change is affected.

Visit iww.org, click on IWOC, for more in-depth information.