F.I.S.T.

The film begins in 1937 amid the Great Depression and intense labor activism. It follows the growth of the F.I.S.T. union through the 1940s and into the 1950s, illustrating the era's labor conflicts and reorganizations. By 1958, the union has expanded into a national force, shadowed by crime and political scrutiny.

The story unfolds at a busy loading dock in Cleveland, capturing the city’s gritty industrial atmosphere. It centers on dockside work, unfair pay practices, and the early stirrings of union organizing. The Midwest industrial landscape shapes the characters and the escalating fight for fair labor conditions.

⚖️ Labor Rights

The core conflict centers on securing fair pay and safe working conditions for truckers and dock workers. Leadership is tested as workers demand recognition and bargaining power against powerful employers. The narrative shows how collective action can shift the balance of power in the workplace.

🕵️‍♂️ Corruption

As the union grows, crime figures and shell companies intrude, blurring lines between labor organizing and criminal empire building.-The story reveals how corruption within leadership and external mob influence threaten the integrity of the movement. Investigations and accusations add a layer of political risk to the union's ambitions.

❤️ Loyalty & Betrayal

Friendships formed during the organizing drive are tested by ambition and danger. Allies stumble into rivalries, and trust is shattered when violence and assassination intrude. The personal costs of leadership reveal the human side of the labor struggle.

💥 Conflict & Struggle

Industrial action leads to strikes, clashes with security, and bold moves to win contracts. The narrative tracks the ripple effects of protests from the docks to the gates of trucking firms. The fight blends worker solidarity with the high-stakes gamble of power and influence.