The Harry Bridges Project

Welcome to the Harry Bridges Project

The Harry Bridges Project was created to promote the legacy of labor leader Harry Bridges and to aid in the public's understanding of his importance to history. Bridges' work, which had and still has an enormous impact on our lives, is largely unknown outside specific labor union and academic circles. Our project presents his story to a much wider public through a variety of mediums. We take our audiences on a journey through some of America's most turbulent years, with one of its most dynamic figures as their guide.

Merchandise

Many people have been asking how they can order our DVDs, CDs, and other merchandise. Actually it's quite simple. To order Project related merchandise please click here to visit our store.

The PBS Airings of "From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks"

It was always considered a challenge to have stations air a 90 minute program (hard to fit into schedules) about a troublemaker like Harry Bridges.....

Well, we are so happy to let you know that we achieved a 49.56% market share, which means the film was available to about 150 million Americans!

Obviously, not everyone who could watch it did! And actual viewing numbers are affected by a multitude of issues – time of the airing, what it follows, is it up against American Idol type shows, or a big baseball game.....but still, 150 million Americans had, or have, since there are more airings to come, the chance to watch it!

The 'Final Market Reach" report is available below. There may be a few more pick-ups between now and the end of the year, and possibly a number of airings around Labor Day, 2010.

In the meantime, let's all celebrate the fact that we have given 150 million Americans the chance to watch the story of a great labor hero and a great union victory. With your support, we will continue to work on the challenge of the other 156 million! You can check out the market data yourself here.

With best wishes
Ian

Our Special Thanks To:

The California Teachers Association
Councilwoman Janice Hahn, City of Los Angeles 15th District
Councilman Bill Rosendahl, City of Los Angeles 11th District
The ILWU Credit Union
The Durfee Foundation
ILWU Locals 12, 34 and 32.
and everyone else who gave so generously to help us distribute “From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks” to PBS stations.

Order Your Copy of "Step By Step"

To read the press release for the cd click here.

To download a digital copy of the cd click on the CDBaby.com link.

Watch us on YouTube

To see all five videos go to our YouTube page.

Here is a sample of what you'll see.

Performances Booked for 2010

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Delegates Congress, Los Angeles Convention Center, February 2nd t 9:30 AM
Center for Collaborative Solutions Conference, Disney Paradise Pier Hotel, Orange County, CA, March 25th at 9:30 AM ("Sam & Harry")

Performances in 2009

National Educational Association, Uni Serve Managers Conference, Doubletree Hotel, San Diego, March 3rd 1:00 p.m.
The Center for Collaborative Solutions Conference, Disney Paradise Pier Hotel, March 18.
The Organization of American Historians Annual Meeting, Washington State Convention Center, Seatle, March 27th 3:45 p.m.
North American Society for Oceanic History, at the California Maritime Academy, May 15th at 6:30
Connecticut Education Association Leadership Conference, Mohegan Sun Resort, CT, August 5th at 9 AM
UFCW Local 5 Stewards Conference, San Jose, CA July 28th
Nevada Education Association Summer Conference, University of Nevada, Reno, August 6th at 1 PM
York College of Pennsylvania, October 22, 2009.
Cleveland State University, MC Auditorium, Oct.24 th 6:00 p.m. sponsored by The Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division 3 and Cleveland Jobs with Justice.

More Recent Performances :

National Education Association, UniServe Managers Conference, San Diego, March 3.
Center for Collaborative Solutions Conference, Disney Paradise Pier Hotel, Orange County, CA, March 18.
Organization of American Historians, Seattle, Washington, March 27.
Harvard Law School, Trade Union Program's 65th Anniversary, Cambridge, MA, October 6, 2007. See letter of recommendation here.
California Teachers Association, Region 3 Leadership Conference, Los Angeles, CA. February 3rd, 2008
University of Washington, "Walker-Ames Lecturer" series, Spring,

Guthrie Center, Great Barrington, MA June 7th at 8 PM
The National Union of Public and General Employees and CAW/TCA Canada, Ottawa, Canada, June 9th, at the Cube Gallery
The Comey Institute of Industrial Relations at Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA. June 28th, 7:30 p.m.
The Liverpool Dockers/Initiative Factory at The Casa, 29 Hope Street, Liverpool, England. August 8th and 9th, 2008
Alaska AFL-CIO State Federation, Conference and Public Performance, Anchorage, Aug. 27 - 28.
In November of 2006, Ian Ruskin performed his one-man play "From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks" at the AFL-CIO Headquarters in Washington DC. To read the full review click here.

Film Screenings

Screening of "To Make a Long Story Short: the Life and Times of Sam Kagel" at the ILWU Pensioner"s Convention, Long Beach, CA on September 18, 2007
"From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks' at the Dryden Theater, George Eastman House, Rochester, New York, October 12, 2007 as part of their Labor Film Series.
"To Make a Long Story Short" – Port of San Francisco January, Pier One, San Francisco, CA, 22nd January

Videos

The Drill Team

To read an article about the drill team, which apppeared in a recent edition of the "Christian Science Monitor," click here.

Click here to see The ILWU Local 10 Drill Team rehearsing.

Click below (broadband connection recommended) to see Arlo Guthrie singing "The Ballad of Harry Bridges."
Arlo Guthrie

Our First Radio Documentary

To listen to the radio documentary "From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks" click Part I and Part II.