Dorothy Stevens discusses her pioneering career as a production worker and member of the UAW Bargaining Committee at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI
Dorothy tells about being hired in December 1952. She describes the brutal work, working conditions, the swing shift, lack of relief and the disparate treatment of women including lower pay and no restrooms. Dorothy also tells about being the first woman to exercise her contractual rights to transfer to a better paying job. She tells of participating in wildcat strikes over the lack of basic necessities like gloves, fountains and fans. Dorothy talks about being elected to the committee and being the lone woman in the male dominated environment. She comments on building the union hall, the need for unions, and her political activity in retirement.
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- In Collections
-
G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Copyright Status
- In Copyright
- Date
- 2005-01-06
- Interviewees
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Stevens, Dorothy
- Interviewers
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Johnson, Linda
Coulter, Marilyn
McQuaid, Cheryl
Howard, Doreen
Rademacher, Doug
Fleming, Michael
Berry, Kathryn
Fedewa, John
Martinez, Josie
- Subjects
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Stevens, Dorothy
International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. Local 602 (Lansing, Mich.)
Business agents (Labor union officials)
Sex discrimination in employment
Strikes and lockouts--Automobile industry
Women automobile industry workers
Michigan--Lansing
- Material Type
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Sound recordings
- Language
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English
- Extent
- 00:54:28
- Venue Note
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Recorded Jan. 6, 2005, as part of the United Auto Workers Local 602/General Motors Oral History Project.
- Holding Institution
-
Vincent Voice Library
- Call Number
- Voice 15566
- Catalog Record
- http://catalog.lib.msu.edu/record=b6743868
- Permalink
- https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m5dr2p88q