Bolivia's workers have been responsible for some of the greatest educational and economic reforms in their country, and have at times been the sole supporters of the economy. Despite these contributions the government has persistently acted against workers' unions. In 1985 and 1986 the government imposed a state of siege during which many trade union leaders were arrested and mistreated.
Bolivian director Alfonso Gumucio Dagron is well known for his documentaries on Nicaragua, Bolivia and Mexico. He conveys the violation of the workers' rights by showing the humiliating, poverty stricken conditions they now must live in.
The video also stresses the necessity for workers around the world to organize themselves, and shows how Bolivian workers have achieved this in the face of relentless, often violent, government persecution.
This courageous, thought-provoking documentary is a useful guide for anyone interested in "Thirld World" issues, the rights of native peoples, and the rights of unions and workers.