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- Description:
- James Cataline talks about working for the REO Motor Car Company, in Lansing, MI, as a timekeeper during World War Two and later becoming Parts Department General Manager in 1967 when REO became Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc. Cataline reminisces fondly about the social life at REO and the terrible emotional damage its closing had on workers and the Greater Lansing community. He also describes the demolition of the REO Clubhouse and the later fire that destroyed the plant, events which, to him, drove home the end of an era. Cataline is interviewed by Shirley Bradley. Recorded as part of the commemoration of REO Motor Car Company’s 100th Anniversary.
- Date Issued:
- 2004-05-06T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Betty talks about her Russian-Jewish ancestry, leaving home in Toronto at 16 to avoid cultural obligations, and coming to the U.S. She hired into Fisher in 1946 and again in May 1948. Betty talks about factory life for the few women including lower pay, harder work, community restrooms, and stereotypical perceptions of factory women. Betty shares her opinion of the union and management, describes her union activity, smoking, strikes, layoffs, and paying union dues.
- Date Issued:
- 2005-09-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Dave describes the duties of an industrial hygienist and being trained to perform the job. Dave talks about beginning his career at Fisher in 1967 while pursuing a degree at MSU. He tells about being selected for a series of "non-traditional" jobs. Dave shares memories about life in the factory and concludes by giving a brief description of the replica Fisher Coach that was built by employees around 1985.
- Date Issued:
- 2005-08-24T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Joseph tells of being hired in August 1981 and working in the Body Shop and Paint Shop. He also talks about an industrial accident in 1982 that claimed the lives of three persons from a booth cleaning crew.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-06-09T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Debra describes being hired in September 1976, her first job, first boss, and working in the Body Shop. She talks about women in the factory, blatant sexism, and the nature of the work. Debra talks about meeting Gary, becoming friends and eventually marrying. Gary joins the interview to describe some of the operations in the plant. They talk about two serious accidents and daily life and behavior.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-01-23T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Linda Maxon discusses her early years at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc., in Lansing, MI. She says that she started as a temporary stenographer in 1967 and stayed to work as a secretary for several managers until the plant closed in 1975. Maxon shares many experiences about company social events and institutions and describes the loss of the REO Clubhouse and the burning of the factory itself. Maxon says that in the end, she was able to draw money from the REO pension fund before it was drained and describes the terrible depression suffered by other workers who lost all of their retirement money. The interviewer is Shirley Bradley. Recorded as part of the commemoration of REO Motor Car Company’s 100th Anniversary.
- Date Issued:
- 2004-06-25T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Lyle describes growing up in the neighborhood near Fisher, being hired in November 1956 and his first day on the wet deck. He reflects on segregation in the plant, the swing shift, and changeover. Lyle talks about transferring to Security in 1966, describes the duties, interactions with workers, strikes, and the 1982 deaths in the Paint Department. He also discusses GM's decision to outsource plant security to Pinkerton. Lyle also discusses his other passion - coaching baseball.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-01-26T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Cookie talks about college and teaching in Mississippi, coming to Lansing in 1963 and 1964 to work summers in the factory and returning south to teach in the fall. In 1965, Cookie permanently hired into Fisher. He describes a workplace with few minorities and one black supervisor. Cookie comments on the 1970 UAW strike, discrimination and race. He recalls applying and being tested for supervision but was told he failed the test. In 1971 he felt he was forced onto supervision to help GM comply with new laws. Cookie recalls that some workers would not accept their paychecks from a black. He talks about cooking a roast in the paint ovens, area dinners, the salaried dining room and retirement.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-01-10T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- JD shares his diverse career in the military and with several companies before coming to Fisher to assist with the conversion from big to small cars in 1984. JD talks about his friendship with the plant manager, the Conveyor Task Force, UAW-management relations, workforce dedication, working seven days a week and 10-11 hours per day. He also discusses the fatal injury of a subcontractor working in the conveyor system.
