Harlan County USA (a great example on the fight to unionize)

[drokhole]

This movie was on IFC the other day, and it couldn't have come at a better time. In case you haven't seen it, here's a brief synopsis:

This film documents the coal miners' strike against the Brookside Mine of the Eastover Mining Company in Harlan County, Kentucky in June, 1973. Eastovers refusal to sign a contract (when the miners joined with the United Mine Workers of America) led to the strike, which lasted more than a year and included violent battles between gun-toting company thugs/scabs and the picketing miners and their supportive women-folk. Director Barbara Kopple puts the strike into perspective by giving us some background on the historical plight of the miners and some history of the UMWA.


It's a great watch, but it makes your blood boil - in that it reminds you just how screwed over the average worker has been throughout our history, and just how hard those workers have fought (and continue to fight) for the most basic of rights.

Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCiVMngILEI

Full movie (with commercials):
http://www.zimbio.com/watch/O8Bk8hy00pg/Harlan+County+USA/Barbara+Kopple

Full movie (without commercials...but with Spanish subtitles):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pa80stR7U0