Working
Studs Terkel 1
Introduction
 “This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violence—to the
spirit as well as to the body. It is about ulcers as well as accidents, about
shouting matches as well as fistfights, about nervous breakdowns as well as
kicking the dog around. It is, above all (or beneath all), about daily
humiliations…”
 “It is about a search, too, for daily meaning …” “To be remembered was
the wish, spoken and unspoken, of the heroes and heroines of this book.”
 “There are, of course, the happy few who find a savor in their daily job …”
 “For the many, there is hardly concealed discontent …”
 “No matter how it dulls the senses and breaks the spirit, one must work. Or
else.”
 “Lately there has been a questioning of this “work ethic,” especially by the
young. Strangely enough, it has touched off profound grievances in others,
hitherto devout, silent, and anonymous. Communiques form the assembly
line are frequent and alarming: absenteeism. On the evening bus, the tense,
pinched faces of young file clerks and elderly secretaries tell us more than
we care to know.”
 “There are other means of showing it, too … A farm equipment worker in
Moline complains that the careless worker who turns out more that is bad is
better regarded that the careful craftsman who turns out less that is good.
The first is an ally of the GNP. The other is a threat to it …”
 As you read you will learn that many play occasional games, to break the
monotony, to pass the time, or for some reason they can not explain.
 “As with my two previous books, I was aware of paradox in the making of
this one. The privacy of strangers is indeed trespassed upon. Yet my
experiences tell me that people with buried grievances and dreams
unexpressed do want to let go.” Terkel calls it lancing the boiling; I call it
marking the bush.”
 “Perhaps it is time the “work ethic” was redefined and its idea reclaimed
from the banal men who invoke it.”
Censorship 1
 This oral history of Americans and their jobs was removed from an optional
reading list at a Washington (state) high school because the chapter about a
prostitute “demeaned marital status and degraded the sexual act.”
 It was also deleted from the seventh- and eighth-grade curriculum by one
Arizona school district with the following explanation: “When we require
idealistic and sensitive youth to be burdened with despair, ugliness, and
hopelessness, we shall be held accountable by the Almighty God.”
Actor : R. T.
Biography Sketch
 Born in small East Texas town
Commentary about Work
 People in the industry want actors to be silly putty.
 He waged a dare at a party and won but it gained him a bad reputation in the
industry.
 Biggest change in the nature of work in this country: lack of pride in work.
 You work out of necessity but, in your work, you must have a little artistry.
Actress (former): B. T.
Biography Sketch
 Former actress, saleswoman, market research
 Now has independent income
 30 years old
Commentary about Work
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1
“So much of what we all work is dehumanizing and brutalizing.”
Hated the office regiment, but like the actual typing
Lasted 3 weeks as a head-hunter: you can’t place the unplaceable
Thinks work is necessary whereas love is not
From The Book of List
Administrator: P. Z.
Biography Sketch
 Administrator and headwaiter of an alternate school
Commentary about Work
 Kids in low income communities do not believe in help from the political
process; too much despair
 Works long hours but loves her work
Barber: S. M.
Biography Sketch
 Barber, 43 years old
Commentary about Work
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Complains about men wanting cuts like their sons (preferring long hair)
Long hair was a detriment to barbers: fewer hair cuts.
In politics, agree with your customer and you retain their business.
If he had a son, he would recommend a profession other than barber.
Outside the shop he hides his vocation as people have little regard for it.
Character Actor: A. F.
Biography Sketch
 Dapper at 63; appears 20
 Character actor for 30 years
Commentary about Work
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A commercial made him famous, but, with it comes loss of privacy
Condition himself not to want stardom as he knows the chances are slim
Successful because he was always open to do anything
Once thought work was vacuous but lately he finds more meaning
Creative Supervisor at an ad agency: J. F.
Biography Sketch
 Studied philosophy at Princeton
Commentary about Work
 Describes her title as pretentious
 Creates radio commercials, print-ads, billboards
 “Life in an ad agency is like being at a dull party interrupted by more
serious moments.”
 Explains that the convivial atmosphere promotes creativity.
 He enjoys his work
 When you doing creative work, you should think about it all the time.
When you are doing admin work, you should think very little about it.
 Not sure he is happy with advertising but glad he did not pursue philosophy
(wrong personality and a language that fewer and fewer can speak).
 Young writers are a threat to the older ones. When an older writer gets
fired, he is unlikely to get another similar position.
 Ridicules the title of Vice President. The title is there to impress the clients.
 There is a constant struggle between the trite but proven and the new but
untested.
Employment Counselor: B. S.
Biography Sketch
 Currently, employment counselor
 Airline reservationist for 12 years
Commentary about Work
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Detest work as airline reservationist—too boring
You and your conversations were monitored
If you were one minute late for work, you received a warning
Resorted to 8 tranquilizers a day; developed an ulcer
Had no free will, just part of a stupid computer
Airline admonished her: “No time in you life for ballet, music, anything.”
Airline people are T.V.-oriented
Displeased that her boyfriend used to introduce her as the Stewardess
The job was boring but people still glamorized it.
Most stewardesses, after 26, reveal the difficult life of a stewardess
Airline Stewardess: T. M.
Biography Sketch
 26 yrs old, recently married; From Broken Bow, Nebraska
 She has five older sisters and she is the only one to embark on a career; her
entire family is very proud of her
Commentary about Work
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Most stewardesses come from small towns.
Eventually, the glamour of being a stewardess diminishes.
The majority of passengers do flirt.
Before our union we might be forced to work two shifts without rest.
Sometimes she dreads first class patrons—arrogant and demanding.
Angry that airlines will not give funeral time off except for immediate
family which does not include grandparents. A policy that prevented her
from attending her grandfather’s funeral.
 Her dream: “I just wanted to get out of Broken Bow, Nebraska.”
Auditor: Fred Roman
Biography Sketch
 Doesn’t care about his title, it is the work that counts
Commentary about Work
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Doesn’t plan on staying with the firm because of the pressure
During his stay two people have had nervous breakdowns
Complains about the three bosses on every job
His firm’s policy is up or out
Suspects that most colleagues are conservative but politics are not discussed
If decides to leave, the firm will help you obtain a job because the firm will
benefit as well
His profession is important only to bankers and investors, not society.
He detest his job and was surprised to learn many others feel the same way.
He would like to be college teacher but he doubts his ability
Emphasizes that his job is boring.
Auditor: Ernest Bradshaw
Biography Sketch
 Audit dept. of a bank for one year; previously a clerk for two years
Commentary about Work
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Although a supervisor, he does not relish firing people
No status even as a supervisor
Job is boring, repetitious
40 years with one company is a relic
Bag Boy: Brett Hauser
Biography Sketch
 Supermarket bag boy; 17 years old
Commentary about Work
 Complains about the need to be subservient to customers
 Complains about the amount of persistence needed in refusing tips
 Complains about the petty demands of customers, dress code demands
Bank Teller: N. R.
Biography Sketch
 26 years old; bank teller 6 years
Commentary about Work
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Complains about the need for time clock
Troubled with the disparity in pay between men and women
Teller’s job is routine
Complains about rude customers
Suspicious that she was fired to avoid her next-in-line promotion
Bank seems to dislike individuality
Bank seems to dehumanize you; treat you as a machine
Atmosphere is too formal
Job lacks prestige
Baseball Player: S. H.
Biography Sketch
 Relief pitcher with Indians, Senators, Yankees, Giants, Cubs
 Began his career in 1957
 From Morehead, Kentucky
Commentary about Work
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Admits fondness for recognition
Youth is important in pro-baseball as you are perceived to last longer
Only one out of seventy, who sign a contract, make it
Minor leaguers earn little for such a demanding life
Complains about the frequent travel, the number of games
Criticizes the requirement of signing baseballs: six dozen/day, 81 days.
Opines that fans come to the game only to see hitting.
Reminds us that most players don’t earn large sums.
Complains that being trading disrupts the family.
Being away from home puts great demands on his wife to be a do it all.
Many players have no secondary means of income.
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Many players are in bad shape.
Admonished from the start not to challenges the status quo.
People extol the good of the game yet owners focus on the money.
Criticizes the practice of bed-checking adults.
Believes that players can be blacklisted.
If you judge your success on wining, you’ll be disappointed.
Acknowledges that he will never be a Sandy Koufax despite his effort.
Hates to admit that when he was in the minors he hoped players in the
majors would perform poorly so that he would get a chance. States that he
has seen players happy when their colleagues performed poorly.