- Date Issued:
- 2005-11-02T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Don discusses being hired in 1972, getting laid off, and joining the Air Force. He returned to Fisher as a booth cleaner. Don discusses safety procedures and training and comments on the death of three booth cleaners in 1982. Don transferred to Oiler and he describes their work, factory life as a maintenance worker, overtime, the Emergency Response Team, and his community involvement.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-01-27T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Tom talks about his life prior to Fisher Body, growing up in Detroit, being hired in August 1978 and going to the Body Shop. Tom tells of deciding early he wanted to be in trades. He talks about his apprenticeship, women in trades, safety lockout, chemicals, duties in the powerhouse, relations with managers and his union activity. Tom comments on Lansing's success, people's attitude and talent.
- Date Issued:
- 2005-11-10T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Marilyn tells of being hired in September 1978 right out of high school. She describes working in the Trim Shop with few women on the day shift. Marilyn describes common initiations to factory life. She talks about tag relief, mass relief, contract supervisors, check pools, gate collections, dinners, and her UAW activity and being elected as Civil Rights Chair. Marilyn talks about her community involvement with the NAACP and A Philip Randolph.
- Date Issued:
- 2005-11-22T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Mickey talks about his life prior to being hired at Fisher Body in June 1976. He describes his first day on the job in Body Shop welding the wheelhouse, hanging 80 lbs. Toronado doors, quality inspections, and eventually becoming a city driver with a CDL license.
- Date Issued:
- 2005-10-14T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Sam tells of being hired in May 1971 and being put on "the worst job" - welding wheelhouses. He tells of transferring to Security seven months later. Sam talks about his duties dealing with strikes, discharges, occasional fights, and describes an industrial accident in 1982 that claimed the lives of three men. He tells about GM outsourcing Security to Pinkerton and his last years before retirement.
- Date Issued:
- 2005-12-12T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Frances Barnhart talks about her brief career at the REO Motor Car Company, in Lansing, MI, from 1942 to 1953. Barnhart describes growing up in Lansing and going to the REO Clubhouse as a child, working at Kresge's in downtown Lansing, and finally being hired into the REO Navy Department to make make bomb fuses during the war. Barnhart describes the many family connections that brought her to the plant, earning 65 cents an hour, piece rate, safety issues, and being one of the older women to work at REO. She says that she moved to the lawn mower line after the war, met her husband, was soon laid off and declined a callback in 1959 to raise her family. The interviewers are Shirley Bradley and Lisa Fine. Recorded as part of the REO Memories oral history project.
- Date Issued:
- 1993-03-09T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Lyle tells of being hired in August 1976 and being assigned to the Trim Shop. He tells of working on weld integrity in Quality Control, of meeting his wife, his love of music and he even plays his harmonica. Lyle also discusses the difference between hourly and salaried people, the BOC talent show, his union activity and his job as plant tour guide.
- Date Issued:
- 2005-12-15T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Herbert Heinz talks about his career as an electrician at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc., in Lansing, MI, from 1951 to 1974. He discusses REO products, plant safety issues, exporting trucks around the world, and the union and various labor actions. Heinz also recounts management abuses and irregularities, alleging that managers used REO workers to build their cottages in Northern Michigan and that as the plant died at the time of the 1975 bankruptcy, managers began stripping parts and equipment from the plant. The interviewers are Shirley Bradley and Lisa Fine. Recorded as part of the REO Memories oral history project.
- Date Issued:
- 1993-03-16T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Bill Faunce, professor emeritus of the Michigan State University Department of Sociology, talks about his youth, education, and what brought him to MSU in 1957 to teach industrial sociology and work in the Center for Labor and Industrial Relations which later became known as the School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SLIR). Faunce also talks about his research, the structure of SLIR, the mission of the school, working in an auto plant in his younger days, and coordinating the school's move from the basement of Marshall Hall to South Kedzie Hall. Faunce is interviewed by John Revitte, MSU professor of Labor and Industrial Relations.
- Date Issued:
- 1996-09-27T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Theresa talks about being born in Lansing and raised in Missouri. She describes being hired in August 1977 after standing in line to submit an application. Theresa discusses working in the Trim Shop, seniority rights, the impact of night shift on family life, friendships in the factory, and a fatal accident.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-03-16T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection
- Description:
- Mark recalls serving his apprenticeship at Lindell Drop Forge, the Fisher job interview, being hired in August 1984, his first day in the Body Shop and working second shift. He talks about toolmaker duties, friendships, weekly dinners, relations with supervisors, lines of demarcation, injuries, safety, relations with production workers and his union activity.
- Date Issued:
- 2006-07-24T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection