You got 14 minutes to break out the popcorn, there’s an important new HBO documentary airing tonight at 9 pm est. It’s called “Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags.” The documentary tells the history of New York’s garment workers, their unions, the fashion industry and how these jobs made the American Dream possible for countless immigrant workers.

Workers United’s President Bruce Raynor (who is featured in this documentary)wrote in Huff Po

“Anyone who cares about maintaining and growing the middle-class in this country should watch Schmatta on October 19th. The film tells a storied history and raises questions that are central to the future of the American Dream”

For generations of New Yorkers, the Garment District provided more than just jobs it was the lifeblood of the city. Schmatta illustrates how unionizing the garment industry developed the middle class and how bad trade deals have weakened. It depicts the dangers of sweatshops and the fight that union workers led against unsafe conditions in factories.

Many of us weren’t alive to see this history but the legacy of these workers—things like workplace safety, fire safety, womens’ rights at the job, worker health centers and lots of fantastic outfits are their legacy.

The documentary features interviews with Workers United President Bruce Raynor and Joe Raico, a retired garment cutter and President of our Local 10, fashion insiders (past and present), the families of Triangle Shirtwaist Fire survivors, trade experts and more.

This film gives us the opportunity to share the stories of immigrant workers and their unions while also illustrating the difference having a union makes for workers in any industry. It shows how union work made New York City thrive.

And it’s an amazing film in its own right too. Reviews have been glowing.

The filmmakers use music from “The American Songbook” (like Tony Bennett singing “Rags to Riches”) to great effect. The film features rare footage of immigrant garment workers (much like my grandparents) on the job, socializing in the community centers they built and fighting for political change and worker safety. One of my favorite sequences is archival footage I’d never seen before of JFK’s speaking to a seemingly endless crowd of garment workers assembled in the streets of the garment district during his first campaign.

It shows how important these workers were in the making of the President and how political leaders deferred to union leaders like the great Sidney Hillman.

I feel strange rhapsodizing about the past without bringing up the challenges faced by workers in these industries today. These jobs are worth saving and can be preserved through better trade policy. What could be more green than making clothing locally? Our members are still out there, sewing t-shirts, rugs, suits (hi Hartmarx!), designer dresses and more.

In tribute to them I’m asking folks to email their legislators to co-sponsor Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep. Michael Michaud’s Trade Act. It will bring some much needed sanity to our trade policy (you can learn more about the bill at TheMiddleClass.org).

Also check out Save the Garment Center.

If anyone is watching tonight please jump in the comment threads. I’ll be here!