The film tells the story of the birth of the union movement in Virginia, USA. It relates to a strike about conditions and pay where scab labour was deployed which led to mass killings.Relevant to the history of the union movement in the United States.VHScoal strike, w. va., 1920-21, matewan, coal miners, strikes, industrial action, scab labour

Imagined image of Allan WHITTAKER drawn by Edouard INGLES for the film 'An Ordinary Life'. As there are no photographs of Allan, the artist based his drawing on images of working men and their clothing in the 1930's. Allan WHITTAKER was one of the first Australians to enlist in the AIF in WW1 and was wounded on the first morning of the Gallipoli landing. In 1928 he was shot by police at Princes Pier during protests at the use of scab labour to try and break the maritime strike. He died later in hospital. His death and the strike are remembered annually at Princes Pier on the 2nd November. piers and wharves - princes pier, allan whittaker, waterside workers, industrial disputes - waterside workers