Former players are forgotten regardless of their name.
Worries about future when his baseball career ends.
Wants to quit since he longer has the zeal or energy for the game.
Beauty Salon: E. & H. Z.
Biography Sketch
 Beauty salon proprietors
Commentary about Work
 Complains about the rude customers, otherwise they love their work
Book Binder: D. M.
Biography Sketch
 Binding books for 25 years
Commentary about Work
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Does not make much money
Talks mostly about the process
Adores her work
Also talk about her love of books (i.e. the contents)
Bus Driver (Chicago): W. R.
Biography Sketch
 47 years old; Chicago bus driver
Commentary about Work
 Talks about the stress caused by the near accidents and disgruntled
passenger, defensive driving, robbery
 Many drivers suffer from hemorrhoids, kidney trouble.
 You constantly worry about being too fast or too slow.
 Doctor advised him to quit but he feels there nothing else for him to do as
he suffers from some ailment. Smokes to ease the tension.
 After work he wants only to go home and rest, a routine that makes him feel
mechanical.
Business Owner: D. B.
Biography Sketch
 Business owner
Commentary about Work
 Manufactures coin and vending machine parts.
 Lives for Monday.
 Loves his work and his employees.
Cab Driver: L. M.
Biography Sketch
 26 years old; cab driver for 4 years
Commentary about Work
 Novelty ceased with cab driving.
 Ponders returning to school to be a teacher but concerned about over-supply
of teachers.
 Tries to manage job and school.
 Business is not as good as four years ago.
 Complains of the fumes and exhaust breathed-in by cabdriver.
 Company doesn’t give a damn about conditions and safety of cab.
Cab Driver: B. P.
Biography Sketch
 Drives own cab in Manhatton for 1 year
 At sea for 30 years
Commentary about Work
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Complains that job doesn’t lend to any exercise
Talks about being tired at the end of the day
Main concern is to recover his investment in his cab
Reminiscences about his years at sea
Car Salesman: J. B.
Biography Sketch
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Car salesman for a car dealer in a middle-class suburb.
He comes from a large, modest-income, country family.
Hair is styled, his dress is modish, his mustache is well-trimmed.
His wife, former playboy bunny, comes from a well-to-do family.
Commentary about Work
 On selling a car: “If you hit a person’s logic, you’ve got’em.” “Is your
mother and father gonna go for this? Remember the insurance is much
higher.” Etc. “Everybody can sell an idiot.” “ ... I wish I had fifty thousand
of ‘em a day, because you can sell ‘em the world. You can sell ‘em the
Brooklyn Bridge.”
 I’m not really a good salesman. The product sells itself. The only thing that
makes me good is I try to put myself in the customer’s place. If I was to
purchase a car, I know how I’d want to be treated. I wouldn’t want to be
pushed.
 Factory people are much easier to sell.
 Doctors can be arrogant. They want to set the price.
 The blue collar is easy to sell because they can’t afford to take time out and
go shopping.
 If you’re a real good salesman, you can put them in the car that you want
and just forget about the car they want.
 Secret of selling: I ask any question that will get a “yes” answer. The
purpose is to get the customer in the habit of responding “yes”.
 Most salesmen feel it is necessary to take advantage of the customer. I
disagree with this.
 Black people are easy to sell, the easiest in the world. If you can make them
think they’re getting something for nothing, they grab it quick. They want a
car that impresses. They are concerned about the monthly payment, not the
price.
 Pipe smokers are the worst to sell. They want to play mental chess.
 Orientals: they want it for less than cost.
 Jews want a good deal but they are realistic.
 The most fun: the professional, because he’s a challenge.
 After 20 years most people have seniority and security but in this business if
you don’t meet your quota, you’re gone. I’m young and strong but for my
family, I’d like a little more security.
 People are out to gain whatever they can. If it means stepping on someone,
they will. Me, I don’t like to step on people.
 Car selling is not what I like most, but I like it.
 If I had an education, I could sell even more.
 Could the world survive without my work? No. There has to be salesman.
But the business could be reduced to a computer program because 99% of
the people are price conscious.
 Customers are sometimes animals, made so by the system.
Carpenter/Poet: N. L.
Biography Sketch
 Capenter/Poet.
Commentary about Work
 “No man can hurry and hang it right.”
 Takes pride in both of his vocations.
Case Aide: J. N.
Biography Sketch
 Part-time assistant case-worker at a settlement house
 Has been on welfare
Commentary about Work
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Her dialogue suggests depression.
Skeptical that a family can escape welfare.
Justifies her welfare because she works, abeit for no pay as a housewife.
Seems to justify her children’s existence by saying they will fight and give
their life for their country.
Commercial Artist, Designer: W. L.
Biography Sketch
 Commercial artist.
Commentary about Work
 Deplores the idea of commercialism; finds it degrading.
 On the American dream: “That beautiful, ugly, vicious dream that we all, in
some way, have.” “Over the years I realized…that every man, every human
is exploited. And destroyed and cast aside.”
 Wants to be an artist doing something he believes in but finds that it is
necessary to suck-up to get work.
 Sites a couple of clients who promoting a product for other than what it
really is—“So the public’s been cheated and these sons of bitches are out
there playing golf…”
 Spends some time with projects that have meaning but they do not pay or
pay little. I’m straddling two worlds and I’m trying to move over into the
sane one but I can’t make a living out of it. Works 16 hour days which is a
terrible penalty for his wife and kids.
 Struggling to survive; almost out of funds. Will do most anything to survive
but he will “never again play the full-time lying dishonest role I’ve done
most of my life.”
Copy Boy: C. B.
Biography Sketch
 Copy boy.
Commentary about Work
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Fantasized about shooting everyone in the office with a machine gun.
“A copy boy is a kind of a nigger.”
Fired for wearing loose shoe soles.
Fantasized about killing Marshal Field.
Wants to fuck capitalism.
Most of us are lazy because we have nothing to do.
Deep Miner and Wife: J. and S. H.
Biography Sketch
 Lives in the Cumberlands
 Joe speaks with difficulty due partial paralysis and shortness of breathe
 Worked in the mines after graduating from high school; made dollar and a
half a day (1930); got up at 4:00 am and finished about six, seven, or eight
o’clock pm
Commentary about Work
 People with mineral rights destroy everything just to get to the coal.
 Son has been to Vietnam four times; son says his parent’s home is torn up
more than Vietnam
 Concerned that the mining companies will dig up their mother’s grave to get
to the coal.
 Would rather his son go to Vietnam than work in the strip mines
Dentist: S. B.
Biography Sketch
 Dentist for 19 years
Commentary about Work
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Stress all day from standing
Some patients make the work more difficult
Enjoys improving people’s appearance
Doesn’t appreciate patients who tell him what to do
Prefers his profession over physicians
Department Store Sales (Cosmetics): J. S.
 7 years, but off and on for the last 30 years
Commentary about Work
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As advertising has increased, salaries have suffered
Spends much of her Sunday completing her sales report
No health insurance, no retirement plan
You have to stand all day
Desires to do something more exciting and vital although at times she does
feel useful to the women needing beauty tips to keep their men.
Directory of Cooperative: K. S.
Biography Sketch
 Director of Bakery Cooperative, a non-profit corporation
 Company gives away the leftover bread to the hungry, sell ½ price to those
over 65, and gives bread making lessons
Commentary about Work
 Work is an essential part of being alive; it is your identity.
 Discusses bread-making much.
 “I don’t see the world lasting so I really have no future to save money.”
Doorman: F. R.
Biography Sketch
 Doorman at a huge apartment building on Manhattan’s upper west side.
Commentary about Work
 Working hours have improved.
 Some tenants pretend not know him when they pass him on the street.
 In the past, something as petty as smoking a cigarette could result in
termination. Not today.
 No pay benefit for seniority. New guy gets as much as old.
Editor: N. W.
Biography Sketch
 28; Editor for a health organization.
Commentary about Work
 “Jobs are not big enough for people.”
 As I work in the business world, I am more and more shocked. You throw
yourself into things because you feel that important questions—self-disciple,
goals, a meaning of your life—are carried out in your work. You invest a job
with a lot of values that the society doesn’t allow you to put into a job. So
you end up wrecking the curve or else settling down and conforming.
 I function better if left alone more.
 Hates being dis-used.
 Describes a worker who had been with the Company many years: “He was
fired for being dull, which is what he was hired to be.”
 Learned that when she stopped doing a good job that she was recognized as
an authority.
 They expect less than you can offer; it’s so demeaning to be there and not be
challenged.
