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Category Archives: Labor History

The Conditions of the Working Class In England 

17 Jul

2012 British; 82 min.
Directed by Mike Wayne and Deirdre O’Neill

This film is inspired by Engels’ book written in 1844, The Condition of the Working Class in England. How much has really changed since then?

In 2012 a group of working class people from Manchester and Salford come together to create a theatrical show from scratch based on their own experiences and Engels’ book. They have eight weeks before their first performance. The Condition of the Working Class follows them from the first rehearsal to the first night performance and situates their struggle to get the show on stage in the context of the daily struggles of ordinary people facing economic crisis and austerity politics. The people who came together to do the show turned from a group of strangers, many of whom had never acted before, into The Ragged Collective, in little more than two months.

This film, full of political passion and anger, is a wonderful testament to the creativity, determination and camaraderie of working people that blows the media stereotypes of the working class out of the water.

 
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Posted by on July 17, 2014 in Arts/Culture, Class, Communism/Socialism, Documentary, Labor History, Working Class

 

The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter (1980)

28 Jun

The U.S. entry into World War II created an unprecedented demand for new workers. Thousands of posters and billboards appeared calling on women to “Do the Job He Left Behind.” Rosie the Riveter was born — the symbol of working women during World War II. The story is told by the women themselves, five former “Rosies,” who movingly recall their histories working in Detroit, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco during the war. Their testimony is interwoven with rare archival recruitment films, stills, posters, ads and music from the period, which contrast their experiences with the popular legend and mythology of Rosie the Riveter.

Directed by: Connie Field

 
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Posted by on June 28, 2014 in Automation, Documentary, Industrial/Mine/Manufacturing, Labor History, Technology, War, Women, Working Class

 

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From the Shadows of Power

28 Jun

This awarding winning documentary is a powerful story set in coalfields of Appalachia, Wales and England. It documents firsthand the turmoil in the aftermath of the British Miners Strike of 1984/85 and the parallel struggle of the UMWA in its long running battle with Pittston Coal. This film brings to life the real struggles of working people at the pivotal moment when state power was used to open the floodgates to global capital, aid the destruction of coalfield communities and its labor institutions. Chronicling the critical role played by working class women in these watershed events, it features economist Helen Lewis, Reverend Jesse Jackson, women miners, Betty Heathfield of Britain’s Women Against Pit Closures, NUMs Arthur Scargill, and Labor Party leader Neil Kinnock.

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Directed by: Jean Donohue

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2090505/

http://www.mwg.org

 

 
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Posted by on June 28, 2014 in Class, Collective Bargaining, Documentary, Industrial/Mine/Manufacturing, Labor History, Manufacturing, Occupation/Type of Work, Organizing, Strikes-Strikebreaking-Lockouts, Themes, Women, Working Class

 

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Parents of the Revolution

28 Jun

‘Parents of the Revolution’ follows a group of activist parents in the Occupy Wall Street movement who believe that it’s their democratic duty to teach their kids to speak out against injustice. Are they heroes who are bringing up their kids with a civic conscience or agitators who are using their children as human shields? ‘Parents of the Revolution’ follows a group of families who rally against the aggressive behavior of the NYC police towards the Occupy Wall Street protesters. The film chronicles this group’s activities and raises some issues about what it means to teach kids about social justice and how our government ‘parents’ her citizens. As the protests escalate, one of the lead parents, Kirby and her group struggle with their mission. They are accused of “brainwashing their kids” and using them as “human shields.” In the face of these crises, Kirby is able to overcome her past to become a truly great leader who helps bring her community together.

Directed by: Dana Glazer

http://parentsoftherevolution.com/

 

 
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Posted by on June 28, 2014 in Collective Bargaining, Documentary, Labor History, Legal System

 

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Joe Hill’s Secret Canadian Hideout

25 Jun

Did Wobbly protest singer Joe Hill hide out at the Rossland Miners’ Union Hall back in 1912? Is the spirit of the’ Man Who Never Died’ alive and well in this old British Columbia mining town? Find out by seeing ‘Joe Hill’s Secret Canadian Hideout.’

