Stories from an American Mill (02:03)

FREE PREVIEW

Employees of a towel manufacturer discuss the company's discouragement of unions and their fight for respect from management.

Cannon Mill Paternalism (03:33)

Kannapolis factory workers describe the Cannon family's control over their lives and freedom. Learn the North Carolina textile town's history.

Mill Town Culture (02:58)

Union organizer Ernest Bennett, Reverend Alexander Porter, and third generation workers discuss how Kannapolis life is centered around the factories.

Kannapolis Labor Strikes (02:49)

Learn how union activity was violently suppressed in Cannon Mills in 1934. Despite 1935 labor legislation, workers wouldn't repeat the attempt to organize for 40 years.

Organizing in Kannapolis (02:44)

A mill worker describes unfair working conditions and labor practices. She joined the union campaign in 1974—against her father's advice.

Kannapolis Union Campaign (02:17)

View a company film warning against organizing. Fear of being fired made the town's majority vote against the union in 1974.

Kannapolis Corporate Takeover (02:35)

Learn how David Murdock bought Cannon Mill in 1982; laid off workers; sold homes; and used industrial engineers to cut wages for efficiency.

Corporate Intimidation (03:12)

Organizers describe campaign motivations. Murdock threatened to shut down the mill and workers voted against the union—he sold the company and took retirement funds.

Cutting Production Costs (03:07)

Fieldcrest bought Cannon in 1986. Wages were cut and 12 hour shifts were established to avoid overtime.

Fieldcrest Intimidation Tactics (04:52)

Union organizers were successful at mobilizing Kannapolis workers in 1991. Learn how the company fought back in the workplace.

Dividing Kannapolis (02:39)

Fieldcrest hired an African American PR firm to turn the community against the union. View footage of anti-union demonstrations.

Kannapolis Union Vote (05:29)

Thirteen employees were illegally terminated for union activity. Despite Fieldcrest's claim to victory, the National Labor Relations Board disqualified the vote as a draw.

Textile Labor Legacy (04:11)

Fieldcrest workers and union organizers describe the impact of losing the election. They took the company to court.

Ruined Kannapolis Livelihoods (03:14)

Courts ruled that Fieldcrest had used illegal tactics against union organizers in 1991—but the right to organize had been compromised.

UNITE! Campaign (01:28)

In 1997, new union efforts began in Kannapolis—but many textile jobs had been eliminated or moved overseas.

UNITE! Election (03:19)

Fieldcrest workers voted against unionizing for the fourth time in 1997, an outcome the NLRB contested. The company was sold to Pillowtex.

Kannapolis Union Victory (03:25)

The NLRB overturned the 1997 election and held a second one in 1999—supported by Pillowtex management. View footage of workers celebrating.

Fair Labor Practices (01:36)

In February 2000, UNITE! and Pillowtex concluded contract negotiations. Workers express satisfaction with the outcome.

U.S. Textile Industry Decline (03:14)

In 2001, production was moving overseas and Kannapolis plants were going bankrupt. Workers discuss limited employment options.

Kannapolis Epilogue (00:41)

In 2003, Pillowtex closed and 4,340 workers were laid off. 266,000 U.S. textile jobs have been lost since NAFTA was passed in 1994.

Credits: Where Do You Stand? Stories From An American Mill (01:10)

Credits: Where Do You Stand? Stories From An American Mill