Matewan (1987) - The Union

Union meeting from the movie Matewan

• Category

  Film & Animation

[KentAllard]

the dude with the glasses advocating violence and being dismissive of broader organizing, he was the company agent provocateur

keep that in mind when you meet folks at meetings and rallys wanting violent confrontations

[DukatSG1]

yep! good point

[WVliberty]

this movie makes me proud to be a West Virginian and Appalachian, people that look to us as backward have no knowledge of our history and what we have done for this country

[DukatSG1]

that is so true, but you know John Sayles' character was an outsider, a union organizer from another state, it just goes to show how workers in solidarity with each other across borders can achieve a lot

[MissHoov]

This is an excellent scene from a powerful movie about the West Virginia coal mine wars. I use this in my AP US History course, and my students find it to be very moving and effective. Thanks for posting this clip.

[DukatSG1]

Thanks for the comment; In light of what is taking place in Wisconsin this movie has even more relevance to today!

[Larkin1907]

You must be very proud of your grandfather. Men like him fought for the rights we still enjoy.

The Scouse Wobbly.

IWW IU560.

Liverpool.

[deliciouscancer]

Its good to see other FWs posting here IWW IU460.

Los Angeles

[Elizabeth Bowles]

One of my favorite movies of all time. "There are two sides - them that work, and them that don't. We work, they don't."

[goneatlast]

Amen, I used it in my English class when I taught Denise Giardina's 1992 novel " The Unquiet Earth." John Sayles wrote and directed the film. In my opinion, its theme resonates today. Take a look at the organized attacks on unions all across the country and tell me the the West Virginia Mine Wars ended on Blair Mountain in 1921.

"...because we're a union; 'cause we're the workers, damn it and we take care of each other."

[neosoc]

One might say that Occupy, just like the Arab Spring, has been part of a "dress rehearsal" of sorts. A sign of things to come in the not-so-distant future...

[kandiruacu]

struggle, fail, struggle, fail, struggle... WIN!

[kandiruacu]

Iplaywithfire is right that the struggles were more intense during that period- but that was a different period. the reversals of workers' power in the USSR and China (looong before 1991) have meant a half century of retreats. and dont get me started on sellout class traitors. but this isn't the end of history- it's temporary!

Occupy was a flash in the pan, but it did briefly hold the attention of many workers. we're going to need a lot more flashes in the pan if we hope something's gonna catch