Interview of General Laborer at Non-Union Factory

INTERVIEW OF A GENERAL LABORER AT NON-UNION FACTORY

1. Vocation: What is your job title/position/job description?

I am a general laborer at a spring manufacturing company. The company produces various types of springs and bends and forms wire.

2. Do you belong to a union?

No. I have friends that have worked for unionized companies. The union will protect the rights of the employee. They usually are able to negotiate higher wages. These wages are publicized and common knowledge. A union worker is able to bid on better paying jobs by seniority.

Of course, a union also has a down side. There are dues to be paid and sometimes they may call for a strike – whether you can afford to strike or not.

3. Describe your physical work environment.

I work in a factory with assorted machinery, power presses, and wire bending equipment. It is a typical factory environment with a concrete floor. There is no air conditioning so in the summer it can get pretty hot. They open all the doors (loading dock too) and windows and run lots of fans. They follow OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards so there is not much else that can be done. In some areas I may sit or stand at a workbench or machine. Other jobs require earplugs because of the noise volume of the operation.

4. Please describe a typical day (do you travel, hours you work, etc)

I typically work an eight-hour day with a half hour lunch. There are several departments in the company. I work in the secondary operations department. The first operations produce the spring and the secondary does the finish work (for example coil or add hooks, etc.). Each day my job may vary. I take direction from the set-up person. (This person takes the customer’s orders and blueprints. He designs and prepares or sets up the equipment to produce the springs.) In any given day, I may have one job or many. Some of the jobs may consist of putting coiled wire or straight pieces into equipment to form or finish the product. I also may operate a power or kick press, which is a tool that may smash, bend or trim the wire. I may sand or finish the piece by grinding. Being a general laborer, I can be asked to do just about anything. I have swept up the shop, done loading and unloading, painting; even shovel the snow if asked.

5. How does you profession affect your ability to live a healthy lifestyle (exercise, sleep, nutrition)?

There are minimal lifestyle effects. Because this is such an entry level position, there is

a low stress level. I put in my 8 hours, perform my duties and punch out – never giving work another thought.

6. Are there over the counter medications, alternative medications that are typically used in your profession (weight loss, tobacco, steroids, etc.)

None that I can think of.

7. What are things that your friends find interesting about your profession (like how often do you shoot your gun if you are a police officer)?/what types of questions do you get asked by the public?

I guess some can find the spring making process interesting or the type and uses of various springs. Sometimes when I’m shopping, I may see a customer’s finished product and see the purpose of the spring I may have made – but that would be more my interest.

8. How did you get interested in your profession?

There really wasn’t an aspiration for this job. I happened to work next to a spring company that was hiring and they paid more than my former occupation.

9. What do you like most about your profession?

I would have to say the low stress aspect of my position. My responsibilities are minimal.

10. What do you dislike most about your job?

Low pay would be my biggest complaint. Often the job is monotonous and boring and because it is such a low level position, I feel underappreciated.

11. Educational background:

I have a high school diploma but I don’t think that is even needed for my position.

12. High school

Yes

13. Vocational school or College

14. Graduate school or special training

15. How does one obtain a job in your profession?

Like most jobs, you just apply and interview. There is also a general math aptitude test that you need to pass to qualify.

16. What previous positions have you had since you started this profession?

I haven’t had any previous experience with factory work - just other odd jobs like a grocery store stock clerk and hardware store sales associate.

17. Can you get promoted? If so, to what position and how?

To be promoted, you need to prove yourself to be a good, conscientious worker, that you are punctual and responsible and generally demonstrate the necessary skills for advancement. A general laborer is an entry-level position; just about any other position is a step upward. I mentioned ‘set-up’ in the secondary department. This person sets up the equipment and assigns the jobs. You could advance to a specific machine operator such as a coiler or grinder. There are also positions in the shipping department. If you really have impressed the bosses, you could even get into management. I work for a small family owned company and they try to promote from with in.

18. What are the "perks" of your job?

I can’t really think of many perks. There would be use of the company equipment for personal projects on personal time of course.

19. How do you get paid (contract, per mile, per hour, etc.) How can you make more money?

I am paid by the hour. The salary range is between $8-$12. During the first year of employment there are quarterly raises of a quarter. Raises are annually thereafter, with a satisfactory evaluation.

I am able to make more money by putting in overtime. This is a non-union company; generally the better workers are offered the opportunity first.

20. What is the most stressful part of your job?

Low wages is probably the most stressful part of my job.

21. What emotional problems are common in people in your profession?

Because this is such an entry level, low paying job, low self esteem is probably common when you’re in my position a little too long without being offered advancement.

22. What type of physical activity is required in your position?

Overall, it is light industrial work. I may be required to lift less than 50 lbs. (trays, boxes, barrels). Sometimes, I may work on small springs and then the work is more tedious.

23. What things happen that really make you angry?

If you are a good worker, you are depended upon to do the harder jobs. At times this seems very unfair because there isn’t any additional compensation. I really don’t appreciate taking up the slack for those who do less.

24. What other professions do you work with, and how do they affect your (make your job easier or harder)?

As a laborer, I don’t work much with other professions – occasionally engineers or machinists. They make my job easier.

25. What "health risk" behaviors are common in your profession? (tobacco, alcohol, specific drugs, sex, stress, marital or family discord, etc.)

I don’t know of any behavior that is more prevalent than in the general population. Possibly more smokers because it’s something to do when the job is so boring.

26. How does your vocation affect the personal life of you or people you know?

Low pay affects what I can afford to do personally. At busy times, I am pretty much expected to work overtime.

27. What activities and/or hobbies do people in your profession like to do?

The majority of my fellow workers are male. So we seem to have the same manly interests - bowling, hunting and fishing.

28. Are there any items of clothing, or props that someone portraying a person in your profession would use consistently? (Hats, keys, stuff you’d keep in your pockets (or bags), day planners, work boots, particular “costume”, or types of clothing…)

General protective clothing – safety glasses, steel toe shoes, and protective leather gloves.

29. If a person in your position were to get fired, what would they most likely have done to justify the termination and what would the steps involve? Do lay offs happen in your occupation?

An employee would be terminated if he would violate company rules pertaining to conduct and attendance. Some of the rules warrant immediate dismissal, other infractions would be a cause for warnings. Many seem pretty standard: no illegal drugs or controlled substances, no alcohol in the shop, no fighting or weapons, no stealing or causing damage to company property. The attendance infractions are calculated for a 12 month period. There are verbal warnings, written warnings and suspensions for tardiness and unexcused absences before termination is executed.

On women and discrimination:

There aren’t many women who work in the shop. I don’t see discrimination just the lack of interest of women in these positions. At times, it is beneficial to have a female employee because they are more efficient with the smaller jobs.

30. During all of these questions, listen for “jargon” used by the interviewee…words they use that are “lingo” specific to their profession. Ask them to define those words if it is not clear to you.

OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration - main federal agency in charge with the enforcement of safety and health legislation.

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Interview of a Non-Union Factory LaborerPage 1