Work Reform

12921 readers

83 users here now

A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.

Our Philosophies:

All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.

Our Goals

Higher wages for underpaid workers.
Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
Better and fewer working hours.
Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

114

Dearborn, Michigan: Ford Rouge worker collapses, dies on shop floor (www.wsws.org)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

20 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Last Thursday, May 16, a veteran worker at the sprawling Ford Rouge complex in Dearborn, Michigan, collapsed and died on the shop floor after his shift at the body shop somewhere between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. The deceased worker was identified as Darius Williams. Co-workers on the afternoon shift told the World Socialist Web Site that Williams was one of the highest seniority workers in the plant with 33 years at Ford.

His team leader reported that Williams had said good night before walking toward the exit with no sign of pain or discomfort. Workers nearby saw Darius crumpling to the floor unresponsive just before reaching the exit door.

An emergency response team attempted to revive Williams with a defibrillator but their efforts failed. As of this writing, there has been no report of a medical diagnosis to explain the sudden death of Darius Williams.

Over the last few years there have been scores of deaths at the Rouge complex. The company is systematically intensifying the rate of exploitation, laying off entire shifts and doubling and tripling the number of jobs an individual operator must perform. Many report that older workers are especially targeted for the grueling treatment in a deliberate effort to force them into early retirement, disability or death.

Workers at a recent factory meeting called by management reported that a co-worker defied intimidation to denounce this deliberate policy. He said:

They just double up jobs for the people who have high seniority—make them do two jobs and wait for them to drop dead. The speed-up is pervasive and many workers do not speak out, because the union has done nothing to defend their co-workers who have.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

While I'm sure they're overworked and underpaid, the guys at my factory with 30+ years are all heavy smokers and drinkers. Every year there's at least 1 person that has a heart attack. Unions can fix work conditions but they can't fix health conditions.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

See this other person's comment: https://lemmy.world/comment/17139785

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I work the same exact job as my coworkers and don't smoke and drink. If work conditions lead to smoking and drinking, then why is it only the old people outside at break time smoking?

They picked up bad habits in their youth, not because of job conditions, but a lack of education into their dangers. Where I live, 30 years ago restaurants asked customers "smoking or non-smoking?" It ain't the work conditions that's causing them to smoke a pack a day.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Not every person reacts to stress in the same ways. Good on you for not smoking or drinking! But why do you need to shame these people who, as you mentioned, grew up in a different time and without the knowledge of the dangers involved? Knowledge that was actively suppressed by the tobacco industry.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm not shaming anyone! I'm just saying the working conditions at my plant aren't the reason my coworkers smoke and drink.

The idea in the linked comment seems to be that poor working conditions, leads to poor life decisions, leads to poor health, leads to early death. Therefore, early deaths are caused by poor working conditions.

My point is that poor life decisions aren't necessarily caused by poor working conditions. Poor life decisions can be caused by other things, for example, lack of education.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I'd really like to know your experience, if any, with working in manufacturing or any other labor work.

While you're right with poor education being a factor, there are many other factors also.

I've pulled 12 hour days in 110°F factories, where y'all pray for the sun to go down, and management to go home, so you can finally open the back door and catch a breeze.

Even with all the education in the world, you dont want to go home and cook.. a meal.. after a day like that, never mind weeks or years.

I'd really just like to know what was your hardest labor job. Sometimes we think we know about something, even with education, but in practical life, it's not what you expected.

Jesse Wells "Fat"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Here Here Absolutely. Also see: expensive healthcare "insurance". Being overworked can have a person too exhausted to work out, or do much of anything outside of thier labor hours. When healthcare is too expensive and you can't get a day off to go anyway, when your whole body hurts from repetitive exhaustion, add in poor sleeping, and yeah, poor habits form.

Night shift folks have it the worst too. Most still have families, and sleep very little so they can spend time with them.

So many factors are at play. To ignore them, is to concede to smug ignorance. I know these people in these factories. I know these men. I've worked for years along side so many.

I can see how its broken them, especially the men. I had to beg my position in a male dominant position, because ten years prior a woman got degloved, and for a time, they didn't let women into that department, because it's fucking hard. I got in and did the job very well, but damn yeah, the work was hard. Even just ten years of that shit will change your entire body and habits to cope. Something as simple as getting fast food for lunch, because you're too tired to prepare anything outside of work, repeat that habit daily for 20 years, it adds up.

RIP to this man. He is one of but many, yet his impact is not lesser on my heart. Stay safe out there folks