“A vital and urgent portrait of labor organizing and its enduring possibility."

"An essential document of the 21^st-century labor movement."

"It is hard to capture, on film, the often exhausting work of organizing workplace labor... but UNION does it."

"A powerful reminder of what’s at stake when companies reduce workers to numbers on a balance sheet."

“A nuanced portrait of the challenges of leadership and a revealing celebration of the values of persistence, solidarity and free weed.”

"Undeniably political in its focus while being artful and observational in its approach... Simmers like a present-day techno-thriller."

"After garnering an award at the Sundance Film Festival and glowing reviews, UNION still didn’t have any major distribution deals on the table — so the filmmakers began planning an unabashedly pro-organized labor theatrical strategy."

"The film, which follows a successful grassroots effort by Amazon workers in Staten Island to form the first US Amazon union, debuted amid the highest levels of union approval since the 1960s." 

"UNION documents the story of a group of employees who try to form a union a a Staten Island Amazon Fulfillment Center, JFK8 on Staten Island, New York."

"Filmmakers Brett Story (The Hottest August, 2019) and Stephen Maing (Crime + Punishment, 2018) were there from the struggle’s early moments, filming as organizers (including Chris Smalls, whose wrongful termination lit the match of the unionization effort) built power, disagreed over tactics, and continuously committed to the tireless day-to-day work that made their David versus Goliath achievement possible."

"There haven’t been a lot of documentaries this year that carry on the tradition of Robert Drew and the rest of the filmmakers involved in the observational Direct Cinema style, but Stephen Maing and Brett Story keep it going with UNION."

"A gritty David and Goliath story set in a blue collar world against a corporate America backdrop."

"Documents a worthwhile cause with insight and intimacy." 

"Other political films that have had to turn to self-distribution despite earning strong reviews are Sundance opener about organizing an Amazon warehouse."

"An indelible portrait of the modern American labor struggle."

"Essential viewing... brilliant."

"Not your grandmother’s organized labor documentary."

"There is a clear honesty in the approach here since, although the events depicted would lead to the successful outcome in the spring of 2022, the film also shows the tensions and disputes that arise among those wanting action be taken."

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"Grapples with what it means to tell an underdog story without a satisfying ending."

"As much a portrait of a struggle as it is a win."

"Riveting… Only with Maing and Story jointly behind the lens... there’s enough street cred between the two to inspire unwavering trust."

"Tough and gripping… because — of how eagerly this film throws us into the frontlines..."

"Using unobtrusive direct cinema techniques, the documentary takes us inside the fledgling union..."

"Has all the drama and intrigue that a narrative feature could offer."