Laborfest: Films on Malaysia, USA, Greece, Australia

Blue Elephants (14 min.) Malaysia By PC Global films
This short documentary shows the dire working conditions of migrant workers in the Malaysian electronics industry. Men and women from Nepal, Indonesia and other countries come as contract workers to work for Dell, HP, Intell and other well-known brand companies. Migrant workers pay several thousands of dollars in commission to labor agents to get work permits. Time to pay off these debts is limited, while pay is low. Migrant workers face discrimination in Malaysian society as well as on the work floor, and have to accept bad housing conditions.

Maximum Yield 29 min. (2011) By Kazmi Torii
John Sferazo was one of the many first responders in 9/11. A member of Ironworkers Local Local 361 and Operating Engineers Local 138, he gave his all to help survivors and also clean the site. Sferazo learned as thousands of others have that these first responders were being used and not being told of the dangers of the highly toxic materials in the air and ground. http://www.laborvideo.org

That’s Our Power - Greek Working Class Rank and File Organizing For Power & Survival 25 min. (2012) By Reel News
The Greek working class is in a struggle for survival. This short video captures their issues including the occupation of a television station by journalists and TV workers http://reelnews.co.uk/

When The Dust Settles - Uranium Miners In Australia 37 min. (2010)
By David Bradbury
Australia is a major center of the mining of uranium. This film shows how the mining companies recruit electricians and other workers who are encouraged to work in the open pit uranium mines. Behind the clean mining towns is dangerous contamination from the uranium mines. The film, financed by the ETU (Australian Electrical Trade Unions), is a docu-drama on how these workers and their families are bribed to take the jobs and what the real cost of this mining is.
http://www.frontlinefilms.com.au/profile.htm
See also:
http://www.laborfest.net/2012/2012Films.htm#f6
http://www.laborfest.net/2012/2012schedule.htm