North London SolFed and Feminist Fightback invite you to a screening of The Year of The Beaver, a documentary about the Grunwick strike.
Between 1976 and 1978 workers at Grunkwick Film Processing Laboratories in North London , most of whom were female of Black and Asian ethnic background, fought over speed-ups, low pay and a right to union recognition. It was the first labour dispute involving majority immigrant workers widely supported by the labour movement. Despite that and a favourable government enquiry, the employer remained defiant, the police used new paramilitary units to break picket lines, the TUC eventually betrayed the workers and the strike was lost.
The Year of The Beaver tells the story of a dispute which is considered a turning point in the history of the British labour movement and a prelude to the neoliberal restructuring under the Thatcher government.
The screening is free and will be at Pogo Cafe, 76 Clarence Rd, Hackney, E5 8HB.