 Believes she has few options (in new employment). “I really tried to play
the game by the rules and I think it’s a hundred percent unadulterated
bullshit.”
 Refers to corporate America as downtown and death.
Elevator Starter: T. G.
Biography Sketch
 Elevator starter
Commentary about Work
 No indication of job discontentment.
Executive: L. R.
Biography Sketch
 Ex-President of a Conglomerate; now a consultant.
Commentary about Work
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Corp. life is exciting and replete with a constant battle to survive.
Company sold out and made enough not to have to start a new business.
Admits that when things go bad, you must find a scapegoat.
An executive must always be cautious of a young up and comer.
You must always be vigilant about the big mistake.
Even when you go to corporate parties, you must be cognizant of yourself
and your family.
It does not matter that you are doing your job properly, your job is always at
risk.
Executive is lonely animal in the jungle who does not have a friend.
His wife is his only confidant.
Most executives use consultants as confidants.
He often used fear to get performance: improve or go.
Many achievers are just waiting for your mistake or death.
“The only loyal people are those who can not get a job any place else.”
Employees should learn to recognize their impending termination.
Executive: P. K.
Biography Sketch
 Former boss
 Devastated by a recent termination, resulting from a merger.
Commentary about Work
 Now, he sells draperies by cold calling
 Bad year emotionally: worrying, sleepless nights, having trouble getting
over the lay-off; should have looked for a job when he had a job.
 Realizes his age will be a handicap for a new job.
 Doesn’t look forward to retirement; he calls it slow death.
Executive: K. B.
Biography Sketch
 President of four corporations
Commentary about Work
 Enjoys what he is doing.
 His exhausting work as a tractor mechanic resulted in a nervous breakdown,
requiring hospitalization for three months. He suffered a relapse and re-enter
the hospital for one month.
 Hates people who think the world owes them a living.
 Feels he sacrificed his youth to be successful (tone of regret).
 Chews twenty Mylanta’s a day.
Executive Secretary: A. B.
Biography Sketch
 Executive secretary for 8 years
 Married at 18; husband was construction worker
Commentary about Work
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Contempt for dreamers and drifters.
Has no goals, lives from day to day.
Loves her job; thinks she is learning much.
Enjoys the association with executives.
Flattered when executives consult with her.
Enjoys dining with executives.
Likes people who have made it.
Factory Worker: R. W.
Biography Sketch
 Factory worker, 20 years old.
Commentary about Work
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Detested his brief stint in the mills.
Did not find the work to be hard but demoralizing.
Too much talk about the mills, the race—track, lewd sex.
Wants to do something enjoyable as a vocation; pursuing photography.
Despite his neat hair, conservative suits, a label of USA on his suit, he was
heckled about his long hair.
 Very ambitious.
Factory Worker: G. C.
Biography Sketch
 45 years old
 Luggage factory for 21 years
Commentary about Work
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Wished she did not have to work in factory.
Work is hazardous.
Daydreams on the job.
Talks about low status of factory workers.
Would like to quit work, she’s tired.
Farm Woman: A. K. H.
Biography Sketch
 Worked mining town in eastern Kentuchy, near the Virginia border
 Most residents are on welfare.
 Lives in a hollow by herself.
Commentary about Work
 I was just raised a hillbilly and I’ll die one.
 She has no T.V., but she does have a radio and occasionally listens to news
about Vietnam. Thinks her grandson is out of Vietnam now but doesn’t
really know. As to Vietnam: “What was to be would be.”
 I didn’t get half through the third reader, so I’ve got no education at all. I’m
just a fat old hillbilly. That’s the only way I know to talk and the only way
I’ll ever try to talk.
Farmworker: P. W.
Biography Sketch
 Farm located in Southern Indiana
 Wife has a job in the city; 14 year old; older son lives elsewhere
 Farms about 500 acres; 200 he owns, the rest he sharecrops
Commentary about Work
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A farmer’s return on his investment is too small to justify farming.
Nowadays, it takes a rich man to be a farmer
City people envy me but they have no idea what it is like.
Plant in the spring and harvest in the fall and you hope the weather
accommodates you; you don’t have as many good weather days as you
might think; the weather can make or break you: sometimes you need rain,
sometimes not.
Your day doesn’t end; you do have the opportunity to take off for the
weekend; you usually don’t have trouble sleeping
Up every morning at 6:00 ( in the spring, it’s 4:30); work until dark.
Combine ($20,000) needed for harvest; eight-row planter needed for the
spring; large investment for so small a return.
Does know whether chemical are good or bad for the consumer but does
think they save the crop from bugs.
You drive your tractor all day long and never talk to anyone; he thinks of
ways to improve his farming business; doesn’t mind being alone.
Regrets to think that farmers will have to organize.
Farmworker: R. A.
Biography Sketch
 Gave up migrant farming (in Calif.) two yrs ago to organize the United
Farm Workers of America.
Commentary about Work
 He can remember working for 63 cents per hour, now it is $2.00/hr.
 His entire family work in the fields; he used to see his parents cry out in
despair; his mother died never realizing the better life that they had hoped
for.
 One of his saddest days was relying upon welfare.
 When he worked he would daydream about becoming a millionaire, buying
the farms and returning them to the people.
 Worked from 4:00 am until school time; often fell asleep during school;
always too tired to do his homework; worked all day on Saturday and
Sunday.
 Quit the fields and joined the marines
 Soon began to see the inequities of the system:
 Land subsidies for farmers but no unemployment compensation for
laborers
 Veternarians for animals but no medical benefits for laborers.
 Intricate watering system to irrigate but no running water for laborer’s
house (tent).
 He resisted the desire to participate in organized labor until he couldn’t take
it anymore: pesticides can be fatal to laborers because they are constantly
breathing it in; finally he attended a Cesar Chavez rally
 Now he doesn’t mind the work; it’s mgmt he dislikes because they think
laborers are stupid; they think only of money.
Film Critic: P. K.
Biography Sketch
 Film critic for The New Yorker
Commentary about Work
 Work is rarely treated in films.
 Describes a hospital TV program that falsely portrays a hospital
environment.
 “I consider myself one of the lucky ones because I really enjoy what I do.
But I’ve spent most of my life working at jobs I hate. I’ve worked at boring
office jobs.”
 Explains the movie would not dare show a film where workers are discarded
from their jobs, losing their pensions.
Fireman: T. P.
Biography Sketch
 32 years old
 Fireman for 2 years; previously a policeman (2 yrs.)
Commentary about Work
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Wished he was a doctor or lawyer but he thinks he lacks the smarts.
Discusses the dangers of the job.
Comments on the racial divide.
Didn’t want to be a cop but it paid more.
Quit the police force because of situations where he almost killed innocent
people.
 Politicians have very little respect for firemen and their dangers.
 Discusses the exhilaration of fire fighting.
Foot Patrolman: B. P.
Biography Sketch
 33 yrs old, married, 1 child
 Foot patrolman 6 yrs in NYC
 Worked in emergency service patrol for 3 yrs
Commentary about Work
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Talks about the dangers and the heroic deeds
Most emergency service patrol calls are for oxygen.
numb to pain
Feels he is making a difference; job sounded extremely stressful.
Football Coach (Professional): G. A.
Biography Sketch
 Professional Football coach
Commentary about Work
 If you enjoy your job, it is not work—it is fun.
 When you get so engrossed in you job during the season it has to come
ahead of your family.
 Everything you do is based on winning. I don’t care how hard you work or
how well organized you are, if you do not win, what good is it?
 If you lose, it is a morgue. That is the way it should be, because you have
failed. Grantland Rice, a sports writer, said it did not matter if won or lost, it
is how you play the game. I disagree completely. The main thing is to win.
“Well, I did not win but I played the game, I participated”—anybody can do
that. You have to be number one, whether it is football or selling insurance.
 His ten commandments:
1.
Football comes first, during season, ahead of family and church.
2.
If you can accept defeat and accept without feeling, your stealing.
3.
Everyone, the head coach especially, must give 110%.
