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The History Hour: Global strikes and industrial action

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Global strikes and industrial action

15/10/2022 GMT

BBC World Service - The History Hour, Global strikes and industrial action

When workers around the world took industrial action in pursuit of better conditions

When workers protested against bad working conditions from Geisha's to factory workers in South Korea. Anousha Sakoui from the LA Times discusses the 1941 Disney strikes.

A collection of the latest Witness History programmes, presented by Max Pearson. We look at moments from around the world when workers took industrial action in pursuit of better conditions from geisha in Japan to tortured wig factory workers in South Korea. This programme contains descriptions of torture.

Disney cartoonists went on strike for nine weeks in 1941. They were led by Art Babbitt, Disney’s top animator who created Goofy. The picket line was remarkable for its colourful artwork and support from Hollywood actors.

Anousha Sakoui, an entertainment industry writer for the Los Angeles Times discusses the impact of the Disney strikes and significant moments when Hollywood workers fought for their rights. 

(Photo: Art Babbitt leads Disney animators holding placards with cartoon characters at a film premiere. Credit: Kosti Ruohomaa, a former Disney worker, courtesy of Cowan-Fouts Collection)

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