RMT - your union

RMT – YOUR Chris Reeves of Platform Films talks about making the RMT DVD which members will receive in January W hen we first heard that RMT were interested in Platform Films producing a promotional video for them explaining the union’s history, how it works and the benefits of being a member, there was a bit of a buzz around the office. We had worked with unions before, but this was different. The chance to make a high profile campaign and recruitment film for a dynamic and growing union was a first for us, a tremendous opportunity and an exciting challenge. We made films about union successes in the pre-Thatcher era, but our more recent trade union videos address either internal structural union issues, injustices inflicted on labour or single issue campaigns. Forward-looking However, RMT - Your Union is not an inward-looking or defensive film, or one about long-past struggles or victories. It is positive and forward looking, and in a small way demonstrates an emerging new confidence in the trade union movement, spear RMT. In making the DVD, we had to a balance between covering all asp is a complex organisation and ma which is dynamic and interesting film had to capture the spirit of un an industrial union and be relevan different industries and grades th represents. This required a lot of f about 45 hours of material in all - to Edinburgh, Portsmouth, Tolpud P&O ferry to Cherbourg with an R recruitment team. Most filming was done with ma prior agreement, but in some inst to wing it and hang around station of various kinds getting suspiciou security personnel as we looked f opportunities. In making the film our main poin in the union were the communica department and organising unit, b 20 PLATFORM FILMS is an independent company which specialises in making films and DVDs for the trade union and labour movement. Some Platform members cut their film- making teeth with Cinema Action, a London-based film group which produced trade union campaign films in the 1970s, including films in support of dockers imprisoned under Tory anti- union laws, the occupation of the Upper Clyde shipyards and the 1974 miners’ strike. Platform productions include a five-part series on labour history The People’s Flag, screened on Channel Four in 1988, the Miners’ Campaign Tapes which won the Grierson award for innovative documentary, and Old Hands, a film funded by UNISON about unemployed labour camps in Britain in the 1930s. We have also made films for the peace movement and for BBC2's Disability Programmes Unit including Who Killed Mark Faulkner, a three part series on disability and homelessness which was transmitted in 2000. Platform recently produced a DVD for the Transport & General Workers Union, and are currently developing a film project on international labour standards with the Institute of Employment Rights. We are keen to offer our services and facilities to produce any dvd/video material that labour and progressive organizations may require, whether of an educational, promotional or campaigning nature. We can also simply record one- off events. To find out more, or discuss a project you would like to get off the ground, please contact Platform Films at: Unit 14, Pennybank Chambers, 33-35 St John’s Square, London EC1M 4DS. e-mail: platform.films@virgin.net. Tel: 020 72788394, mob: 07973 278 956. A leaflet listing films for sale on VHS video is available on request. Platform films UNION headed by achieve a pects of what aking a film to watch. The nity in RMT as nt to all the at it filming - and took us ddle and on a RMT nagements’ ances we had ns and depots us looks from for filming nts of contact tions but we received enthusiastic help and ideas from many RMT office workers, officers, reps and individual RMT members. Thanks to everybody who helped. We think the end product was worth the effort. It shows how your union functions as a whole and also highlights specific cases of injustice where the union fought and won on behalf of its members. None of the people talking in the film were scripted and none of the scenes are staged. We found a widespread and genuine pride in the union from members. The film also show the RMT in action and tackles ways in which the union can improve. We hope it will not only be informative, but also will inspire more members to get involved in the union. The fact that RMT has made such a film shows it to be a modern outfit, embracing media technology in order to inform and further the interests of its members. We enjoyed making it and hope you enjoy watching it too, happy viewing. distributed by Platform Films & Video Unit 14, Pennybank Chambers, 33-35 St John’s Square, London EC1M 4DS tel/fax: 020 7278 8394 mobile: 07973 278 956 e-mail: platform.films@virgin.net the miners cinema action the miners’ film documents the industrial action by miners in the winter of 1973-4 which helped to bring down Edward Heath’s Tory government. The strike is seen as part of the successful opposition against Phase 3 of the government’s income policy. The film charts this crisis from insde the labour movement, but also reflects the miners’ historical and political understanding of it, informed by memories of the 1926 General Strike and analysis of the failures of nationalisation and more recent energy and employment policies. Produced by cinema action, a London-based collective which produced ‘socialist campaign films’ between 1968 and 1981. Other films in this series: Fighting the Bill The UCS struggle Arise ye workers: the dockers’ fight Class struggle: Film from the Clyde So that you can live DV/Beta SP/VHS/16mm film 49 minutes 1974/75 the miners’ film 21 distributed by Platform Films & Video Unit 14, Pennybank Chambers, 33-35 St John’s Square, London EC1M 4DS tel/fax: 020 7278 8394 mobile: 07973 278 956 e-mail: platform.films@virgin.net the dockers f g cinema action arise ye workers: the dockers’ fight is a campaign film supporting the dockers’ fight against redundancy, lay-offs and wage cuts caused by containerisation. The film charts the struggle against ruthless rationalisation, profiteering and land speculation, police harassment of pickets and finally the enforcement of the Industrial Relations Act by the arrest and jailing of the Pentonville 5. A series of massive solidarity demonstrations followed which freed the pickets and effectively destroyed the Act. The film includes footage of police harassment, dockers successfully calling on Fleet Street printworkers to strike in solidarity and the release of the five jailed dockers. Produced by cinema action, a London-based collective which produced ‘socialist campaign films’ between 1968 and 1981. Other films in this series: Fighting the Bill The UCS struggle The miners’ film Class struggle: Film from the Clyde So that you can live DV/Beta SP/VHS/16mm film 25 minutes 1974/75 arise ye workers arise y