Women often feel the need to organize as women within larger organizations – including the more radical and leftist ones – in order to fight against inequality between men and women, develop their own voice and feel empowered by it. A great example is the Women’s Committee of the Edmonton, Alberta branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), a union that believes in workers’ power to organize ourselves and take the fight directly to the bosses without other people acting on our behalf. Karine Welm interviewed one member of the Women’s Committee. We hope this interview will empower and encourage other women to organize within their own organizations.

Linchpin: Could you explain what the I.W.W. is in brief and tell us a little bit about the Edmonton branch?