Decision: The Constitution in Action; The Constiution and the Labor Union
Description:
This program traces a dispute of particular concern to organized labor -- the case of Whitaker et al vs. North Carolina, in which a group of unions in Asheville, NC, challenged the constitutionally of a state ban on the closed shop, union shop and other union security provisions. In its challenge, the union cited the guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment. The program traces the curious role of that amendment in labor struggles. Re-enactments were filmed at various Asheville locations including the Superior Court, the Central Labor Union, the law office of George Pennell and police headquarters. Appearing as themselves are George H. Whitaker, building contractor; George Pennell, attorney; William K. McLean, state prosecutor; Judge Zebulon V. Nettles; special detective Henry C. Caldwell; John Jervis, and others of the Ashville General Labor Union. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) Each episode in the series deals with a US Supreme Court decision of recent history involving a question of constitutional interpretation. The cases are reenacted by many of the real-life people involved and filmed on location in communities across the nation to underscore the proposition that these have been issues affecting everyday people in the course of their normal lives. The series focuses on the stresses which the Constitution has undergone and the conflicting issues involved in interpreting this document. The 7 half-hour episodes that comprise this series were originally recorded on film and were produced by the Center for Mass Communication of Columbia University Press. Herbert Wechsler, Columbia University Professor of Law and formerly Assistant Attorney General of the US, was consultant. Erik Barnouw, national chairman of the Writers Guild of America, was writer and executive producer for the series. Stephen Sharff, documentarian, winner of awards at Edinburgh and Venice Film Festivals, was producer-director. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
