Betrayed
By Maritime Union of Australia
The MUA has helped fund the production of a film documenting
the brutal battle that led to the fall of the Canadian Seamen’s Union
in 1949. The International Lonshore and Warehouse Union is screening Betrayed
in the US and touring it around the country. The MUA plans to do likewise here
in 2005.
Award winning progressive filmmaker Elaine Briere approached the MUA some time
back to get support for a one-hour film charting the history of the CSU, including
the shoot-outs after US gangsters were recruited across the border to smash the
union and damage the Canadian merchant marine. The documentary also exposes the
role of CSL in both the CSU and the MUA/Yarra dispute. It also shows the role
of the merchant marine in war and in international solidarity including Australian
support for striking Canadian seafarers.
Told by veteran Canadian seafarers, the ITF and the MUA, the film uses powerful
archival news footage of the merchant marine WWII. The struggle to keep the
Australian flag flying on the CSL Yarra sit-in in Port Pirie also features prominently.
The MUA contributed to the production costs. In return the producer will provide
us a broadcast quality copy so dvds are available to MUA members.
The union will be helping fund a tour of Betrayed and bringing Elaine to Australia
early next year.
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