Part 8 - Where Have All the Jobs Gone: The Eighties
Episode 8 explores the process of automation and examines the effects it has had on work in America. It focuses on two industries--shipping and printing--to illustrate how automation has changed the modern workplace. Both the International Typographical Union and the International Longshoreman's Association anticipated the changes that were to come, and were fortunate to establish guaranteed wages, though as we hear in this recording, most members would have preferred actual work. For both printers and longshoremen, the process of performing their jobs has changed considerably, and the social aspects and culture of their work and the satisfaction received from performing their duties have suffered.
Episode 8 is unique among this series in including field interviews of stevedores in addition to pursuing methodologies common to oral histories.
Narrators Frederick O'Neal and Martha Greenhouse provide occasional historical background, and songs are included throughout.
A man discusses automation; a woman talks about people working as a machine; a man talks about machine controlling man.
The narrators introduce the program. Frederick O'Neal talks about the increase and impact of labor-saving technology. Martha Greenhouse tells us that we will be hearing from workers about how they have been affected by automation. They will focus on printers and longshoremen. They will look at the industries before automation.
Sam Madell and Peter Bell each describe the struggle for work at stevedores.
"Elaine" proofreader from Typographical Local 6 recounts failing print shops. Printers were craftspeople, but they are no longer.
Peter Bell and an unnamed man talk about the changes happening at the docks; they wanted benefits based on tonnage rather than time.
"Elaine" talks about the printing prices. Harry Calber recalls the union preventing the newspapers from using new printing technologies. The union struck and got an eleven year contract.
David Toland talks about Malcolm MacLean starting a trucking business.His concept was to use the truck body as part of the overseas shipping process. He talks about how the union fought for jobs rather than guaranteed income. Peter Bell talks about the effort to keep jobs.
A folk song is performed about the plight of the longshoreman in the face of automation.
Greenhouse talks about a group of 1000 men seeking work everyday at the Brooklyn Employment Information Center. Jesse Langston of the job information center describes the process. A man describes his experience from the worker's side. There is a field interview with a man who works occasionally. Thomas Gleason of the International Longshoremen's Association discusses welfare and other non-ideal solutions. A man speaks about going back to law school during his time not working; he also discusses what other people do. A man discusses "badging in" and "badging out." Very few people who are paid to work actually get to work.
"Elaine" talks about printing and automation.
Peter Bell talks about the job of being a longshoreman as becoming a factory job.
"Elaine" describes the printing room and the loss of the feeling of being part of a "union."
The program cuts between "Elaine" and various field interviews from longshoremen about the process of automation and what it has wrought. "Elain" wonders what will happen with Reagan. Harry Calber talks about the union exercising its power before automation occurred. He questions who benefits from technologies: he brings up the many people still below the poverty line and the lengthy workweeks.
O'Neal talks about how work stoppages are no longer a threat that unions can wield.
The printers talk about feeling useless, as does a longshoreman.
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 92589
