Laborfest: Films on Oakland truckers & Japanese manufacturing workers

Race To The Bottom (20 m) US 2008
By Jonathan King, Michael Hamm
This story is about the 2,000 independent truck drivers working at the Port of Oakland, The film gives us a look into the lives of the drivers and their struggles to earn a living wage, support their families, and stay healthy as they do their jobs, transporting goods in and out of the port. It also shows their efforts to build a community coalition to protect their jobs and their health and make their voices heard.

Tanaka-San Will Not Do Calisthenics (75 min.) 2008 Australia
By Maree Delofski
This striking film shows the struggle of Japanese Oki Electric Manufacturing worker and singer Tetsuro Tanaka. Tanaka refused to accept the militarization of his job through calisthenics and the mind control of the company. As result, he is harassed and fired by the company. Rather than giving up, he decides to sing every day in front of the factory. He has continued this battle for 28 years, and in the process, has exposed the nature of this corporate management system. Tanaka has been to LaborFest before, and his music continues to ring out. His words “Never import the corporate fascism of Japan!” continue to have meaning.
See also:
http://www.tanakafilm.com/
http://www.din.or.jp/~okidentt/eigohome.htm
http://unionsong.com/u218.html
http://www.laborfest.net/2009schedule.htm