The 2024 documentary Union will be screened for free this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Fletcher Library (823 N. Buchanan St.) by the Democratic Socialists of America chapter in Central Arkansas. Following the screening, local labor and community organizers will participate in a panel discussion and Q&A.
Union, which was directed by Stephen Maing and Brett Story, is the tale of how a group of tenacious, hardworking employees at a Staten Island warehouse managed to organize an Amazon workplace in the US—something that no multinational labor union could do and that one of the wealthiest men in the world couldn’t stop.
The historic triumph to unionize 8,000 workers at an Amazon fulfillment center in New York City in 2022 is celebrated in the labor movement as a David and Goliath tale of the twenty-first century. Prior to the workers winning their union election, the first organizing drive, which started in 2019, did not have the backing of any significant union, despite the fact that the grassroots union has since joined the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
The movie is not bloody, but it is inspirational. Goliath has not yet joined David at the bargaining table, despite the fact that he has secured a seat there. And it will probably take more than a few thousand unionized workers to force Bezos to sit down for an employer as big and strong as Amazon. It has been challenging to organize other Amazon workplaces, even with the help of a worldwide union. The organizational conditions are nearly as taxing as the working environment, as seen by the 150% staff turnover rate.
The camera does not shy away from more uncomfortable moments, exposing tensions and faultlines among core organizers, even though Union offers many poignant and beautifully rendered glimpses into the lives of workers, the motivations of organizers, and the bonds of solidarity that organizing fosters among workers.
In an emergency, a union may practically act as a training manual for workplace organization. The movie provides enough of material for more seasoned organizers to debate innovative strategies and possible organizational difficulties. However, the movie is so powerful that everyone, with the possible exception of Jeff Bezos, will support these people in their fight for democracy and decency at work.
A distinguished panel of local organizers will be present to discuss the movie and apply its lessons and ramifications to a local setting. Neil Sealy from Arkansas Renters United, Gail Choate from Arkansas Civic Action Network, Tony Orr from United Labor Unions Local 100, and Ody Pacheco from Starbucks Workers United—another new labor organization that was established in 2021 and currently represents more than 12,000 employees across more than 500 locations, including a number in Central Arkansas—are among the panelists.
The public is welcome to attend the screening, however you can find out more about the group and RSVP here.
It’s dragon-slaying time!
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