Film night, New Cross, Weds 18 April

Togehter We Win: The Fight to Organie Starbucks

Come and see how people are fighting one of the world’s largest multi-national companies, in an attempt to improve the lives of those involved in the coffee industry from bean to cup. This short film directed by Diane Krauthamer chronicles victories and struggles in the first two years of IWW organizing at Starbucks. It tells how fed up baristas working for Starbucks in New York decided to form a union and fight for their rights and dignity at work against a vicious anti-union management. In the process they have spread across the states and are now over here with the formation of Baristas United. And how they have built links with poor framers who grow for Starbucks demanding better lives for all.

And Rocking the Foundations

This is a rare chance to see this powerful and dramatic 1985 documentary on the Building Laborers’ Federation (BLF) and the Green Bans This film tells the story of the how rank and file workers gained control of their corrupt union the Builders Labourers Federation in New South Wales, Australia and turned it into a militant, democratic organisation which not only managed to greatly improve the pay and conditions of its members (including safety on site) and introduced women into the workforce. But also fought over social issues such as gay rights, racism, the Vietnam War and invented the Green Ban. The bans were innovative and confrontational, bringing developers, governments, resident groups and unions head-to-head when workers refused to work on developments, which destroyed local communities, remaining bushland or buildings of historic value. Directed by Pat Fiske

Flyer here