Three Companies. Three Industrial Disputes. Three Governments. The untold truth behind the headlines.
The film, Belonging, forensically dissects the intricate links between governments, the world of big business and media moguls. Told from the perspective of those who fought back, it highlights 3 key industrial disputes spanning the last 30 years. This untold story has its roots in Murdoch’s purchase of the Sunday Times and extends through to the present day:
News International (1986 - 1987): when Murdoch attacked the print worker union at Wapping, London, and effectively sacked 6,000 people overnight. What effect did this have on a 15 year old Matt then and now, whose family were impacted, and who found himself at the centre of some of the worst violence.
The Post Office (2007-2009): An essential service. A strong union, a company wanting to bring the workforce “in-line” to prepare for privatisation. 12 men with over 200 years service, who turned up to work one day to find the riot police waiting, accused, suspended and facing life on the dole. "You stand together when it's a wrong 'un" "That's Solidarity"
Grangemouth (2013): A local industrial dispute that became national news. A man, Stevie Deans, who had worked for 25 years at Grangemouth Oil Refinery, vilified in the media, the trade union accused of being “Industrial Terrorists” (Priti Patel MP, Oct 2013 (now Minister for Employment)). A Prime Minister, who accused Stevie Deans for “almost bringing the petrochemical industry to its knees”. A company that “orchestrated the whole thing”. We speak with Stevie, his daughter and key players in the dispute about the personal impact of a company, government and the media colluding to break the union. Win or lose - is it worth the fight?
So what of Trade Unionism today? Are trade unions still relevant? What does it mean to Belong?
Independent director/producer, Morag Livingstone is also a best selling author and became a photographer, filmmaker and lecturer, after over 15 years in the oil and telecoms industry. As a member of both BECTU (the UK's media and entertainment trade union) and the Society of Authors, Morag started the film as an exploration of her own belief system, about what it means to belong and be an active trade union member. She now hopes the film will dispel some of the prejudice against trade union members – and show how this perception of them has come about, as well as the reality of the trade unions in Britain today.
Morag says: “At a time when the trade union and the wider population are under increasing threat from the TU Bill, the Snoopers Charter, and the proposed Human Rights repeal - the voice of the working person, and the struggles faced against some bad practices of international businesses, and their link to governments, need to be highlighted more than ever.
You would expect government to remain neutral in these industrial disputes, and support the workforce, but when the union is involved, all reason seems to go – and this film will examine how this has come about. Win or lose there is often a strength and sense of belonging in those standing together to face injustice. This side of the story, not told by Media Mogul controlled press, is a story that needs to be told. . This is not a film that will tell people how to think, but will ask people to think again.”
We already have substantial support, both financial and non-financial for the film among individuals, trade unions, in particular Unite, the largest trade union in Britain and Ireland, the CWU, FUB, Bectu and the TUC as well as private companies such as Union Insurance.
We are half way there on getting the necessary funding in place, and are seeking backers from Britains centre left, to provide the last £60,000 to finish the film so that we can tell this story behind the headlines. If we meet our target of £60,000 through external funding, this will allow us to secure general release licensing of archive footage, additional filming, legal checks, and music – plus, in thanks for the support, the film will be released online for free viewing for a set period of time.
There are a number of ways to support:
Pledges can be made to crowdfunding site Indegogo http://igg.me/at/belongingfilm In return for pledges online of £2 or more everyone will have their name on the credits, the Belonging team and our supporters are offering rewards including mugs, DVDs of the film, posters, tote bags and exclusive pledger’s T-shirts to ‘cinema night’ package – plus “A right Royal night Out,” as well as signed memorabilia and a premier! We have received amazing support from Mark Benton, Amy Lamé and Leon and June from Gogglebox – all of whom have donated some great perks to help make this film happen!
If a cheque is preferred, please make cheque payable to: Livingstone Media Limited, and send to Belonging Film, 126 Havelock Road, SW19 8HB.
If a potential funder or production house wishes to discuss options re support or funding, then please contact us on contact@belonging4us, or 07880 506497.
Contact:
For more information please contact:
Morag Livingstone T: 07880 506497/020 8542 6956
E: contact@belonging4us.com / morag@livingstone-media.com
Notes to editors
Morag Livingstone, who formally worked in the telecoms and oil industries, is an experienced film maker, writer, documentary photographer and founder of Livingstone Media, a multimedia production house telling the real stories of real people in order to bring about real change. She is the co-author of best selling books Hackney Child (The Sun newspaper’s memoir of the year in 2012) and published in January 2014 by Simon & Schuster and Tainted Love (July 2014).
Morag has an Honours Degree in Business Studies and a Masters in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the London University of the Arts, where she is now a lecturer. When not writing, she makes films across continents that bring stories of poverty, low income and young peoples' mental health to life for the development sector. The main theme being how those in positions of power try to manipulate the truth. Belonging is a natural progression.
Morag, and the team behind her are all passionate about the film. Morag has already donated much of her time to this project, claiming only expenses so far, it has been an exploration of her own belief system as well as wanting to know what it means to “Belong”.
More information about the film is at www.belonging4us.com
