Norma Rae essays

Norma Rae essays In true Hollywood fashion the movie Norma Rae takes its viewers on the turbulent journey of a widow trying to make a better life for she and her children. Academy Award winner Sally Field portrays Norma Rae; a strong willed and somewhat uneducated heroine who almost single handedly revolutionizes a small Southern town. Rae, coupled with Reubin Wychovski a New York Labor organizer, attempts to battle O.P. Henley Textile Mills in hopes of forming a Union. This movie allows its audience to see: unfit labor conditions, Unfair Labor Practices committed by both a Company and the Union organizers, the steps in forming a union, and how unhappy employees can rally to make a difference within their working environment. One of the reasons employees want to form a union is because they are unhappy with management and their current working conditions (Handout 10). O.P. Henley Textile Mills was in violation of many safety regulations that are covered under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970(OSHA). The purpose of OSHA is to assure a safe and healthful workplace for every American worker (Mondy 392). During the movie there are several violations of OSHA that occur. Rae mother temporarily loses her hearing and the company doctor tells her not to worry about it. Furthermore, there is no action taken by the company to prevent the conditions that may cause the deafness. Also, there is no place to rest if an employee is not feeling well. When Rae father starts to experience pain in his left arm and is told by management to hold on another 15 minutes for break, he falls over and dies of a heart attack. There is mention of woman who experiences severe menstruation cramps and is not able to take a break, or another woman who suffers from foot problems and is not given a stool to sit on. These are a few examples where O.P. Henley could have taken proactive measures to show its employees that they care and want to provid...