The Labor Education Service has produced a new video documentary outlining the experience of immigrants transforming the labor movement in the Twin Cities.
Called "Immigrants Organizing: Changing the Workplace, Changing the Union," the video will be featured on Minnesota at Work, the weekly cable TV program by and about workers, on Dec. 16 and 23, on Channel 6 in the Twin Cities and Dec. 14-16 and 21-23 on Channel 24 in Duluth-Superior. For other showings, view the statewide schedule.
A major focus of the program is the recent hotel strike by Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 17 and the struggle on behalf of immigrants at the Holiday Inn Express.
"Responding to the needs expressed by immigrant workers, Local 17 mobilized to change conditions in their workplaces," said producer Randy Croce. "In the process immigrant workers transformed the union as well."
The video features interviews with immigrant workers, some in their native languages. The 1,300 hotel strikers spoke 17 different languages, including Spanish, Somali, Tibetan, Vietnamese and Serbo-Croatian. They talk about why they went on strike and their commitment to their fellow workers and the union.
Union representatives also discuss the challenges and benefits of organizing with immigrants and give advice to other unions about integrating foreign-born workers into their locals. Footage includes rallies, picketlines and interviews with immigrant workers and union staff.
In addition to showing on Minnesota at Work, the video was shown at a recent international conference on "Race, Ethnicity and Migration" in Minneapolis and will be featured in March at a conference at Sarah Lawrence College in Massachusetts. "The video serves as a guide to union efforts to reach out, represent and mobilize new immigrants," said Croce.
"Immigrants Organizing" was produced by the award-winning telecommunications unit of the Labor Education Service at the University of Minnesota.
Share
The Labor Education Service has produced a new video documentary outlining the experience of immigrants transforming the labor movement in the Twin Cities.
Called “Immigrants Organizing: Changing the Workplace, Changing the Union,” the video will be featured on Minnesota at Work, the weekly cable TV program by and about workers, on Dec. 16 and 23, on Channel 6 in the Twin Cities and Dec. 14-16 and 21-23 on Channel 24 in Duluth-Superior. For other showings, view the statewide schedule.
A major focus of the program is the recent hotel strike by Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 17 and the struggle on behalf of immigrants at the Holiday Inn Express.
“Responding to the needs expressed by immigrant workers, Local 17 mobilized to change conditions in their workplaces,” said producer Randy Croce. “In the process immigrant workers transformed the union as well.”
The video features interviews with immigrant workers, some in their native languages. The 1,300 hotel strikers spoke 17 different languages, including Spanish, Somali, Tibetan, Vietnamese and Serbo-Croatian. They talk about why they went on strike and their commitment to their fellow workers and the union.
Union representatives also discuss the challenges and benefits of organizing with immigrants and give advice to other unions about integrating foreign-born workers into their locals. Footage includes rallies, picketlines and interviews with immigrant workers and union staff.
In addition to showing on Minnesota at Work, the video was shown at a recent international conference on “Race, Ethnicity and Migration” in Minneapolis and will be featured in March at a conference at Sarah Lawrence College in Massachusetts. “The video serves as a guide to union efforts to reach out, represent and mobilize new immigrants,” said Croce.
“Immigrants Organizing” was produced by the award-winning telecommunications unit of the Labor Education Service at the University of Minnesota.