Real union members are heroes of ‘Unstoppable’

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4710

By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
11 December 2010

MINNEAPOLIS - In one of this year’s most popular movies, “Unstoppable,” co-star Chris Pine, who portrays a young train conductor, is identified as a “steward for the UTU.” It’s the only mention of unions in the film, but the story is based on the real-life heroics of two members of the United Transportation Union.

The two workers, Terry Forson and Jess Knowlton, both members of UTU Local 1397 in Columbus, Ohio, served as technical consultants to 20th Century Fox during the filming, according to the UTU website. The union said the movie is loosely based on a 2001 incident in which an unmanned CSX consist – a locomotive and 47 freight cars, two containing hazardous materials – traveled more than 60 miles, at speeds approaching 50 mph, for two hours through northwest Ohio.

Chasing the seemingly unstoppable and unmanned CSX consist was the crew of a second train, which eventually coupled onto the runaway and slowed it to about 10 mph near Kenton, Ohio. Forson and Knowlton were the crew; in the film they are portrayed by Pine and Academy Award winner Denzel Washington.



Jess Knowlton (left) and Terry Forson (right), on the set of "Unstoppable" with star Denzel Washington.

Photo courtesy of UTU News

While the UTU finds the heroics to be real, the union quibbles with a few aspects of the story. As one would expect in a Hollywood blockbuster, the dialogue is highly sensational and extra events are introduced to heighten the drama. The train’s cargo, while clearly hazardous, is not as explosive as the film suggests.

“Perhaps to delight further,” the union notes, “the Hollywood perspective depicts carrier officials as more concerned with stock prices than public safety or employee well-being.”

“Unstoppable” is currently on the big screen at several theaters in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota. Members of IATSE Local 209 in Cleveland, Ohio, worked on production of the film and the actors are members of the Screen Actors Guild.

For more information
View the trailer for the movie: http://www.unstoppablemovie.com/

[Hannah Bell]

1. "the Hollywood perspective depicts carrier officials as more concerned with stock prices"

i doubt that's a fabrication: it's CSX

"The Children's Investment Master Fund, a London-based hedge fund that was CSX's second-largest stock holder as of June 30 with 4.1 percent of outstanding shares, issued a highly critical letter it sent to the board about "the weakness of the CSX management team and strategy."

The funds ``secretly coordinated efforts with respect to their interests in CSX among themselves and with others, as part of a plan to change or influence control of CSX by acquiring a large stake in CSX while evading the reporting requirements of the securities laws,'' CSX said in the complaint.

[virgogal]

2. Nice to hear. The movie was good too.

[Better Believe It]

3. Thanks for the link. Good movie and nice to see the two real life heros!