Director: Patricio Guzmán
Synopsis: Three-part documentary series about Salvador Allende’s government, the September 11, 1973 coup which overthrew it, and resistance by workers there after.
Author Archives: iwwggrandson
The Battle of Local 5668 (2007)
53m; U.S.
Director: Shawn Bennett
Synopsis: Story of the ultimately successful 1990 Steelworker’s strike against Ravenswood; Shawn Bennett grew up in Parkersburg, studying film at Pittsburgh Filmmakers and studying under Julia Reichert (“Union Maids.”) His father Joe worked at The Ravenswood Aluminum plant for years, and was part of the famous lock-out that took place for almost two years starting in 1990. Using historic footage, TV news broadcasts, and interviews with people who took part in one of the most important labor struggles in recent American history, he presents a compelling story of global capitalism vs. devoted workers. The United Steelworkers and fellow union members traveled around the country and world, protesting the inhumanity of the corporate leaders in a model campaign for justice. Marc Rich, an international criminal pardoned by President Clinton during his last day in office, was the man at the top.
Contact: http://www.battleoflocal5668.com/ shawn@shawnbennett.net 310-729-9080 (Cell)
Battlestar Galactica (“Dirty Hands”) [2007]
42m; U.S.
Director: Wayne Rose
Cast: Aaron Douglas, Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell
Synopsis: Battlestar Galactica ran for four seasons on the SyFy network and is considered by many the best science-fiction television program yet created. Focusing on a fleet of human survivors from a mass genocide, the program explored all manner of personal and political issues. Among those was labor – in this episode from the third season one of the main characters restarts a union by becoming the leader of a strike on a mining ship. “Dirty Hands” explores several facets of labor, most interestingly how unions navigate their relationship to the government and their role in promoting social mobility.
Key Scene
The Bauen Workers’ Cooperative (2005)
21m; Argentina
Director: Grupo Alavio & Marie Trigona
Synopsis: The story of the bankruptcy of a modern 4 star hotel in Buenos Aires and the role of the workers in protecting their jobs through an occupation.
Be More Human (2002)
Japan
Synopsis: Struggle against the privatization of Japan Railways.
Contact: Labor Video Press, Tokyo
Bearing Witness (2004)
90m; U.S.
Director: Barbara Kopple
Synopsis: Examines the personal and professional lives of five women journalists in the line of fire during the war in Iraq and other perilous assignments.
Beat the BNP (2009)
1:39; U.K.
Director: Gary Williams
Synopsis: Use your vote to the defeat the British National Party at the European elections 4th June 2009 (UNISON young members video).
Contact: G.Williams@unison.co.uk
Before the Day (1960)
20m; U.S.
Director: U.S. Social Security Administration
Synopsis: Portrays the employment situation before the Social Security Act of 1935 explaining the need for a social insurance program.
Before the Mountain Was Moved (1966)
60m; U.S.
Director: Robert K. Sharpe
Synopsis: Story of Ellis Bailey, a retired miner, who led the citizens of Raleigh County to fight against unscrupulous strip mining companies and to obtain State legislation to regulate stripping in the name of environmental conservation.
Behind the Labels: Garment Workers on U.S. Saipan (2001)
45m; U.S.
Director: Tia Lessin
Synopsis: Expose of sweatshop conditions on Saipan.
Contact: Witness; 212-274-1664 witness@witness.org tia@igc.org Winner 2002 Sidney Hillman Award http://www.uniteunion.org/pressbox/050102-hillman.html
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