This position lays down the requirements for becoming a member of the Workers Solidarity Movement and how the process is carried out.  This is a new process adopted at the May 2010 conference.

 

1. The basis for membership is agreement with the WSM’s fundamental politics and practice as outlined in our join document: http://www.wsm.ie/join.

 

2. Responsibility for meeting and explaining the WSM’s politics as well as ascertaining whether potential members agree with them lies with a committee composed of the Internal Secretary and two others as chosen by DC on the basis of their political competence and capacity to interact well with a variety of people. They may delegate this responsibility to other members of similar competence.

 

3. In general, where, in the judgement of the committee (or their delegate), the potential member is in broad agreement with the WSM’s basic politics, they will be invited to attend branch/internal meetings with a view to them becoming members after having attended three such meetings. Having done so, they may be proposed for membership which will be decided upon by the branch. For potential members residing in isolated areas, at least two substantial meetings with two members should take place. In such cases the committee shall make the decision regarding membership.

 

4. In situations where a member is in contact with a potential recruit and is confident of their level of political agreement and wishes to invite them to an internal meeting, the sequence of recruitment may be applied flexibly. It remains the responsibility of the committee to ensure that contacts have a good level of agreement with the WSM's politics.

 

5. Where there is general agreement with the organisation’s politics, but of a kind that is insufficiently in line with the organisation’s platformist orientation, further dialogue will be conducted with a view to persuading the potential member of our basic politics. They will be invited to the appropriate educationals and attempts will be made to draw them closer to the WSM through participation in activities such as paper delivery, postering etc.

 

6. Irrespective of levels of political agreement, membership may be refused where the individual exhibits evidence of inappropriate behaviour, e.g. misogyny, racism, homophobia, bullying etc.

 

7. Membership of the WSM is provisional until a new member attends the first national conference after they have completed the new member training program and filled all other membership requirements including regular attendance at branch meetings and payment of subs. The contents of the new member program will be determined by DC and will include modules on core politics, WSM structure and practical skills.

Provisional members have full voting rights but if they fail to complete the program by the first conference to fall 14 months after they have joined they will be considered to have resigned. Branch secretaries shall be responsible for tracking and reporting the progress of new members with Internal Secretary collating these reports for DC and Conference.

 

New version adapted May 2010