London videoactivist collective Reel News begins a new monthly residency in Hackney with one of a number of worldwide screenings organised by the Radical Film Network to commemorate International Workers Day 2025.

Our usual informal mix of films, chat, music, drinks and resistance - as always, FREE, but bring some cash to put into the strike fund for the evening!

Radical Film Network convenor MATTHIAS KISPERT will give an introduction to the Radical Film Network - the largest network for activist and experimental film in the world - and how you can join and get involved.

TONIGHT'S FILMS

PART 1: REEL NEWS

1) "Disinfect your neglect!" Rapid Response team at London hospitals demand end to povery wages (6mins 34secs)

The Rapid Response team at Guy's and St Thomas's hospitals do the very dangerous and skilled job of disinfecting the hospitals after outbreaks of viruses. Without them, the hospitals cannot function - yet they are paid just £12 an hour and have no rest room to sit down or even clean themselves properly The predominately black team have already taken two weeks' strike action; if management don't agree to treat them with the respect they deserve, they will be going on all-out indefinite strike.

Speaker: DAVE CARR (UNITE Critical care nurse, St Thomas' hospital)

2) "In House Now!" Cleaners strike at City St Georges university of London (7 mins 37secs)

Cleaners in the IWGB union on the night shift at City St Georges University of London have had enough - and are taking strike action in classic militant and noisy IWGB style to put an end to their appalling conditions once and for all, and to be brought back in-house.

Speakers from the strike: TBC

3) Germany: National public sector strike (13mins 28secs)

Huge national public sector strike, supported by a rapidly growing network of students organising against the far-right, calling for a pay rise of at 8%. Berlin has led the way over the past few years in building militant action led by the rank and file - a process in which the Berlin hospital workers strike in 2021 has been key. Also very important has been the "Berlin Steht Zusammen" (Berlin Stands Together) network, an alliance between students and workers that came out of the previous "Wir Fahren Zusammen" (We Travel Together) network of joint strikes by Fridays For Future climate activists and transport workers.

DISCUSSION Could this be a template we could use to stop the far-right here?

PART 2: "SEGERTÄGET (VICTORY TRAIN)" (Talat Bhat, 27 mins)

On the purple trains that run through the rapeseed fields of Skåne, anger is growing. The train company is planning yet another cutback. But this time the train staff are ready to back each other!

For decades of public procurement, companies have competed to win the lucrative contracts to run Sweden's railways. This fierce competition has resulted in worse working conditions for the employees, which has become the hidden competitive advantage. This film follows train drivers and train conductors who, between work shifts and the online meetings of the pandemic, organize themselves in a fight for justice and better working conditions, culminating in a successful wildcat strike. A story of perseverance and solidarity in a time of constant deterioration.

Speakers: PHIL ROWAN (RMT), FLISS PREMRU (MeTU) on current disputes on the rail here