Solidarity Quote by Howard Zinn
““IWW organizer Joseph Ettor said: If the workers of the world want to win, all they have to do is recognize their own solidarity. They have nothing to do but fold their arms and the world will stop. The workers are more powerful with their hands in their pockets than all the property of the capitalists. . . .””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Labor Rally, Howard Zinn, 1970
Solidarity among workers empowers them more than passive protest; collective action is key.
In simple terms: Workers unite for power.
Key Takeaway
Unite, act together.
Themes
solidarity
labor
activism
Mood
determined
hopeful
Type
political
motivational
When to use this quote
- union organizing
- strike planning
- community meetings
- political campaigns
Key Concepts
political theory
social movements
Questions to Reflect On
- What can you do to build solidarity today?
- How does collective action change power dynamics?
A Different Perspective
Passive resistance may not achieve structural change.
![“[My father] came over as an immigrant and didn't know any English. He went to work at a sweat shop in Baltimore. He told me later that this guy was coming around, and the guy seemed to be for the workers, so he signed up. It turned out that guy was an IWW organizer . My father didn't regret…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/291/noam-chomsky-42_baltimore_my-father-came-over-as-an-immigrant-and_1206995.jpg)
![“The IWW [Industrial Workers of the World] has been accused of pushing women to the front. This is not true. Rather, the women have not been kept in back, and so they have naturally moved to the front.” quote by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/892/elizabeth-gurley-flynn-44270_accused_the-iww-industrial-workers-of-the-world_1032149.jpg)
