 Shortly thereafter, Fletcher became a leader of the IWW in Philadelphia, beginning a long career in public speaking that won him a great many accolades for his fine voice and incisive arguments for overthrowing capitalism.Fletcher was a prominent member of the IWW's Philadelphia branch of longshoremen, called the Local 8.In May 1913 thousands of longshoremen struck for better wages and union recognition; their new union—the IWW.