Organize Now: A Manual for Active Unionists

Diverse group of I.L.W.U. workers under the chapter title "the rank and file pitch in."

Overview

This I.L.W.U. pamphlet for new union members gives a brief history of the purpose and organization of the union and instructions about committees, elections, grievance procedures, and bargaining. It includes illustrations and text, and the illustrations include images of families and members from different racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds.

In addition to procedural details, the pamphlet offers advice about building confidence and enthusiasm among union members and dispelling fears about labor organizing. Some of the chapter titles include "A Good Organizer Likes People," "The Honest Approach Works," and "Some Don'ts for Organizers." It also advocates for unionism as a political fight to assure the security of workers "regardless of trade or profession, race, sex, religion, or national origin" (pg. 5) and labor's responsibility to fight for a "people's government" (pg. 35).

Questions

What techniques and themes do Patri's illustrations use to underscore the ethos of solidarity within the union?
How might illustrated pamphlets be used for education? Can you think of other uses for illustration for educational purposes?

Organize Now: A Manual for Active Unionists Links to an external site.(40-pages)

PDF/text version below image

Organize Now — Table of Contents (PDF/Text version)

PDF/text version below image

Organize Now — the time is now, pg. 4 (PDF/Text version)

PDF/text version below image

Organize Now — A Good Organizer Likes People, pg. 6 (PDF/Text version)

Robertson, J.R. (author), and Giacomo Patri (illustrator). Organize Now: A Manual for Active Unionists. Links to an external site. Collection of Giacomo Patri Materials, larc.ms.0056. Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University.