Video Production

We have covered entire contract and organizing campaigns, producing short segments for meetings and the Internet as events happen, then producing a documentary DVD of the whole campaign after it concludes. The short segments have boosted members' morale and built public support among Web viewers. The longer documentaries have been used to celebrate victories and provide lessons in strategy and tactics for future drives. 

Examples:

• We followed strikes — by HERE hotel workers in 2001, by AFSCME and MAPE state workers in 2001 and by University of Minnesota clerical workers in 2003 — from negotiations through final agreement. 
• We documented two of SEIU Local 26's contract battles for janitors and security officers, from press conferences to direct actions.
• We periodically covered the ultimately successful effort to organize the Minneapolis Radisson hotel, with our video news release helping to prompt city officials to resolve the eight-year-long struggle.

LES has produced award-winning videos that document particular industries.

Examples:

• "Twin Cities Assembly Plant: A Job and A Family" tells the story of Ford Motor Company's St. Paul plant from the perspective of both labor and management.
• "From Field to Factory: Sugar Beets, Trade and the Future of the Red River Valley" describes the importance of the sugar beet industry to the Red River Valley along the Minnesota-North Dakota border, with viewpoints from labor, business and community leaders.
• M.A. Mortenson construction company hired us to produce a video on workplace safety, which was shot in three states and shown in safety meetings across the country.
• The National Electrical Contractors Association commissioned a profile of the organization to inform the public and potential clients about its services.
• "Apprenticeship: Building Your Career", The Labor Education Service and the Apprenticeship Coordinators Association of Minnesota produced this video to promote recruitment to the apprenticeship programs of various trades in Minnesota.

LES staff are experienced in recording and documenting union conferences and conventions:

• For more than 20 years, LES has operated floor cameras and recorded speeches, demonstrations and other activities at Minnesota AFL-CIO conventions.
• For 20 years, LES has coordinated and produced all audio/video needs of the annual Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council conventions.
• Beginning in 2002 LES produced daily video highlight programs for delegates of the last eight national bi-annual conventions of the American Postal Workers Union. Starting out in 2002 with videotape and mass duplication for each of several hotels, we now put numerous short programs on the APWU YouTube channel for the duration of each convention.

LES has worked with professional actors and with historical footage to create educational programs for use within organizations and classrooms. Examples:

• Two short videos, "Hot Buttons" and "Vote? What Difference Does It Make?" use humor to help union members understand wedge issues and overcome voter cynicism.
• "Getting It Together," a video coupled with a lesson plan, is a dramatic presentation by young actors that informs junior and senior high school students about the labor movement.
• "Minneapolis Truckers Make History" is accompanied by a curriculum and website (www.minneapolis1934.org) for teachers to use in the classroom when educating students about the landmark 1934 Teamsters strike. K-12 teachers in Minnesota may order one free copy of the DVD, by contacting LES at 612-614-6343.

LES has worked with professional actors and with historical footage to create educational programs for use within organizations and classrooms. Examples:

• Two short videos, "Hot Buttons" and "Vote? What Difference Does It Make?" use humor to help union members understand wedge issues and overcome voter cynicism.
•  
• "Getting It Together," a video coupled with a lesson plan, is a dramatic presentation by young actors that informs junior and senior high school students about the labor movement.
• "Minneapolis Truckers Make History" is accompanied by a curriculum and website (www.minneapolis1934.org) for teachers to use in the classroom when educating students about the landmark 1934 Teamsters strike. K-12 teachers in Minnesota may order one free copy of the DVD, by contacting LES at 612-614-6343.

List of videos here...