Labor Day weekend is upon us, and people are planning camping trips or vacations. But do you know why we have the Labor Day holiday? It's to honor workers' rights! And since our society seems to need the reminder, Labor Day is about working to live, not living to work.
So, for anyone wishing they could tell their boss where to stick it, or for those who want to remember what life was like before workers' rights, here are some movies to inspire your Labor Day celebrations.
Norma Rae (1979)
Inspired by the true story of Crystal Lee Sutton, Norma Rae is a film about one woman's efforts to create a union in the textile mill where she works. When Norma is fed up with the working conditions, which have caused poor health in her family, coworkers, and herself, she decides to fight for their rights. Convincing her fellow workers to unionize proves difficult when management actively tries to stop them.
Sally Field won an Oscar for her portrayal of Norma, and the film was nominated for three other awards. Audiences loved the film and the message it conveyed. It just goes to show that you don't have to be highly educated or in a position of authority to stand up and make a difference.
9 to 5 (1980)
Many of us have heard Dolly Parton's song, 9 to 5, but have you seen the movie? It is an out-there, crazy comedy about three women and the struggles they face at their corporate office.
Doralee Rhodes (Parton), Judy Bernly (Jane Fonda), and Violet Newstead (Lily Tomlin) fantasize about killing their sexist boss. But things go awry when they accidentally poison his coffee and realize that their fantasies have become reality. "What a way to make a living," indeed.
Harlan County, USA (1976)
If you're looking more for a documentary, Barbara Kopple's Harlan County, USA would be a great choice. This film tells the story of the coal miners' strike at the Brookside Mine in Harlan County, Kentucky.
Kopple wanted the workers to tell their own story and gave them a platform to do so. Black lung, cave-ins, and violence are discussed without any sugarcoating. The miners won a hard-fought battle with their strike, and this film shows the scars they bear.
Newsies (1992)
It might be a Disney movie musical, but don't knock Newsies before you try it. This movie was inspired by the real newsboys' strike of 1899, which led to major changes in working conditions, regulations, and child labor laws.
People didn't think that a group of kids could have that much of an effect on the world, and that is exactly why their strike stood out. While it offers a more romanticized view of historical events, Newsies gives hope to the little guy and confidence to seize the day.
Silkwood (1983)
Based on the true story of Karen Silkwood, this film looks into the mysterious death of a whistleblower at a nuclear power plant. Silkwood (Meryl Streep) is a labor activist who investigates the power plant she works for.
She knows they are keeping secrets and undermining the health of their workers by exposing them to radiation. But, just as she's about to go public, she dies in a car crash and all of her evidence goes missing. Just another reminder that people have fought and died for the regulations that keep workplaces safe.
Office Space (1999)
Before we had the mockumentary glory that is The Office, Office Space was the comedy that commiserated with our working woes. Peter (Ron Livingston) is a programmer at a software company who hates his job and his boss.
During a hypnotherapy session to help him destress, the therapist has a heart attack and never wakes Peter from his hypnosis. So now, Peter goes about his job without a care and does whatever he wants. If you have ever dreamed of telling your job how you really feel, this movie is for you.
Radium Girls (2018)
A tale about the truly horrifying effects of radium and the company that tried to hide their knowledge, Radium Girls is based on true events. Working women and girls began to get very ill after exposure to the radium they used to paint watches to glow in the dark.
The documentaries about the radium girls can be a bit graphic as the girls' body parts literally started to disintegrate. This film doesn't show any of the gore, but it does portray the battle these girls had to go through for justice.
After this list, I'm feeling very grateful for the laws and regulations we have today. But, it is also a reminder that if we want to keep our rights as workers, we must continually stand up for them. Remember that, and have a happy Labor Day!