Before the hit song and Hollywood movie, “9to5” was an inspiring grassroots movement for equality that fused the spirit of the women’s and labor movements of the 1970’s.
A new documentary, 9to5: The Story of a Movement, from filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar, chronicles the waves of secretaries, starting in Boston, who in the 1970’s and 1980’s fought to create change in their workplaces. Their ideas spread rapidly, eventually leading to a nationwide movement that intersected the women’s and labor movements, and changed the American workforce forever.
The documentary will premiere on PBS’s Independent Lens on February 1 and also will be available to stream on the PBS video app.
In the 1970’s, secretaries and clerical workers made up the largest sector of the American workforce, with over 20 million employed. Inspired by the growing women’s liberation movement, secretaries Ellen Cassedy and Karen Nussbaum got mad, got organized and started a group in Boston called “9to5.” The group grappled with class and race barriers, and deployed humor and wry publicity stunts to shame their bosses into change. Their goals were simple: better pay, job descriptions, respect, advancement opportunities and an end to sexual harassment. What Cassedy and Nussbaum didn’t know is that similar groups were popping up in Chicago, San Francisco and other cities across the United States.
Clerical workers were the low-wage workers of their era. As America today confronts deep income inequality and commonplace sexual harassment, the stories and strategies of these bold, creative women continue to resonate deeply almost 50 years later.
Featuring interviews with 9to5 founders Nussbaum and Cassedy; actress and activist Jane Fonda, who starred in the 1980 film, 9 to 5, with Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton; and other leaders of the movement, the documentary is a previously untold story, brought to life through a mixture of archival footage and newly filmed interviews.
The 9to5 movement also famously inspired a pop culture phenomenon, the 1980 film, and, of course, the catchy Parton tune that was its theme song. In 9to5: The Story of A Movement, Fonda reflects on her involvement in the movement and the genuine friendships she formed with its organizers that continue today.
“I met my friend Karen Nussbaum through the anti-war movement and found her stories about women in the workplace utterly jaw-dropping. I immediately knew I needed to use my voice to help amplify their stories through a film,” said Fonda. “While we’ve made some monumental strides for women’s rights, we still have a lot of work to do. I have dedicated my life to social, political and environmental activism, and I hope that the story of the 9to5 movement will help inspire and teach the next generation of activists.”
“9to5 tells a story through the words of these workers and the organizers themselves. These women are so inspiring, and as we spoke with them more, we discovered undeniable parallels to the movements happening today. We hope this film inspires people and shows how people can build momentum to tip the balance of worker vs. corporate power,” said Reichert and Bognar.
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