X.  What Sort of Branch or Local Should Be Formed?

There are three types of IWW groups (in addition to shops and job-branches--these will be discussed in future posts).  They are groups, general membership branches (GMBs), and industrial union branches (IUBs).  Here is a basic definition of each with the advantages and disadvantages of each:
 
Groups -- When you get started, your local will be a group.  That means you will have no charter, and you can have less than ten members.  Generally, groups can eventually be chartered as GMBs or IUBs.  This is probably something you will want to strive for, because unchartered groups are required to send all of their dues to the rest of the union.  Until you receive a charter, you will have to raise money for local expenses through other means besides dues.
 
GMBs -- After you sign up at least ten IWW members (including yourself) if each one of you is in good standing, you can apply for a General Membership Branch charter for your community.  Once you apply, your charter will be reviewed by the IWW's elected General Executive Board.  If your application is approved, you will be issued a branch charter, which your branch may retain as long as at least ten of your members remain in good standing.  You must, of course, make sure that you keep ten members in good standing in order to continue to function as a GMB.
 
IUBs -- If you sign up at least ten IWW members in the same industry, those ten members may apply for an Industrial Union Branch charter.  An IUB is similar to a GMB, except that all the members are in one industry.  The process is essentially the same as the formation of a GMB, except that all of the members must be in the same industry.  That may be a drawback if you have, for example, ten hotel & restaurant workers and only one logger (because the logger would be isolated).  What you decide to do is, of course up to you.  However, it is highly unlikely the first ten members you sign up will all work in the same industry, but in different shops.  In the long run, you can organize a GMB and several different IUBs (one each for each industry) in your community.
 

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