The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-10-12

nd out the picture and correct
lave stuck in the public mind.
A. Kaiser builds cargo ships of
simplified. standardized pattern
which enables him to apply assem-
bly, line methods all the way.
Tacoma, Seattle and Lake WASH
ington shipyards are turning out
specialized naval craft - destroy
ers, seaplane tenders, minesweep-
ers. supply and other vessels.
These Jobs are more exacting.
more time-taking. Alterations
ordered for military reasons-also
take time. But the tempo of build
ing Is picking up fast.
q. Do shipyard trsinees 20 to
school on company timer
A. No. They attend school on
their own time. I spoke recently
Of going to school in the after
noon; that's because I'm on the
swing shift, which goes to work
later in the day. Day shift work
ers 20 to training classes after
they knock off work at $50 or
4 p. m.
10 HOURS OF SCHOOL
Incidentally. the latest ruling IL
that helpers in the yards must
have In 40 hours at school-either
in the plant where they work or
at a vocational school.
Q. Isn't shipyard work monoto-
nous, once you get the hang OF II?
A. Work can't ever be monoto-
nous when you're learning. some
thing, and that can go on for years
in a shipyard. You come up
against something new.and fresh
every day. In fact. I've heard a
foreman who has been In construc-
ton and ship work since he was a
boy say:
THE fellow who thinks he has
nothing to learn in this business
is kidding himself. Being smart
means being willing to learn some
thing from the greenest helper in
the yard, IL he sees or knows some
thing you don't"
AS these ships on which we're
working get nearer completion,
the job gets more interesting and
exciting. shipworkers feel a glow
of pride oftener as they see once
drab-looking hulls turning into
sleek, formidable engines of war.
It's good to know you have a part,
however insignificant, in that
Transformation.
WHICH SHIFT Is BEST?
q. Which is better, the day
shift or the swing?
A. That's all a matter OF per-
sonal taste. and adjustment. The
day crew outranks the night and
the graveyard shifts; II sets the
program, and they follow 1t. The
day shift is No. /. You have to
hit the deck pretty early In the
dawning. but you're free from the
middle of the afternoon on. Lots
of time to spend at home, or STEP
ping out.
On the other hand. the swing
shift suits fellows like me 10 T.
hate to 60 to bed at night. and
always hated TO break out fast
and early in the morning. / can
do all the things I like to do-and
that any of US have time for these
days-between 9 or 10 a. m. and
whistle time at $50. But a lot of
guys on the boot owl shift grave
yard; around midnight TO early
morning) say that's the best Of all.
Q. What makes shipyard work.
ers so profane
A. Put men with others of their
own sex, and throw in few mules
or machinery. and you'n get pro-
family. I sat up last Saturday
night (it was my day off with
couple Of soldiers who had recent
ly spent 10 weeks shaking down
at Camp Roberts, California. and
didn't notice them interlarding
their conversation with express
sions like mercy me" and my
goodness"
PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS
Now that we have quite a few
welders, scalers. checkers and
whatnot Of the gentler sex work
ing beside Us in the yard, well
probably start losing our rep as
choice cussers.
q. What are the physical quail
fications for shipyard work.
A. The huskier you are. or the
huskier you want 10 be. the better.
But there's a lot Of shipyard work
that can be handled by men with
even serious physical hsndicsps.
I've known some fellows badly
crippled by hip disease or infan-
tile paralysis who were still crack
erjaek weiders on assembly work
The absence Of an arm doesn't
keep two other guys from doing
their fun days work as painter
and a welder. respectively.
Q. How do you Ike having 10
pay q $50 initiation fee IN the
Boilermakers' union 70 hold your
Job In the shipyard?
A. See the next article.