British Pathe

Titles read: 'The Co-operative Productive Federation presents - THE ELEVATION OF LABOUR'.

Reel 1. Foreword talks of the History of Labour being the history of man, and says the purpose of this film is to show the success of Co-operative Co-Partnership, and how some of the products of the Federation...

Titles read: 'The Co-operative Productive Federation presents - THE ELEVATION OF LABOUR'.

Reel 1. Foreword talks of the History of Labour being the history of man, and says the purpose of this film is to show the success of Co-operative Co-Partnership, and how some of the products of the Federation are manufactured.

Title introduces the England of a century and a half ago, with the village the centre of social life. Scenic shots of countryside - houses, river, workers on farm fields. People in old-fashioned dress (1830s or 1840s?) ride along in open train carriages pulled by an early steam train. Smoking chimney signals industrial age. Windows of factory. Titles detail poor wages and conditions of factory workers at time. Actors recreate scene of boy and woman handing over bag of something to boss who gives them a few coins. The boys looks despondent and limps off with his mother. Factory workers coming out of building in shawls and ragged Victorian clothing. Well-dressed woman greets a man coming out of a large house and they walk off together (wealthy owner of factory, according to titles).

Title talks of Trade Unions gaining strength and influence in improving conditions for workers. Shot of happy women workers coming out of factory building in the 1930s. Line of people queue for their wages inside. Headline in newspaper about profits of company giving higher dividends for shareholders. Title talks of Co-operative Co-partnership, with employees electing their own board of directors and attaining the ideal of self-employment. Tailors at work in Co-operative company. Cheery girls on their way to work. Title about 44 Co-operative factories providing security, happiness and efficiency for workers. Men operate large adding machines; others operating machinery (looks lke Braille cards being punched). Newspaper or book printing works - machinery in action - good footage. Pamphlets and books being printed and bound. Cardboard boxes being made and joined together. These are good factory shots with men and women workers.
Continued.