WS Chronicle

By MeSiona Cunningham, For The Chronicle

“Union Time: Fighting for Workers Rights” is an exciting documentary that exposes the struggles of the Smithfield Pork Processing Plant workers in Tar Heel, N.C. It demonstrates, from both sides, the hype about the union to show people how unity can break the cycle of poverty and injustice.

The film was shown at Winston-Salem State University on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Dr. Larry Little, associate professor of History, Politics and Social Justice and activist for the Black Panthers, invited the Unheard Voices project to screen the film.

Jemma Johnson, a student at Winston-Salem State, shared her thoughts on the film.

“I was very inspired by the video. I was very impressed with the presentation of it and how they focused on the workers and their movement and their voice,” she said. Johnson is also a member of Politically Active Students.

Christina Mason, another fellow Ram, says, “I feel like the video showed how advocacy and how standing together could create a change.” 

After the film was shown, the director, Matthew Barr along with his wife, Cornelia Barr , had an open discussion panel on the film explaining his inspiration and the process of making it. Barr teaches screenwriting and film production and studies courses on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. 

Also in attendance was National Labor Relations Board attorney Jasper Brown, who spoke on his experience in trials.

To learn more about the film and their stance on the union, go to the website at www.uniontimefilm.org