Official home of the Gainesville, Florida branch of the Industrial Workers of the World.

Monthly Meeting Information

Hybrid Meetings held at 6pm on the first Sunday of each month in person at The Civic Media Center and online via Jitsi. Email us at [email protected] to request the meeting link.COVID-19 safe face masks are required for in-person participation.

Printable Flyers

(free to use!)

History Of Our Branch

The Gainesville General Membership Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World was chartered in 1998.Our GMB has traditionally been made up primarily of service workers. Over the years we have also had members who worked in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, education, and the medical industry, as well as automobile service and repair, delivery driving, and many other professions. These days, reflecting changes to the overall economy, many of our members are freelancers and gig workers.Our method of solidarity unionism is based on fighting for our rights and making improvements in our workplaces more than seeking a contract. Our organizing helps workers fight back against abusive bosses and win improved wages and conditions, often without “going public” or signing contracts with employers. Here in Gainesville, many of these campaigns have been carried out behind the scenes without much public agitation, winning gains in wages and conditions with little or no publicity.

Some of our more high profile campaigns have included:

  • 1998-99 city-wide restaurant workers education and agitation campaign. Surveyed restaurant employees about wages and working conditions; pushed food service bosses to pay more and treat employees with dignity and respect.

  • 2005-2006 organizing drive at local independent grocery store, which won broad community support through the organizers’ creation of a Local Labor Supporters email and phone list. We have gone on to continually build this list and maintain it as a key resource for solidarity with local and regional workers’ rights struggles. We even beat the bosses’ $400/hr union-busting lawyer in a National Labor Relations Board hearing, winning reinstatement and back pay for a worker who was fired for organizing.

  • 2012-13 organizing drive in a local food co-op that saw picket lines and other high profile activity; won back pay and reinstatement for a number of workers fired for organizing.

The Gainesville IWW also organizes in solidarity with other workers’ struggles locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. From walking picket lines with our fellow workers in a variety of local unions, to speaking out in public meetings and rallies, to making phone calls and sending emails on their behalf, we stand with all workers in the Gainesville/Alachua County area and around the world who are fighting for their rights on the job.