Freight Elevator Operator: Harold Patrick
Biography Sketch
 62 years old
Commentary about Work
 repetition ruins imagination
 complains about inflation and retirement; “most of my frieds died on the
verge of getting pensions.” His retirement will not be enough.
 workers don’t take pride in the work these days
 elevator operator will be soon be eliminated
 days as truck driver: glad he not driving anymore; they begin to have kidney
problems at 40
 lack of status
 as truck driver, he experienced black balling after participating in a strike
Gas Meter Reader: Conrad Swibel
Biography Sketch
 24 years old
Commentary about Work
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dogs a big problem
reminesces about his desire to be a baseball pitcher
pay is good
no other complaints
Gov’t. Relations Coordinator: Lilith Reynolds
Biography Sketch
 Coordinator for 9 years
Commentary about Work
 much of usual work has been taken away from; in lieu he has been given
some meaningless task; he is very discouraged about his job
 typical complaints about working for a bureaucracy
 regrets drawing a paycheck for work he does not want to do
 frustrated about working on union projects during work hours yet everyone
knows that he is not working on official work; nonetheless he feels working
on the union work is the right to do
Grave Digger: Elmer Reciz
Biography Sketch
 Likes his job; loves being outside.
Heavy Equipment Operator: Hub Dillard
Biography Sketch
 Lower middle class suburb south of Chicago
 48 yr old construction crane operator; wife works; two married children live
elsewhere
Commentary about Work
 Considerably overweight; breathing is a labor
 Talks about the precision necessary for the guys putting the bolts in the
beams. You have to be careful not bump the iron workers because they are
working on beams as small as six inches.
 Crane operators experience alot of tension; they die relatively young
 Often faulty equipment causes severe accidents
 Relying on someone else, he experience an accident in which he broken his
leg; laid off for 18 months; meeting his payments was a real challenge
 In the construction business, he has no paid holidays, no paid vacations
 The improvement in machines means less work for the operator; one
machine today can do the work of fives machines years ago
Hockey Player: Eric Nesterenko
Biography Sketch
 20 years old
Commentary about Work
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When you sell “play”, the sport as an art becomes corrutped
experience failure when Toronto dropped him
a player utility is fleeting
nobody is sympathetic when you hurt, not even your own team mates
you condition yourself to think “Better him than me” (reference is to getting
hurt)
cynicism is a tool for survival; you realize the owners do not care for you;
you are a piece of property
but you just get fed up with the whole business; it becomes a job, a shitty
job
not crazy about hotels; sometimes he has a day to kill and finds it hard to
relax; resents killing time now; wants to do something with his time
traveling is Hard
thinks about after hockey life with anxiety: making money for the sake of
making money, not for the love of the vocation
the passion for the game was so all-consuming that he cut himself off from a
certain broadness of experience—in particular, music.
Hospital Aide
Biography Sketch
 19 years old
Commentary about Work
 does not mind the work, but she finds working people intolerable
 Do you care whether he lives or dies? “No, I really don’t.” But her attitude
does not affect her job performance.
 Could care less about people. No interest in their emotional needs
 Talks about grumbling patients
 has had hard time with black patents because they are so sensitive
 “If you ever hear someone crying out in pain?” “I could care less.”
 She is aware of her contemptible attitude toward the patient and ponders
about it but she can not seem to change
 she lovers to read Jean Paul Sartre
 she does not like it when she or anyone else shows emotions—you should
suppress it
 wants to be a nurse but work surgery only or admin., does not want to work
with patients
Hotel Clerk in Manhattan: Doc Pritehard
Biography Sketch
Commentary about Work
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Complains of forced smiles, low pay, low status
Some clerks moonlight to make up for the low pay
Felt he could not start a new career, that he was always stuck
Complains of tension, that it takes 1.5 hours to unwind
Always wonders if he could have done better
Hotel Switchboard Operator: Frances Swenson
Biography Sketch
 Bungalow in a lower-middle-class neighborhood in the city
 happy-go-lucky middle-aged woman
 switchboard operator for a large motel; used to work for Illinois Bell
Commentary about Work
 There’s not an idol moment; you’re not allowed a break during your eight
hour shift; you can go to the bathroom; work a lot of overtime
 A lot of tension: you must be nice, you respond to your share of the calls,
the chair is not that comfortable
 When I worked at the telephone company, everyone listened in; it helps the
time go by faster
Housewife: Theresa Carter
Commentary about Work
 Very contented; daydreams about being someone special
 enjoys being a housewife but feels she is low on the totem pole
Installment Dealer: R. M.
Biography Sketch
 53 years old; Installment dealer (sells credit) for 23 years; 70 hr work week
Commentary about Work
 Fears losing a good customer who has paid-off his/her debt. They are
difficult to regain as a customer.
 Would rather work in a factory than collect on a debt.
 Loathes making calls to deadbeats.
 This occupation is going the way of the horse-buggy.
 His daughter-in-law resents his exploitation of the unwary.
 Developed a duodenal ulcer as a furniture salesman.
 Describes the bait and switch tactic2 used to sell merchandise.
 Explains that he is tired and not growing old gracefully (which he desires).
2
Advertise merchandise at a low price and when a customer arrives, you try to sell them a high-priced product.
Interstate Trucker: F. D.
Biography Sketch
 Interstate trucker since 1949
Commentary about Work
 “You try to keep from going crazy from boredom.”
Investigator (undercover) for private agency: Anthony Ruggiero
Commentary about Work
 “I like my work because your’re not stuck in a lousy office.”
 Pay is good.
 Knows he is being helpful. But wife interrupts: “You want it honestly? I
can see sometimes where it really makes him feel bad. Where he really feels
like the villain. Like the time that guy who lost his job. I couldn’t talk to
your for a couple of days.” “In your own words, you saw the employer was
wrong.”
 His profession is growing due to the increased moral decay in the country.
 Aside from his security duties, he often observes problems, such worker
health hazards, that upper management is oblivious.
Janitor: E. H.
Biography Sketch
 43; janitor for 22 years; services 5 buildings.
Commentary about Work
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Main concern is to save the owner money.
Enjoys his work.
Causes of bad back caused by carrying trash down flight of stairs.
Talks about the “good-looking broads” in the building.
Tenants do not respect your hours. When they get home and demand
something, they want it immediately, regardless of you time-off.
 Occasionally, wife takes calls and endures the verbal abuse.
 Knows of three janitors that have hung themselves.
Jockey: Eddie Arroyo
Biography Sketch
Jockey for about six yrs; 28 yrs old; born in Puerto Rico, lives in Chicago
Commentary about Work
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To the people it’s a glorious job, but to me it’s the hard work.
Likes to read about himself.
Maintaining your weight is always a problem.
Talks at length about the dangers of the job; jockeys are obligated to help
other jockeys in distress even if it means losing a race
Talks about prejudice against Spanish riders from officials
Thinks that people (presumbably fans) do not treat jockeys as they wish to
be treated; people tend to encroach upon your privacy and personal space
Talks about the incredible filthy conditions of jockey quarters
I would like to see the policians out of racing; people that own the tracks
now are draining them.
Lawyer: Philip Da Vinci, 29
Biography Sketch
 Lawyer with large insurance company. The competition was fierce. He
hated wearing suits everyday. Suddenly quit and went West.
Commentary about Work
 Start with legal aid and never regrets his change. No more boredom but
quite a bit less money. The work is rewarding but he is exhausted. At times
he feels helpless because he can not help his clients, the poor, more.
Librarian: Sara Houghton
Biography Sketch
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Librarian at a private school, her second career.
Other jobs:
Liberal arts major
Worked at Macy’s
Taught at a girls’ college
Newspaper reporter
Editor for a trade journal
Became a t.v. consultant
Commentary about Work
 Frustrated with the petty demands of the job. I felt, to live miserably under
such pressure, to knock yourself out—it should be for something more
important. Life was too short for this.
 Expresses hopelessness about getting paid less for the same work as men.
 Every time they’d lose a big account the pink slips would come out. I took
the tension home. If you’re to be tense, it should be for something
worthwhile.
 JNC: Supposes that eventually she would have been fired for some reason
or another.
 I had seen too many ladies that had to earn their living doing these
miserable things—receptionist, companion.
 The profession of librarian appealed to her because she could work forever.
She accepted the notion that she would probably work until she dropped.
She went to Columbia Library from seven till eleven at night for four years.
As a librarian:
 Doesn’t miss anything about her former life
 You can use your mind
 Her father was a mech. Engineer and hated everyday of it. Her sister, who
works at a bank, is very excited about retiring (Sara thinks this anxiousness
is sad).
Maid (domestic): M. H.
Biography Sketch
 On welfare with four children.
 Worked as a domestic and hotel chambermaid for 25 years.
Commentary about Work
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Detest the demands for some much work.
Very bitter.
Work not appreciated.
Too tired to devote attention to her children when gets home.
Dreamed of playing the piano and writing songs.
