Matewan and Norma Rae

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Matewan and Norma Rae

Theoretically, the characters of both Matewan, and Norma Rae take part in a capitalistic society. In both situations the people are partaking in a form of labor market, where they are selling their time and energy. However, the town of Matewan, governed by the Stone Mountain Coal Companies' monopoly on the land and businesses, and isolated by distance and limited technology, as fallen into a feudalistic condition. Despite the fact that Norma Rae's small hometown of Alabama bears a great resemblance to the town of Matewan, their economic situation remains a form of capitalism. Though the Henely Mill is a dominating force in the small town, with a strong financial hold over the citizens, it is not as dictatorial of the society as the Stone Mountain Coal Company is over Matewan.

In signing the Stone Mountain Coal Company's contract the coal miners did not simply agree to sell the company their time and labor; they signed away their lives. In a capitalistic society one goes to work in an industry of their choosing, is compensated with a fair wage. In such a society the business one works for has no authority over where their workers eat, sleep, or spend their leisure hours. However, the town of Matewan is trapped under the hegemonic power of the coal company. The coal company has a monopoly over the predominant natural resources in the area. Their ownership is not only limited to the coalmines, but to the general store, and the much of the town's housing. Within the bonding contract of the mine workers are forbidden to buy their supplies from anywhere other than the general store, and are forced to reside in the coal company's housing. The coal company enforces this by paying their workers in company script...

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... were not only forced to reside in company housing and buy for the company store, but were also forbidden to launch a union. Norma Rae, and her fellow workers, were not under a binding contract to the Henely Mill; and were tied to the organization only when working on the grounds. Due to their contractual agreement, or lack thereof, the Henely Mill workers held the legal rights to form a union, where the coal miners were banned from us and undertaking.

A union formation was possible in Norma Rae's town due to one essential element: the legal rights, and government support. This was made possible by the time frame, and the geographical location of the small Alabama town. Rupert's odyssey to begin a union was fully supported by the U.S. government; he held the rights to inspect the mill, put up notices, and converse with the workers on their off hours and breaks.

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