Notes from the Mammoth: KY IWW Tabling Events and our Latest Resolution

Despite the recent cold snap the KY GMB has been soldiering on. At our most recent meeting, FW Patrick Danner presented a motion in solidarity with his NJ contacts to support the upcoming demonstrations for a $15/hr minimum wage. See the resolution below:

Having seen the successes across the nation (most prominently in Seattle) as well as in the city of Louisville, the KY IWW has re-committed itself to supporting this fight wherever and whenever possible. So, in solidarity:

"From KY to NJ: $15 and a Union!"

We also have a few events coming up where you can come out and talk shop (and maybe even buy a book or two) with some real life Wobblies. First, FWs Patrick and Kate will be tabling the Mighty Kindness Earth Day festival, which just so happens to fall on the same day as GonzoFest, April 11th. This will be a can't-miss convergence of Thompson-ites and Greens that I personally can't wait to be a part of--don't miss out!

You’ll also find us tabling the Louisville Socialist’s Benefit Show, May 1st, at the Cure Lounge on Shelby (plugged in our last post as well), at which our branch secretary Mick will be speaking. Again, we hope to have a critical mass coming out to support this event, the proceeds from which will go to assist in building a solidarity network across the city as well as ongoing activist efforts from the Louisville Socialists (such as the ongoing minimum wage fight, among others).

Finally, one last plug for the Joe Hill Tour. The Indianapolis date, sponsored by our comrades in the

Indiana IWW GMB, has been tentatively set for May 2nd, though the final lineup for that particular date is TBD. Our delegate, FW J.P. will be there, however, so anyone who can make the trek and wants to hear some great folk and labor singers (and storytellers) should do so.

Stayed tuned for notes from Earth Day, as well as updates on the Joe Hill Tour and the May Day Benefit Show.

KY GMB Meeting - Thursday @ 8 p.m.

As the members of the KY IWW regroup after a week of summits out west and in Louisville, we’re set to hold our next meeting at the newly renovated space at the Mammoth. Come on out, Thursday at 8 p.m., and discuss the upcoming Joe Hill Tour (dates for the first legs--midwest and west coast--of the tour have been announced) as well as our organizing and networking strategies for moving forward.

On the topic of organizing and networking, I want to send a big "thanks" the members of the Louisville and Philadelphia Socialists, as well as our fellow activists from Lexington and West Virginia, for coming out and holding an amazing organizing summit last week. A few wobblies attended and formed great working relationships with organizers throughout the Kentuckiana region and beyond. Seeing so many lefties in one place solidifies the notion that the way forward is through building these networks--both within your community and beyond it.

So keep an eye out for updates, and new events after the meeting. And also have both ears open for details on the May Day benefit concert being held by the Louisville Socialists (an answer to all the decadence and depravity of Derby, if you will). The group is raising funds for a city-wide solidarity network for Louisville, which is a project that's worth more than a little of our support.

Louisville IWW: Big Plans Ahead

Fellow workers,

Spring's around the corner and can't come soon enough. Soon we can canvas and recruit and promote our collective causes out in the open and unimpeded by feet of snow.

In that spirit I wanted to take the chance to announce some changes for the KY Branch of the IWW, as well as our upcoming and ongoing projects.

During our February meeting two new Fellow Workers were elected to serve executive positions. Fellow Worker Kate Lafferty will be spearheading organizing activities, a task she has proven to be more than capable of given her work on the recent National Adjunct Walkout Day teach-in at the downtown campus of Jefferson Community and Technical College, as well as her organizing activities with the newly formed Kentucky College Faculty Association. I, Fellow Worker Patrick Danner, have been elected to take over our press, a job which I believe--judging by my verbosity here--I am capable of doing to the highest standard. Fellow Worker Mick Parsons remains in his position as secretary-treasurer and Fellow Worker JP Wright remains our delegate and fearless leader. I think I can speak for Kate as well when I say that we look forward to working with and learning from these two veterans of the cause.

The meeting space for the KY General Membership Branch is also undergoing some spring cleaning and renovation, spearheaded by our delegate, FW Wright. The space will house not only our regular meetings but also be open to hosting other community groups, as well as a free labor library. In the future we'll set aside a space pay homage to railroad unions and organizers past and present. So not only do we plan to operate the day-to-day of the KY GMB out of this space, but we also hope to provide a home to all those active in the community, working for the common causes of organizing workers, raising the wage, and protecting the exploited whenever and wherever possible.

The space (you can see to the left) is a renovated section of The Mammoth, which is home to a number of local artists that we look forward to working alongside. The Mammoth has also become a staple in the artisan community of Louisville, hosting regular craft fairs and events where we have the chance to mingle with the creative crowd. The building has a long history of industry, having been built in 1865 and home to a pork-packing plant. We're especially excited to be putting down roots in a part of town where the biggest markers are railroad tracks, factories and warehouses. It reminds us what we organize for.

Next week, FWs Wright and Parsons will be heading out to Richmond, CA, for a conference on the Future of Railroads. Sponsored primarily by Railroad Workers United, the conference will include speakers and summits with groups such as Greenpeace USA, the Bay Area branch of Socialist Alternative, the Sierra Club, and the Aboriginal Alliance of Northern Alberta. The confluence of labor, community, and environmental activists will give us new steam to reach out to the community and build on alliances locally and nationally. To whoever thought that environmentalists and unions couldn't work together, you can read their resolution here.

While our delegate and secretary-treasurer set out for the sunshine of California, FWs Lafferty, Reagan Sova and myself are set to meet for a summit and organizing workshop with our local Louisville Socialist group (who were instrumental in raising the minimum wage for the city of Louisville last year) as well as the Philadelphia Socialists. Emphasizing community outreach and organizing, the summit promises to energize our efforts in the coming months as well as build on the working relationships already formed between the two cities.

Finally, the Joe Hill Tour that was written about last month continues to come together. As will all organizing efforts, it takes time and patience. Trust you'll hear more on that soon.

The next meeting of the Louisville GMB will be on March 26th at our new space at the Mammoth, 8 p.m. We'll all have updates, ideas, and energy. Hope to see you there.

Cheers,

Patrick Danner
Press Officer
KY IWW