Mailer Carrier: John Fuller
Biography Sketch
 48 years old; mailer carrier for 26 years
Commentary about Work
 mail carrier was his life’s ambition
 everyone respects the mailman
 pay is bad; most people in post office have two jobs; he had two jobs until
last year; soaks his feet every night
 retirement pay will not be much; probably have to look for a job to
supplement
 dogs a big problem
Maintenance Worker in Factory: L. J.
Biography Sketch
 Factory maintenance worker; 36 years old.
Commentary about Work
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Never been laid-off in 36 years. Would not know what to do without work.
The young do not seem to want to work.
Automation causes lay-offs.
Like his work but would like to experience not working.
Looking forward to retirement.
Manufacturing: Ned Williams
Biography Sketch
 Ford Motor Co., 22 years, now stock chaser
 wife and six children
Commentary about Work
 felt like robot
 used to work in his sleep; wife would wake him up
 accepted a new position to get easier work at a cut in pay
Memorial Counselor (Cemetery): Herbert Bach
Does not express an opinion about his vocation but his tone suggest contentment.
Musician: Bud Freeman
Biography Sketch
 jazz musician, tenor saxophone, 47
Commentary about Work
 people can not understand that he does this for a living
 worked for Lord and Taylor long enough to find it boring
 used to work night clubs and hated it because of the drunks; does not have
to play them anymore
 Practice is not a chore
 found jazz boring and took off for a year
Newspaper Boy: Carpenter, Billy
Biography Sketch
 Newburh, Indiana
 Twelve years old; Paperboy
Commentary about Work
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He like his work.
If I put the newspaper where everyone wanted it, I’d never get done.
Will your experiences as a newsboy help you get along in the world?
Oh yeah. You can get a good job as a salesman, like selling encyclopedia ...
Newspaper Boy: Terry Pickens
Biography Sketch
Fourteen years old
Commentary about Work
 I’ve been having trouble collecting.
 I like having money.
 The guy who got me started with this route made it sound so great. Then
you find out the guy told you a bunch of bull. You mistruct the people. You
mistrust your customers because they don’t pay you sometimes.
 Complains about printers and their shorting him on his papers: I don’t see
why they can’t do their job. I don’t like my job any more than they do.
 I don’t like many of my customers, ‘cause they’ll cuss me if they don’t get
their papers in the right place.
 I don’t see where being a newsboy and learning that people are pretty mean
or that people don’t have enough money to buy things with is gonna make
you a beter person or anything. If anything. it’s gonna make a worse person
out of you, ‘cause you’re not gonna like people who do not pay. Yeah, it sort
of molds your character, but I don’t think for the better. If anybody told me
being a newsboy builds character. I’d know he was a liar.
 I don’t see where people get all thsi bull about the kid who’s gonna be
President and being a newsboy made a President out of him. It taught him
how to handle his money and this bull. You know what it did? It taught
himhow to hate the people in his route. And it printes. And dogs.
Nun to Naprapath: Rebecca Sweeney, 35
Biography Sketch
 Has bee fired 16 times.
 Fired once for falsifying her job application: she left off her bank job
because she knew they would give a good reference; also left off her college
education because she thought they would become suspicious about desire
for such a inane job (census taker)
 Grew up in a devout Irish Catholic Family.
1. With the Medical Mission Sisters for six years as a farm/office worker; fired
because of personality difference with supervisor.
2. Bank teller; Went to school at night; Fired for trying to help a black girl get
a job
3. Girl’s detention home; Fired because girls began to go to her instead of
officials
4. Aide and surgical technician at a hospital; Fired for putting the laundry
people in touch with the union
5. Pumping gas; fired for not sleeping with the boss
6. Worked in many different factories; always liked mechanical work; Learned
to pay chess by reading a page at a time pinned to her factory machine.
7. Worked as a cab driver; One of the few jobs she quit
8. Census work. Rather than come out and say it’s a temporary job, they pick
on you and lay you off; Fired for calling a supervisor a goddamn
motherfucker
9. Work on the staff of the United Electrical Workers of America; Fired not for
political reasons but because she was an outspoken woman.
10. Collecting unemployment while teaching yoga at a Catholic girls’ high
school
 Now studying naprapathy, which is a form of drugless healing. Also
studying colon therapy. Thinks she like to be a heavy equipment operator.
Health declined for a while after being thrown from a horse. Took up karate
to improve health. Quit karate after taking a few severe blows.
Nurse: Ruth Lindstrom
Biography Sketch
 80 years old
 bady nurse
Commentary about Work
 changes diapers, loves them, does family washing, prepares formula
 she loves her work, sometimes even works for free
 has no intentions of retiring
Occupational Therapist: Kitty Scanlan
Biography Sketch
Commentary about Work
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many of her patients are death-oriented
thinks a hospital is a dehumanizing insituition
until recently, she was unsure about the meaningfulness of her work
hosp. employees and patients are treated as things
Order Filler: Alice Washington
Biography Sketch
 Order filler in a shoe factory for nine years
Commentary about Work
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on feet all day, mostly walking
has feet problem
worries about her ability to hold up
has thought about starting a nursery
Organizer (Political, Union): Bill Talcott
Biography Sketch
Commentary about Work
 thinks this country is sick
 most people were raised to think that they are not worthy
 school is a process of taking beautiful kids who are fille dwith life and
beating them into happy slavery
 you don not find allies on the basis of the brotherhood of man; people are
tied into their immediate problems
 our society is so structured that everybody is supposed to be selfish as hell
and screw the other guy
 Christian botherhood is enlightened self-interest
 most sins on poor people are by people who’ve come to help them
 all human recorded history is about 5,000 years and in that time only about
25-30 people have made a difference. Most people are not going to make a
difference, they do their best.
 I’m one of the few people in life who found his calling. Most people are
miserable at work.
 I’ve managed to support my wife and three children doing the thing I love.
We do not live high. I have enough money to buy books and records.
 his main function is to bring people together who are being put down by the
system
Plant foreman: Wheeler Stanley
Biography Sketch
 30 years old; General foreman in plant
Commentary about Work
 enjoys his work; felt it was a man’s job (doing something with his hands)
 Says the assembly line, when he worked it, was not boring yet he describes
the games he played to combat it.
 says he could never be a salesman: trying to talk someone into something
they do not really want
Plant manager: Tom Brand
Biography Sketch
 Plant mgr. at Ford for 30 years
 engineering degree
Commentary about Work
 says people like their jobs more since pay increased, benefits increased
 generally up-beat
Parking lot attendant: Alfred Pommer
Biography Sketch
 49 years old
 parking attendant for 30 years
Commentary about Work
 without tips, he couldn’t survive
 complains about people making false accusations about damages to their
cars
 complains about people’s excess impatience
 thinks of changing careers because parking car attendant company’s do not
have retirement plans
 thrill’s gone; once loved his job (driving the cars, finishing the hole)
Pharmicist: Nino Guidici
Biography Sketch
 70 years; pharmacist for 45 years
Commentary about Work
 Pharmacy tody is highly developed. The pharmacist is just a pill counter, a
drug dispenser. The real pharmacist is with the drug firms, the manufactures
 He likes working but he can’t say he likes people
 yet he goes on the day he nether loves nor does not love work
 wants to be needed
 has some apprehension about retirement because he wants to keep busy
 To be a success, you have to take a lot of advantage of help [people].” He
doesn’t want to ask people to do things he would not do.
 He says that his work is important to him but not to the world
Pastor (associate): Father Leonard Dubi
Biography Sketch
 associate pastor and co-chairman of a community organization
Commentary about Work
 father discouraged him from working in the mill, which he admits has
strained his father
 first year at Saint Daniel’s was frustrating: trying to help troubled people
 he found white middle to be prejudiced, powerless
 people were powerless against the institutions
 most satisfying experience was going to the board of directgors meeting of
commonwealth edison and demanding action on the pollution problem
 he complains that Commonwealth Edison is polluting his water; it makes
him feel good to stand up to these giants
Patient’s Rep. (patience ins., billing): Betsy Delacy
Biography Sketch
 Buffer between patient and collection dept.
Commentary about Work
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Complains about computers.
Hosp. Employees are concerned abut money first, then health care.
Doesn’t say she likes or dislikes her job but does sound mechanical.
Would like to see socialized medicine.
Model: J. T.
Biography Sketch
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8 years as a photographer’s model, high fashion; earns top rate
From South Dakota.
Had no aspiration to be model but lack money for college
Models usually come from poor families.
Usually you are competing with 30-60 girls, which makes one insecure.
