Great Britain, under the Conservative governments of Margaret Thatcher and others, was among the first nations to explore privatizing major public services.

"The Navigators," a 2003 film by director Ken Loach, examines the effect of these policies on one group of workers ? the employees of British Rail. The film will be shown Wednesday, March 22, as part of the Labor & Community Film Series sponsored by the University of Minnesota Labor Education Service.

The screening will start at 7 p.m. at the UAW-Ford-MnSCU Training Center, 966 S. Mississippi Blvd., St. Paul. It is free and open to the public.

"The Navigators" follows the fortunes of a group of track workers as the privatization takes effect. At first, the company's 'Mission Statement', 'performance-related pay' and unpaid holidays seem like a joke. Before long, however, the workers find they must make a very clear choice -- to take their chances with their severance pay and life as casual agency workers, or toe the line and work for the new company under new rules. Forced to cut corners, a tragic accident seems inevitable.

The film is particularly relevant given today's privatization debates across the United States and elsewhere in the world.

The Labor & Community Film Series highlights recently released films that give voice to workers and communities in the Americas. For directions and a complete schedule of films, visit the LES website, www.laboreducation.org or call 612-624-5020.