The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-06-24
GIRL SHOWS UP WESTERN ELECTRIC

monotonous. There are only a few
jobs open to Understanding parts
working punchpress, sorting, and
inspecting. Each of these is work
that means doing the same opera.
ton over and over again. No girl that
could do anything else would consent
to work in the factory"
Put In Filing Job.
Couldn't 1 try it out for week,
and change if / didn't like it?" l
asked.
"That would mean waste of time
for the company" exclaimed Miss
Norton. 1--WE don't like to shift girls
around until they find their places"
Miss Norton finally decided that |
was to take job as filing clerk under
c. B. Cell, department chief of section
6156. l received an envelope saying
that was new employee and with
this magic talesman. passed five gate
police, and six police inside the fac
tory entrance at 22nd street. My
credentials were examined by three
different young women, who finally
sent me to the far end of an immense
room, where / stood at attention until
Mr.. Cell got ready to talk to me.
"Sit down." said Mr.. Cell-not very
cordially, and again began the cat
echism.
He had all the information in front
of him on his desk, but he probably
thought to trip me up on something.
What is your life ambition" Mr..
Cell put forth solemnly.
Like Early Birds.
l protested that l really didn't know
just yet.
would you be willing to work in
this office at SIS a week."
1 showed myself eager for the
chance.
Now want to tell you something"
said Mr.. Cell gravely. do you see
that girl behind your"
l turned and saw a blonde, very
tired-looking young woman, of about
twenty-five, mechanically sorting let
tiers into long, narrow boxes. With
automatic precision she was going
thru the motions that were necessary,
never stopping, never once looking
up.
Mr.. Cell followed my glance and
was moved to prophecy.
THAT girl will make good" he said.
"She has been here fifteen minutes
early every day"
Minute Late; Work Hour.
Remember that your hours are
from eight-thirty to five. II you are
one minute late, we expect you to
make up for it by an hour of extra
work, without pay. My idea of real
employe is person who works
every minute of the time"
"Of course, there are lots of ad-
vantages in working for the company.
If you reach the age Of sixty in our
employ, and you have been working
steadily for twenty years, you get a
pension which sometimes amounts to
as much as SIS a week."
Come back tomorrow morning at
eight-thirty, and will give you some
letters to file away"
l went back to Miss Norton, who
told me to go to the hospital for med
ical examination.
Examined Without Look.
l was not roughly treated at the
hospital l was hardly touched. Most
OF the three hours I spent there were
consumed in sitting about on long,
hard benches, half-dressed, and not
daring to leave for fear that my num-
Der was to be called. The nurse gave
me a pinch in the stomach, punch
on the chest, and passed me on to a
room where was to have my eyes
and teeth examined.
The doctor in charge insisted that
my eyes were in perfect condition,
altho they are not.
Cure Fever BY Work.
The examination wound up with:
"You have a fever of almost 100. Be
sure to get to work at eight-thirty to-
morrow"
The process of becoming assistant
filing clerk to Mr.. Cell, department
chief Of division 6156, was not yet
concluded, but / decided to bolt.
had been at Western Electric since
seven-thirty that morning, and it was
two o'clock, and of course my pay
was not to begin until the next day.