ABSTRACT
The work of the Industrial Workers of the World in organizing among Starbucks workers, truckers and even squeegee workers has provided inspirational examples of innovative organizing. Anarchists, maintaining the necessity of working-class self-organization and autonomy from bureaucratic structures, have been encouraged by the possible emergence of active networks of rank-and-file workers bringing collective resources to defend broad working-class interests. The flying squad structure may consist of little more than phone lists and meetings but, significantly, should maintain its autonomy from local and national union executives. The contemporary flying squads in Ontario made their reappearance in several Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) locals in Windsor during the mid-1990s as a mobilization force for actions against the newly elected neoliberal provincial government. To begin several workers came together to form the Metropolitan Hotel Workers Committee, a committee made up strictly of rank-and-file members, to share information and strategize effective actions and campaigns to improve working conditions and put end to harsh management practices.
