Follows the extraordinary 16-year campaign by Black and Latino poultry workers in North Carolina to unionize against one of the most anti-union corporations in the U.S. At the center is activist and organizer Keith Ludlum, whose relentless leadership and organizing helped win the first union contract in the history of the Smithfield Foods plant.

The film traces years of intimidation, firings, arrests, and violent retaliation against workers, showing how corporate power and local law enforcement joined forces to crush organizing. Yet the workers persevered—building solidarity across race, gender, and immigration status. The campaign grew into a powerful coalition with churches, student groups, and national allies, demonstrating what sustained grassroots organizing can achieve even in the harshest conditions.

Union Time highlights a movement that changed lives far beyond one workplace. By securing better wages, healthcare, and protections for thousands of families, it became a model for Southern labor organizing. It also documents the creativity and endurance of working people fighting for dignity, from boycotts and shareholder actions to faith-based mobilizations.

This is a story of courage against systemic odds—an inspiring reminder that when workers stand together, even the largest corporations can be forced to the table. The film contains scenes of worker stress, confrontations, and union-busting tactics, but no graphic violence—appropriate for older teens and families.