“Union” directors Stephen Maina and Brett Story follow the Amazon Labor Union in their fight for the ability to unionize in Amazon, a company known for striking down unionization efforts. The grassroots project is led by former Amazon employee Chris Smalls, who is the documentary’s main protagonist.

Smalls and the ALU fight a constant uphill battle against one of the biggest companies in the world in the film, shown at the 2024 True/False Fest on March 3. The film also explores the personal lives of some of the protest organizers, especially Smalls, a father of three who must support his kids while fighting for Amazon workers’ rights. 

In one scene, Smalls calls his daughter before going to a protest. His daughter asks if he will be home in time to tuck her into bed. With a long reluctant pause, Smalls tells her that he’ll try his best, but to be prepared not to see him before she goes to bed. This helps the audience better understand Smalls, as they view a sympathetic man who must choose between his own children or the fight for those who put their trust in him. 

The documentary’s mood stays consistently heavy, with a great soundtrack by Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe is full of dark and looming music that will strike viewers in a very ear-grabbing way. The camera work is still and calm, even in very disturbing scenes. When Smalls is arrested for talking to an employee about joining his cause, throughout the chaos of the arrest, the shot remains calm and still. 

The shots taken by Martin Dicicco Stephen Maing are very on-theme with the choice of music. The audience is given a drab and very dystopian view both in and outside of the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Staten Island, where the documentary is set. A barren landscape in which a tall gloomy concrete structure sticks out like a sore thumb. 

The movie spans about 102 minutes in length, however, it is split up into two acts. The majority of the documentary is focused on the ALU’s fight to get recognized by Amazon as a legitimate union. In the first act, they must fight this battle twice after Amazon rejects the first petition because not all signatories were Amazon employees. However, the appeal was not enough and the company eventually lost. 

The following act is the story of the ALU trying to form a union that is strong enough to stand up to Amazon. This is where the mood of the ALU changes, as they have gotten what they wanted but the road ahead is still long. 

The group begins to fight amongst themselves wondering who should lead the ALU, as many want Smalls but believe his union dues are too little. The meetings soon become screaming matches in which Smalls refuses to listen to any opposition, a sad fall from grace that viewers watch in a short time. However, this, is what makes this documentary so unique — we see the flaws in the union organizers and their egos take over.

“Union” leaves a hopeful but sour taste in the viewers’ mouths. The truth is painted bluntly with the raw emotion of workers fighting for longer breaks while fearing being fired just for joining the cause. 

Even though this documentary is blunt and realistic, it does show the optimism of the masses. The workers and the lower classes are tired of the way the government and their employers treat them and therefore stand up against these injustices in a collective front to work for safety and fair treatment. Expect to leave this documentary feeling optimistic about the strength of the people, and a sense of pride that the masses still have some sway in a world that increasingly seems to be run by a small percentage of the population. 

Edited by Annie Goldman | agoldman@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Sterling Sewell | ssewell@themaneater.com 

Edited by Sophie Rentschler | srentschler@themaneater.com