Film Number

7460

Title

THE STRUGGLE OF BLACK WORKERS, FARIDA MAYAT [PART ONE]

Producer

WFA

Date

1982

Gauge

U-matic LB

Colour

colour

Sound

sound

Running Time

40 mins 10 secs

Description

Presentation on organising unorganised workers to a meeting in Manchester, by Farida Mayat, a political exile from South Africa for 16 years, now working in London Law Centre. From working in hospitals she became involved in the union and organised childcare for workers before becoming a full-time advisor in the Law Centre. She defines unorganised as unskilled, lowest paid and non-unionised, which includes many women who lack childcare, have language difficulties, etc. Also many workers in sweat shops in East London. Talks about various ways contacts have been made - rights workshops in variety of languages, credit union, successful unionising. After 40 minute presentation, discussion opens to floor with contributions from Kath Locke and others over what has and has not worked in their experience. Proposal for a Steering Committee to help black workers progress in the union because union hierarchy obstructs black members from progressing.

[Catalogued as part of 'Revitalising the Regions' a Screen Heritage UK project, 2011]