Remember Norma Rae?
Posted on | September 20, 2009 |
From Americans Rights at Work (A national workers’ rights organization).
In 1973, Crystal Lee Sutton couldn’t take it anymore. She turned off her machine, climbed onto her work table, wrote the word “UNION” on a big piece of cardboard, and raised it for all to see.
Before the police could drag her away, she had brought her textile factory to a standstill – and helped give her coworkers the courage to form a union.
Her story became the basis for the Oscar-winning 1979 movie, “Norma Rae.”
Crystal Lee Sutton – the real “Norma Rae” – passed away just recently.
Ms. Sutton’s struggle as a mother of three – earning $2.65 an hour and working in appalling conditions – led her to take a stand and help organize a union in her plant. Like countless workers who try to join a union today, she was met with threats, harassment, and was ultimately fired from her job.
The movie “Norma Rae” highlighted these issues 30 years ago. We’ve waited far too long for real reform.
We just came across a great video about “Norma Rae” and what the movie means for us today.