Training is not necessary; you learn on the job.
The profession is a pattern of acceptance, rejection—one day you’re great,
the next day you’re terrible.
You feel like you are someone’s clothes hanger.
She would like to do something else but there is nothing else she can do.
Most of the time she stays in her own world.
She is nice to everyone as you can ill afford otherwise.
Commentary about Work
 Each shoot has the following people present: the product owner, someone
from the ad agency, those from the photographer studio, and the subject
 She resents being told how to do her job.
 She does whatever they ask of her—takes the money and runs.
 Rush is the norm.
Photographer: J. F.
Biography Sketch
Commentary about Work
She hates photographs that make people look bad, such as when one is picking his nose.
Mentions the photographs of the My Lai before they were gunned down. Said guy should
have not been a part of it.
Pianist (bar pianist): Hots Michaels
Biography Sketch
 Bar pianists in a downtown hotel
Commentary about Work
 Piano playing is incidental to the place; it is background music for talking
 he will be adversely affected by people’s move to suburbs; downtown had
been impacted by rising crime
 loves his work
 has concern about his status
 some customers are different, discourteous
 racial tensions
 tipping is not so good
 growing old does not worry him; his concern is what he will do
Piano Tuner: Eugene Russell
Biography Sketch
 Piano tuner for 15 years
Commentary about Work
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if working on a interesting instrument, time flies; if not, times drags
wife says with the new electronics devices, anyone can tune a piano
wife says he is one of a kind but later says it is a competitive business
doesn’t look forward to retirement because he would not know to do
doesn’t make much money but people look up to him
Policeman: V. M.
Biography Sketch
 39 yrs old; Lives apart from wife and three children.
 Presently directs traffic in Chicago’s loop.
 Due to personal grievances, he resigned from the force.
Commentary about Work
 Considers policeman work the most gratifying.
 Prostitution should be legal but regulated.
 Some people spit in your face but you cannot allow this disrespect. For
those, he gets physical.
 Talks about the blacks contempt for police.
 Feels that he has proven himself as a man and does not think it is necessary
to do over and over.
Policeman (Chicago): Renault Robinson
Biography Sketch
 30 years old; Chicago police dept. for 9 yrs.
Commentary about Work
 Became a police officer because of the opportunity for a young black man
without a college education.
 No fights between professional criminal and police; they have the money,
the laws. The fights are with the normal citizen.
 You must sometimes lie to get a conviction.
 Much discussion about racism.
Prostitute: R. V.
Biography Sketch
 Prostitute since she was 15
 Started as a high-priced call girl; then a street walker
Commentary about Work
 Always used an anonymous name
 Call girl ethic: you were the lowest of the low if you allowed yourself to feel
anything with a trick
 She was lured by the easy money with no taxes
 Usually two trick per night for $125 total
 Work becomes boring because you are not part of life; you are the part
that’s always hidden
 Leaves a trick and returns to emptiness
 You have this money and no one to care about
 Please to know the number of reputable people who paid for sex
 Routinely feigned pleasures in her tricks
 Became dehumanized; hooked on drugs; served some time
Practial Nurse: Carmelitu Lester
Commentary about Work
 Usually works seven days per week.
 Chose the profession because she once got so ill that she needed someone.
 She likes that she helping someone.
Press Agent (Public Relations): E. J.
Biography Sketch
 42 years old
Commentary about Work
 Looking back on his life reminds him of wasted years.
 An occupation molds your personality.
 Being turned down by potential clients, he believes, is the cause of his
colitis.
 The truth is: it is psychologically important for stars to get rid of people who
helped them get where they are. The client is the child and the press agent is
the parent.
 Press agents are being replaced by T.V., which can give better coverage
than print.
 He concludes by saying his work is becoming more routine.
Process Clerk: Diane Wilson
Biography Sketch
 Process for the OEO
Commentary about Work
 the system is too slow, she is frustrated and resigns her plight with “You get
used to it. It’s job. I get my paycheck.”
 Intentionally does poor work (typing) to avoid additional typing (because
she does so a poor no one will ask her to do typing)
 takes advantage of her bosses absence
 has no need for work you do not enjoy
Professor of Communcations: Jack Hunter
Biography Sketch
 College professor
Commentary about Work
 I’m high on the work because this is the way life is going to be--persuading
people; it’s not an unethical thing; we teach the ethical way
 Communication specialists do have a sense of power. People will argue it’s
a misuse of power. When a person has so much control over behavior, we’re
distrustful. We must learn how to become humane at the same time.
Project Coordinator: Steve Carmichael
Biography Sketch
 35 years old
 works for the neighborhood youth corps helping young people with work
experiences
Commentary about Work
 doubts if he will be involved in public admin because each day he finds
himself more and more like the people he wishes to replace (i.e. his
superiors)
 work in private industry and concluded it was corrupt
 thinks of being a college professor
 feels he is not making an impact; treats his job disdainfully; he feels very
unimportant
Proof Reader: Tom McCoy
Biography Sketch
 23 years old
 proofreader of national weekly magazine
Commentary about Work
 likes that his hours vary
 resents having to look busy when you are not busy you should be able to
relax
 resents his boss’s attempts to be his father image—just be a boss
Publisher: Steven Simonyi-Guidele
Biography Sketch
 Publisher of a sixty-paged tabloid
 26 years old
Commentary about Work
 Reports of success stories
 Bored with school, left in last year
 realized early on, as a result of high unemployment, that there is little
security in a job
 you provide your own security
 happiness is not money, but being successful at what you are doing
 Before he found Christ, I learned to ski, sail, fly, speak French. I dropped
all these things after mastering them because they did not satisfy me.
 many people rebel against having to work for corporation where they spend
thirty years and come out as a wornout human being on a pension. “They
say, “Why on earth should I do that? There must be more to life.” It is more
challenging to strike out on own.
 Any work is better than none. Work makes one noble. This is a lie about
meaningful work. It comes from teachers, Ph.D.’s who have never really
worked.
 Never takes his work home with him. You should control work, not vice
versa.
Railroad Engineer (retired): Bill Norworth
Commentary about Work
 two thirds of work time you are away from home
 worked seven days/week
 wife interjects: she had to raise the children by herself because he was gone
so much
 discusses steam versus diesel
 much complaining about time away home
 his wife says that he liked his work but he never does, nor does he say
dislike it; he certainly was proud of this years of service
Realty Broker: Margaret Richards
Biography Sketch
 Broker for five years
Commentary about Work
 enjoys her work
 very competitive profession
 can be very lucrative
Receptionist; Sharon Atkins
Biography Sketch
 Receptionist at large business in the Midwest; 24 yrs old; husband is a
student; she graduated as an English Lit. major
Commentary about Work
 Out of college she looked for copywriting jobs; they wanted people who
majored in journalism: OKAY, THE FIRST MYTH THAT BLEW UP IN
MY FACE IS THAT A COLLEGE EDUCATION WILL GET YOU A JOB.
 She learned quickly that people think little of receptionist, not because of
their intellect, but solely because of their status.
 Receptionist are just there to filter people and calls.
 You tremble when you hear the first ring; after that, its sort of downhill.
You answer calls, you connect them to others, and that’s it.
 I never answer the phone at home.
 You try to fill up your time with trying to think about other things. You
have to use your imagination. If you don’t have a very good one and you
bore easily, you’re in trouble.
 Just to fill in time, I write real bad poetry or letters to myself and to other
people and never mail them. The letters are fantasies, sort of rambling, how
I feel, how depressed I am.
 I do some drawings--Mondrian, sort of. Peaceful colors of red and blue.
Very ordered life. I’d like to think of rainbows and mountains. I never draw
humans. Things of nature, never people. I always dream I’m alone and
things are quiet. I call it the land of no-phone, where there isn’t any machine
telling me where I have to be every minute.
 A monkey could do what I do.
 You have to lie for other people. At first I’d feel embarrassed and I’d feel
they knew I was lying. There was a sense of emptiness. I tried to think of
euphemism for he’s not here. Then I just learn to say: “he’s not here.”
 Until recently I’d cry in the morning. I didn’t want to get up. I’d dread
Fridays because Monday was always looming over me. There didn’t seem to
be an end. “Why am I doing this?” Yet you dread looking for other jobs. I
remember on applications I’d put down, “I’d like to deal with the public.”
(Laughs) Well, I don’t want to deal with the public any more.
 Talks about her bus commuting trips: Very few people talk on the bus going
home. Sort sit there and look dejected.