Directed by: Ron Verzuh

 
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Posted by on June 25, 2014 in Documentary, Labor History, Strikes-Strikebreaking-Lockouts, Working Class

 

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Cesar’s Last Fast

25 Jun

In the summer of 1988 Cesar Chavez, then 61 years old, embarked on a water ¬only fast – a personal act of penance for not having done enough to stop growers from spraying toxic pesticides on farm workers. For more than a month no one, including Cesar, knew when he would eat again. Structured around dramatic never-before-seen footage, this film focuses on the story of how Chavez organized America’s poorest, least educated workers, built a movement that successfully challenged our nation’s powerful agribusiness, and launched the modern day Latino civil rights movement in the U.S. Motivated by Catholic social teaching, Chavez risked his life in pursuit economic justice for America’s most vulnerable workforce.

Directed by: Richard Ray Perez, Lorena Parlee

http://cesarslastfast.com/

 
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Posted by on June 25, 2014 in Farm & Food, Immigrants/Immigration, Labor History, Migrant workers

 

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One Generation’s Time: The Story of Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes

23 Jun

On June 1,1981,Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes, two reform officers in Seattle’s Alaska Cannery Workers’ Union, Local 37 of the (ILWU), were gunned down as they worked in the union offices. The men were attempting to reform the union and were calling for better working conditions in the canneries. On the surface, their murders were meant to look like just another gang-related slaying. But later, the killings were revealed to be a hit originating from the Marcos regime. Silme and Gene’s friends, families and colleagues sought justice for the murders, and continued the fight for equality for the months and years to come. This touching and powerful film details the murders, the fight for fair labor conditions, the civil rights movement the murdered men helped foster, and the ensuing efforts to seek justice for their killings.

Directed by: Shannon Gee

 
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Posted by on June 23, 2014 in Collective Bargaining, Documentary, Farm & Food, Immigrants/Immigration, Industrial/Mine/Manufacturing, Labor History, Manufacturing, Organizing, Service Workers

 

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The Story of America

23 Jun

The Story of America is a unique project to both document the story of our divided nation in 2013, and engage those with the power to heal these divisions – the people – in the transforming power of storytelling and dialogue.  We are focusing particular attention to the Moral Monday movement and the political struggle in North Carolina for the feature documentary. The fight here involves many fundamental divisions in America including election laws/voting rights, influence of money in politics, the role of government in our lives, racial divisions, demographic shifts, and economic policies/income inequality. In North Carolina, we see a story of a state and its people that is dramatically divided, yet yearning for a sense of unity and hope. We hope that our videos, screenings and discussions may contribute to healing the divide.

Directed by: Annabelle Park and Eric Byler

http://www.storyofamerica.org/

 
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Posted by on June 23, 2014 in Documentary, Labor History, Legal System, Politics

 

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Tatanka

20 Jun

Behind every activist that fought for civil rights or occupied Wall Street, there was a loved one who also sacrificed. Tatanka follows the bizarre and heartrending journey of one man whose unchecked idealism helped change the world but nearly tore his family apart. This is a very personal and provocative look at a turbulent and life-changing time in our history. Featuring Joan Baez, Cesar Chavez and Daniel Ellsberg.

Directed by: Jacob Bricca

http://www.tatankamovie.com/

 
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Posted by on June 20, 2014 in Arts/Culture, Documentary, Labor History

 

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Popieluszko – Freedom Is Within Us

03 Feb

Another contemporary take on a life story on  early-‘Solidarity’ union hero;  more about struggle for freedom than labour struggles
In 1984 Jerzy Popiełuszko, widely known as the “Solidarność-Priest” for his role in the resistance against communism, was murdered by agents of the Polish internal intelligence agency. This film debut attracted over 1,3 million cinema viewers in Poland.
http://www.filmfestivalcottbus.de/en/archive/2012/films/pgm_id=1296&film_id=970&seite=3

 
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Posted by on February 3, 2014 in Drama, Industrial/Mine/Manufacturing, Labor History, Strikes-Strikebreaking-Lockouts

 
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