Union

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Union

2024

1h 42m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Through intimate cinema vérité, UNION chronicles the extraordinary efforts of an unlikely group of warehouse workers as they launch a grassroots union campaign at an Amazon fulfillment center in Staten Island, New York. Led by the charismatic but underestimated Chris Smalls, the diverse band of workers start the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) and embark on a journey against one of the largest and most powerful companies in the world. The odds are stacked against them, as the group finds itself up against a tech industry giant with unlimited resources, without major support from national unions or politicians, and while navigating internal divisions within their own ranks. Filmmakers Brett Story and Stephen Maing document the struggle from day one, offering a gripping human drama about the fight for power and dignity in today's globalized economic landscape.

Critics Consensus

A necessary and stark reminder of the power of the people, this documentary shines a bright light on the importance of a Union.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

11/13/2024

4/5

Directors Stephen Maing and Brett Story give a shrewd, fly-on-the-wall picture of the divisions within the union itself.

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

10/25/2024

“Union” lets us see what Amazon and the world would soon discover about the power workers have when they invest in their dignity first.

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Alison Willmore

New York Magazine/Vulture

10/21/2024

Union may be a vérité work, but it never lets us forget the humanity of everyone in front of and behind the camera.

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Christopher La Vigna

MovieJawn

Aug 19

The vast majority of us know what it’s like to clock in and clock out of a long shift at a demanding job, to give away hours of your life, and in some cases, compromises both your physical and mental health for a paycheck...

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Jul 11

Edited with the benefit of hindsight, Smalls becomes the de facto protagonist because his strategy and suggestions are vindicated over time, but “Union” does not conflate that positioning with trying to project a unified, harmonious, kumbaya narrative.

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Siddhant Adlakha

JoySauce.com

01/06/2025

The film is confrontational, in large part because its subjects are unafraid of confrontation, and covertly capture footage of assembly lines, and even instances when they break up and speak out against [Amazon's] meetings.

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Jeff

01/14/2025

Great pressing clear-eyed chronicle of the grassroots efforts to unionize an Amazon fulfillment center. Fly-on-the-wall documenting captures the community and disagreements that occur in labor led organizing.

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Garry A

@heavyg Jan 30

The courage and persistence of newly formed ALU in New York going against Amazon was impressive. It's a shame that years later they still haven't gotten to negotiate a contract.

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David F

@dfulmer Jun 28

This documentary chronicles a home grown union attempting - and succeeding - at organizing a union in an Amazon distribution center. The labor organizers plot, plan, bicker, and ultimately pull it off without the help of a bigger union, just by their own efforts. The film could use a bit more context - it was really stripped down - but it was an interesting adventure.

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Dan C

@cinemacriterion 01/11/2025

Excellent documentary!

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m v

@RT46341170 11/30/2024

This gritty film is a must-see for anyone who wants to see real grassroots organizing. Reveals the ugly truth about Amazon. Don't use Amazon!!!

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Stephen Maing

Director

Brett Story

Director

Samantha Curley

Producer

Martin Dicicco

Producer

Stephen Maing

Producer

Brett Story

Producer

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Synopsis

Through intimate cinema vérité, UNION chronicles the extraordinary efforts of an unlikely group of warehouse workers as they launch a grassroots union campaign at an Amazon fulfillment center in Staten Island, New York. Led by the charismatic but underestimated Chris Smalls, the diverse band of workers start the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) and embark on a journey against one of the largest and most powerful companies in the world. The odds are stacked against them, as the group finds itself up against a tech industry giant with unlimited resources, without major support from national unions or politicians, and while navigating internal divisions within their own ranks. Filmmakers Brett Story and Stephen Maing document the struggle from day one, offering a gripping human drama about the fight for power and dignity in today's globalized economic landscape.

Director: Stephen Maing, Brett Story
Producer: Samantha Curley, Martin Dicicco, Stephen Maing, Brett Story, Mars Verrone
Distributor: Level Ground Productions
Production Co: Level Ground Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 20, 2024
Runtime: 1h 42m