 I don’t know what I’d like to do. That’s what hurts the most. I really don’t
know what talents I may have.
Saxophone (Tenor): B. F.
Biography Sketch
 65 years old; tenor saxophone for 47 years
 Member of “The World’s Greatest Jazz Band.”
Commentary about Work
 “I could never bear to live the dull life that most people live, locked up in an
office.”
 “What’s wrong with making a living doing something interesting.”
 Worked for Lord & Taylor for six years but quit due to the boredom.
 Knew at 8 years old that he could not endure the business routine.
Salesman: Tim Devlin
Biography Sketch
 actually ex-salesman; 30 years
Commentary about Work
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suffered a nervous breakdown; in hospital for three months
now a janitor, which he considers humiliating; worries about job status
as a salesman he resented the huge profit margins of his company’s product
sales changed him and eventually ruined his marriage; he is very cynical
Salesman, Farmer: Fred Ringley, 40
Biography Sketch
Also owned a ice cream parlor and hamburger joint.
Commentary about Work
 Caught up in the American dream. You’ve go to be member of a country
clud, own two cars, a house in the suburbs, etc. We got nervous and we
started drinking and smoking more and more. Then, one day we realized
that we had everything and yet we were poor.
 Sold home and moved to Arkansas where they started a fast food restaurant.
 Recounts the frustration of working as a salesman in Chicago. Personal
status with others has gone down but with himself it has gone up.
Sanitation Truck Driver: N. S.
Biography Sketch
 Driving for three years
 Married with three daughters
Commentary about Work
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Daydreams when he has idle time.
Constantly worried about blind-spots and errant children.
His children are ridiculed about his profession.
Happy with his profession—at least, it is not unlawful.
School Teacher: Lois Keeley
Biography Sketch
 daughter of Peter Keeley
Commentary about Work
 shocked when her father lost his job; he always said upon can do anything;
recounts the family’s life before and after the firing
 talks of nothing but the pain of her father’s dismissal
Script supervisor/producer at a large ad agency: B. H.
Biography Sketch
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Writes scripts for an advertising agency
From a Kansas farm
Graduated from the University of Missouri
She soon began battling an ulcer
Commentary about Work
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Talks about the struggle men have with women’s new role in business
“You never know when you are going to lose your job in this business.”
Unemployment is now high in her profession.
Concerned about job security as she ages. Young people have an advantage
because they are eager to work for less.
She questions the integrity of her profession. Some products, such as
cosmetics, need advertising because they are short on substance.
Despite her abilities she believes her job is secure because of her
attractiveness
Every ad writer has a novel in his/her desk.
Service station owner: Glenn Stribling
Biography Sketch
 48 years old
Commentary about Work
 entire family involved in the business
 works seven days per week; also on call for emergency
 loves his work
Service station worker: Dave Stribling
Biography Sketch
 23 years old
Commentary about Work
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works with his father
like his work but wishes he had first done something else
gets depressed about the perception of his vocation
talks about his father’s old-fashioned ideas
as for customers, there are few that he likes
takes pride in his work
gave up his interest in music because his work left very little time
father has no hobbies
Shipping Clerk (retired): Joe Zmuda
Biography Sketch
Commentary about Work
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the company went out of business
lives on a pension and social security; pension is no much
talks about retirement: watching his expenses, his routine
said nothing about his job
Skycaptain: Thomas Rush
Biography Sketch
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57 years old
Skycaptain of a major airline (in charge of passenger service)
Proud of his compensation
like his job
Small Business Owner: George and Irene Brewer
Biography Sketch
Commentary about Work
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Once knewed their customers, now they do not
bad checks and theft are problems; robbed several times
average four hours per night
people are cold now
punks, rowdies sometimes a problem
you get blamed for price increases when the real cause is the wholesaler
crooked cops wanted pay-off; they turned them in, cops took revenge
fake injures are a problem
Steelworker: Steve Dubi
Biography Sketch
 steelworker inspector
 40 years old
Commentary about Work
 ready for retirement but doesn’t have the money
 as a kid he viewed the steel mill as the place to be; now, he does not feel the
same
 on your feet all day; your eyes get very tired
 worked very hard and has very little to show for it
 sore all over; everything is catching up with him
 everyone in the plant talks about retirement very much
 talks about the lay-offs and worries he is next; feels helpless
 has always worked with the fear of cut-backs; this uncertainity kept him
form buying a more expensive home
 literally treated as a number
 talks about the dilapidated building (leaks)
Steelworker: Mike Lefevre
Biography Sketch
 [This was not your average steelworker. Quoted Whitman and Hemingway.]
 Lives in Cicero (ourskirts of Chicago); 37 years old; works in a steel mill.
Commentary about Work
 Feels much has been loss since most workers never see the end product of
what they do. Mass production has deprived the worker of a sense of
accomplishment.
 I do my work but I don’t say whoopee-doo. The day I get excited about my
job is the day I go to a head shrinker. How are you gonna get excited about
pullin’ steek? Working is bad enough, don’t bug me. I would rather work
my ass off for eight hours a day with nobody watching me than five minutes
with a guy watching me.
 Many workers want their children to effete snobs, to quote Walt Witman.
 If you can’t improve yourself, improve your posterity. Otherwise life isn’t
worth nothing. I’m sure the first caveman who went over the hill to see what
was on the other side did not do it simple out of curiosity. He went there
because he wanted to get his son out of the cave.
 Describing a typical movie: “hat does an actor do when he’s got a bad
movie? I got a bad movie every day.”
 I’d like to run a combination bookstore and tavern. Where a workingman
could not be ashamed of Walt Whitman ...
 “What do I think of on a Sunday night? Lord, I wish the fuck I could do
something else for a living.”
 The people in power fear the leisure man. Not just the United States,
Russia’s the same way. This is the reason we don’t have a 20 hour work
week.
 It isn’t that the average working guy is dumb. He’s tired, that’s all. [
Average worker doesn’t have time to expand his mind.]
 I got no use for the black militant who’s gonna scream three hundred years
of slavery to me while I’m busting my ass. I have one answer for that guy:
go see Rockefeller. We’re in the same cotton field. So just don’t bug me.
Stone cutter: Mario Anichun
Biography Sketch
 28 years as a butcher, developed an ulcer, quit to be an artist (stone cutter)
Commentary about Work
 Loves his work and feels much better
Stonemason: Carl Murray Bates
Biography Sketch
57 years old
Commentary about Work
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Anybody that starts to build anything starts on the NE corner
Doesn’t like the term “common laborer”
Works mostly for himself
Talks in detail about his work; seems to love his work and certainly takes a
great deal of pride in it
 I daydream all the time, most times it’s on [about] stone.
Sports Press Agent: Blackie Mason
Biography Sketch
Commentary about Work
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Altough he prefers “space thief’
he extols the virtues of others
he wanted to be a night club comedian
prefers this over anything else
when he sees the results of his work in the newspaper that is when he is the
happiest
 he does not have a larcenous soul and that keeps him from the big score but
he does the best he can. He resigns with “I gotto me.”
Spot-welder (at a Ford plant): Phil Stallings
Biography Sketch
 27 years old, married.
Commentary about Work
 Complains of the noise.
 Avoids talking to others because many are “too uptight”. Passes the time
away by daydreaming.
 Complains of the repitition, pressure, intimidation.
 Machines get more care than people.
 Has anxiety about the factory infirmary’s ability to service sick people.
Nurses are truthful, biased toward the company.
 Doesn’t mind the work; not much thinking involved, which is OK to him.
 Doesn’t take much pride in his work because he feels the foreman’s don’t
care. Instead, he finds pride in things outside of work.
 Would like to get into social work.
Spot-welder: Jim Grayson
Biography Sketch
 Married for 5 years.
Commentary about Work
 Complains of plant pollution, carbon monoxide fumes.
 Talks of ex-cons who find working here more difficult than jail.
 “Lotta time my mind is on school-work. There’s no way I could do that job
and think about what I’m doin, …” The work is just too boring …”
 “There are specifications, which we pay very little attention to.” “Whenever
we make a mistake, we always say, “Don’t worry about it, some dingaling
will but it.”
 Much absentism and turnover.
 Describes a work accident where a guy cut his head with welding gun; line
stopped for only a second; guy had to walk ½ mile to medic dept. for 5
stitches.
