Plot
Chronicles the six-month strike at Hormel in Austin, Minnesota, in 1985-86. The local union, P-9 of the Food and Commercial Workers, overwhelmingly rejects a contract offer with a $2/hour wage cut. They strike and hire a New York consultant to manage a national media campaign against Hormel. Despite support from P-9's rank and file, FCWU's international disagrees with the strategy. In addition to union-company tension, there's union-union in-fighting. Hormel holds firm; scabs, replacement workers, brothers on opposite sides, a union coup d'état, and a new contract materialize. The film asks, was it worth it, or was the strike a long-term disaster for organized labor?
Written by
N/A
Directed by
Barbara Kopple, Cathy Caplan, Thomas Haneke
Crew
Production Countries
United Kingdom, United States of America
Production Companies
Cabin Creek Films, Catholic Communication Campaign, Channel Four Films
Languages
English
Awards
Won 1 Oscar. 12 wins & 3 nominations total