The three auto assembly line workers in question are Zeke Brown (played by Richard Pryor), Jerry Bartowski (Harvey Keitel), and Smokey James (Yaphet Kotto). They are fed up with their low wages, harsh working conditions, and corrupt system represented by both management and their union leaders.
Amid financial struggles and mounting tensions at work, they decide to take matters into their own hands and rob a safe at their union headquarters. However, the heist does not go as planned, and they soon find themselves caught in a web of violence, betrayal, and corruption from all sides.
Directed by Paul Schrader and released in 1978, Blue Collar is a gritty and socially conscious film that explores themes of race, class, labor, and power in America during the 1970s. It was praised for its strong performances, sharp writing, and powerful commentary on the American working class experience.