Stockbroker: David Reed Glover
Biography Sketch
 40 years old
 Stockbroker at Reed Glover and Company
Commentary about Work
 has been troubled with the notion that he is a parasite
 he ends by saying his work fulfilling
Stockbroker: Ray Wax
Biography Sketch
 For 20 years he had engaged in many enterprises
Commentary about Work
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discovered the whole world was rigged
learned that there was a limit that to what he would do for money
thinks a stockbroker is superflous
the market is rigged
concerned aobut the small investor
he strongly suggest that the stock market is controlled (not just owned) by
the wealthy
today brokers are mere order takers
started with hope that he had a function in society but the market has
invalidate this belief
I would like one morning to wake up and go to some work that gave me joy.
Strip Miner: Bob Sanders
Biography Sketch
 Home is Boomville, Indiana; newly-built one-family dwellings; most of the
houses looked much alike although they were not so close together
 strip mine country; strip miner for about 20 yrs
Commentary about Work
 expresses a regret that he might have been a major league baseball player
 Thinks that coal companies get a bad rap about stripping land and not
refilling; the land was not fit for farming anyway; in some cases the
company does a good job of refilling
 doesn’t like the idea of destroying land when he knows it took so many
years to construct
 I don’t think anybody’s gonna say their work’s satisfyin, gratifyin unless
you in business for yourself.
Supermarket Checker: Babe Secoli
Biography Sketch
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30 years as a checker
standing all day, which results varicose veins
likes her bosses, her pay
retirement pay expected to be good
loves her job
Teacher: Rose Hoffman
Biography Sketch
 Public school teacher; third grade; 33 years
 jewish/polish
Commentary about Work
 has always loved teaching
 resents Spanish being taught English as a second language as a gov’t.
expense ( she is Jewish and did not accept gov’t money to learn Jewish as a
second language)
 resents four letter words used by Spanish students; too excessive
 resents the free lunches to Spanish; she explains that some ethic groups like
the Poles would always work their ends
 Complains of the destruction of school property by students
 complains of cheating
 she did not complain about the school administration
Teacher: Jack Currier
Biography Sketch
 Teacher at City College Adult Education.
Commentary about Work
 Father is on board of a big corporation but he would not trade places.
 Remembers seeing his father chewed out and thinking how humiliating for a
man who had given thirty years to the company.
 Ruthlessness is the standard corp. behavior.
 Witnessed his father giving all to a corp. and receiving very little in return.
 When he was a salesman, there was never a day in which he felt he could be
absolutely honest. He played a role where it meant wearing a mask every
minute on the job.
 Talks about a job as an insurance salesman. It was a con game. He could
force himself to do it.
 Talks very little about his vocation; instead, he expresses his contempt for
the corporate world’s treatment of his father.
Telephone Operator: Heather Lamb
Biography Sketch
 18 yrs; telephone operator at Illinois Bell for two years
Commentary about Work
 You must maintain a detached attitude with the callers; you are not allowed
to talk to them; operators are elbow to elbow in a room the size of a
gymnasium
 You know only the last names of coworkers because that is the name of our
headsets
 Businessmen tend to be arrogant and impatient
 Some girls do really listen to conversations
 It’s nice to have a caller ask about your day
Telephone Solicitor: E. D. B.
Biography Sketch
 Three years as a telephone solicitor for a Chicago newspaper.
Commentary about Work
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No orders, no money.
Failure to meet quote could result in termination.
Commission amount depended upon affluence of the territory.
His constitution prevented him from lying for profit.
Troubled with the solicitation of the poorer territories.
TV/Radio Executive: Ward Quaal
Biography Sketch
 President of the company
Commentary about Work
 Seven days/week job and he loves it
 Reads a lot of mail, dictates, travels
 Does not feel any pressure, though his family says he shows it
Tennis (Professional): Jeanne Douglas
Biography Sketch
 22 years old; tennis professional
Commentary about Work
 Virginia Slims is a sponsor but that does not mean women’s tennis promotes
smoking.
 Lucky for living at a time when women enjoy the rewards of Pro tennis.
 Once a Pro, she abandoned the practice of “Play two, take it over.”
“Winning is everything.”
 Very competitive
 Can be lonely
 Must keep improving or you will be known as a tennis bum.
 With no sponsor most girls need the financial of their parents.
 Views her father as a fair weather supporter.
 She talks of future marriage and kids.
 Wants money to gain independence.
Trash worker: R. S.
Biography Sketch
 Seven years a trash worker; 58
 Previously a bookkeeper; prefers manual labor to bookkeeping.
Commentary about Work
 Too tired to do very much after work.
 Back problems put him in the hospital once.
 Wife would like him to get something else but feels his age precludes a
change.
 Does not look to the future.
Tree Nursery Attendant: Bruce Fletcher
Biography Sketch
 33 years old
 One of the original whiz quiz kids
 Attended Columbia
Commentary about Work
 Lasted only six months at an exclusive men’s club; found it very
humiliating.
 Became a proof reader, at one of the biggest law firms in NY; respected
 Then he worked as a radio announcer
 Then returned to Chicago; thinking people would not hire him at 36, he felt
liked retiring
 Found a job with a tree nursery; seems to find the job tolerable
 “I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. It would be much more
convenient if I had cancer and passed away and say, “Oh, how tagic,” and I
could have the peace of the grave. I don’t know. I’d love to be back in radio,
in the classical music business. “
 Resents his years as a whiz quiz kid
Union Organizer: Jack Spiegel
Biography Sketch
 Organizer for the US Workers of America
Commentary about Work
 America Industries are increasingly moving their operations outside of the
USA to avoid union labor
 Industry is low pay and mostly women
Union President: Bill T.
Biography Sketch
 29 years old
 Pres. of a local UAW
Commentary about Work
 Once worked on the line where he observed management’s attitude of
placing production before people
 Describes the late 60’s as a time when auto plants had a lot of turnover;
changed in 70’s as people held on to their jobs because they did not other
jobs to go to.
 Regarding on line work: “I don’t give a shit what anybody says, it was
boring, monotonous work.”
 Younger people wanted to slow down to reserve energy for a personal life.
 Younger people found little admiration for working hard.
 Dignity is more important than an extra dollar.
 Complain about management and inspectors.
 Doesn’t think workers care about their work—too cynical.
Utility man: Hobart Foote
Biography Sketch
 wife, two children
 utility man at auto plant, 17 years
Commentary about Work
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worries about clocking in late
likes to work
sometimes he comes home grouchy
explains maintaining a work pace that will meet the time standard creates
stress
 must learn to deal with lay-offs
 talks of the routine, boredom, the clock-watching; jokes with fellow workers
to combat boredom
 “I’m proud of what my job gives me, not the job.”
Waitress: Dolores Dante
Biography Sketch
 Waitress; 35 years old
Commentary about Work
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She loves her job; she does not feel belittled by her job
Hates people who make an issue with the giving of a tip
If you make good tips and if you are popular, bosses will become resentful
much tension between waitress and cook/bartender
She seems intelligent, tough but she does cry during the interview
Talks about being very tired at the end of the day, physically and
emotionally
Washroom Attendant: James Carson
Biography Sketch
 Washroom attendant at the Palmer House in Chicago.
 Most of his life he was a Pullman Porter but the decline of passengers ended
this career.
 Widower with five grandchildren.
 Lives with two unmarried sisters.
Commentary about Work
 Health (stroke) and age probably preclude a vocation change
 Relies on the big tip but those are less because conventioneers do not have
the big expense accounts as they did in past years.
 Describes most days as monotonous.
 Not proud of his work.
 Expects this vocation will be phrased-out eventually. Replaced by
concessions.
 Lack of money constrains his leisure. Does not expect retirement to be any
better.
Yacht Broker: James Carson
Biography Sketch
 Yacht broker for 41 years
Commentary about Work
 Sells used yachts; considers new yacht selling to be risky; risky because of
recessions, not-too loyal manufactures setting up dealership to compete with
their own dealers
 80% of the people take advantage of the situation
 takes approx. 170 hours to sell one
 used to wine and dine potential buyers on the yacht; many people would
leave without so much a thank you
 getting out the business
 regrets the work, would never do it if he started onver; resents being
instructed about the yachts from the so-called experts
 sometimes you feel needed, sometimes you feel like a parasite (they make
you feel a parasite)
 didn’t heed the advice of his lawyer: “never trust anyone in business”; corp.
exec. and psuedo-friend beat him out of a commisssion
 cynical and bitter
1
Born in Chicago in 1912. Graduated from Univ. Chicago in 1932, Chicago Law School
in 1934. Actor in radio soap opera, disk jockey, radio commentator, author (“The Good
War”, “Talking to Myself”, “American Dream: Lost and Found”)