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- Description:
- Glen Green discusses his career as a machine repairman, tooling division worker and manager at the REO Motor Car Company, between 1937 and 1974. Green talks about his youth in the depression, hiring in at REO, his various jobs with the company, REO's eventual bankruptcy and the fate of worker pensions. He says that a family atmosphere was prevalent at REO and that much of a worker's social life was connected to the plant and its many social events and institutions, such as the company sponsored REO Clubhouse. Green also says, however that there were union-management conflicts and describes the famous Lansing Labor Holiday demonstration of 1937. Interviewers are Shirley Bradley and Lisa Fine. Recording ends abruptly. Recorded as part of the REO Memories oral history project.
- Date Issued:
- 1992-01-23T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- John reflects on growing up in Lansing and describes how he came to be hired in September 1977. He describes his first day and the work environment. John talks about his move to supervision and various jobs he had including QWL and Labor Relations, the closing of Fisher and his move to the Delta Plant.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-05-31T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Harold Janetzke recalls his career as a timekeeper and engineer at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc. in Lansing, MI, from 1936 to 1975. He describes the 1937 strike that brought the UAW into REO, his move to engineering and attending Michigan State College. He says that the Great Depression devastated the Lansing community, but that World War II brought work back to the plant as REO converted from car to truck production. Janetzke's wife Eileen describes her job as a secretary at REO, meeting and marrying Harold, and working until late into her first pregnancy in 1943. They describe the heart break of the plant's closing in 1975, the loss of the pension and Harold going back to work for a few more years at Motor Wheel. The interviewers are Shirley Bradley and Lisa Fine. Recorded as part of the REO Memories oral history project.
- Date Issued:
- 1992-02-26T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Mabel McQueen talks about her career at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc, in Lansing, MI, from 1953 to 1975. She describes her youth on the family farm, working at Motor Wheel through the war, her work as a secretary and bookkeeper, her supervisors, and her feelings about the union. McQueen says that many of her family members also worked at REO and that REO itself felt like one big family. She says that the bankruptcy was a terrible time and that it was heartbreaking watching friends and co-workers being fired and losing their pensions. The interviewers are Shirley Bradley and Lisa Fine. Recorded as part of the REO Memories oral history project.
- Date Issued:
- 1992-06-16T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Sam describes being hired in September 1968, commuting from Lakeview, MI, and spending ten years on the assembly line. He talks about friction between production workers and trades, performing "government jobs," women in trades, minorities, friendships, conveyor breaks and a car pile-up, labor management relations, and the closing of the plant.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-02-02T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Doris Faustman talks about her three periods of employment at the REO Motor Car Company in Lansing, MI. She says that she first worked as a clerk from 1945 to 1947, left to raise children, came back from 1949 to 1951 and returned to REO again in 1967 when her kids were older. She describes her work in the parts department, her coworkers, bosses, and being a grateful member of the union. Faustman talks about the first attempts to computerize REO administrative offices and how foreign and strange all of the equipment seemed to staff. She also sadly recalls being laid off in 1975 when REO closed in bankruptcy. The interviewers are Shirley Bradley and Lisa Fine. Recorded as part of the REO Memories oral history project.
- Date Issued:
- 1992-06-23T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Noel Johnson recalls his career at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc., in Lansing, MI, from 1958 to 1975. Johnson describes his youth and early jobs and the variety of positions he held at REO and says with pride that Diamond-REO trucks were virtually handmade. He also talks about REO's merger with White Motors, Francis Cappaert’s purchase of the company and the final, painful bankruptcy. He says that he was retained by the company to finish the last military truck orders and was there when the gates were closed for good. The interviewer is Shirley Bradley. Recorded as part of the commemoration of REO Motor Car Company’s 100th Anniversary.
- Date Issued:
- 2004-10-13T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Louis Garcia discusses his career as an assembly worker, press operator, and manager at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc, in Lansing, Mi, between 1946 and 1975. Garcia talks about his Hispanic heritage and his childhood spent as a migrant farm worker. He says that in his early years at REO he was singled out and "tested" by other workers and management because of his ethnicity, but still excelled in the workplace, becoming a journeyman and later a supervisor. Garcia also talks about Francis Cappaert’s ownership of REO, the company bankruptcy, loss of the worker pension fund, the final days of plant operations, and employee depression and suicide. Interviewers are Shirley Bradley and Lisa Fine. Recorded as part of the REO Memories oral history project.
- Date Issued:
- 1992-01-28T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Steve talks about his career with the IBEW before hiring into GM in November 1983. He describes working at several plants in Lansing before coming to Fisher in July 1992. Steve talks about the Body Shop's transition from hand welders to leaky hydraulic robots to electric FANUC robots. He comments on relations between production and skilled trades, his move to the Safety Lockout project, placarding, women and minorities in skilled trades, and the closing of Fisher.
- Date Issued:
- 2005-10-14T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Rusty tells of being hired in August of 1976 into the Trim Shop. He describes the work, his coworkers, and how he became interested in serving on the committee. Rusty talks about situations where he had to represent workers facing discharge and other discipline. He comments on the transition to the new factory and the closing of the old Fisher Body facility in May 2005.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-05-02T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection