Diana Valenta discusses her career as a production worker and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Jerri Smith: And this is Jerri, Jerri Smith, uh, Fisher Body Historical Team. It's 11/3/05. The time is 8:32, and we're doing an interview in the conference room in Fisher Body Skill Center. And today we're going to interview Diana Valenta. We're gonna go around the room and introduce each other. Doreen Howard: Doreen Howard. Cheryl McQuaid: Cheryl McQuaid. Marilyn Coulter: Marilyn Coulter. John Fedewa: John Fedewa. Jerri Smith: [0:37] And Diana, would you state your name? Diana Valenta: Diana Valenta. Jerri Smith: [0:40] Your address. Diana Valenta: 542 South Dexter Drive, Lansing, Michigan 48910. Jerri Smith: [0:46] And your seniority date? Diana Valenta: Fisher Body is, uh, '83. [Corporate Times 0:55] '81. Jerri Smith: Okay. [0:57] And what department did you first hire in to? Diana Valenta: C Trim. It's, uh, yeah, C Trim. Second shift. Jerri Smith: [1:04] Do you know what job you had? Diana Valenta: Yes I do. I had started out as, uh, anyway, I was on station wagons. Jerri Smith: [1:19] Any particular job? Diana Valenta: Yeah, I had to, oh yeah, I had to put the racks, build the racks up, put'm up on top a the car. Had to crawl inside the car and do a couple wires and crawl in the back of the tailgate and put some stuff up on it, in it, and then I had to turn around and get back up on the car and screw down the, the luggage rack things. Jerri Smith: [1:38] And how long have you been on night shift? Diana Valenta: Most of the time I've been here. Jerri Smith: [1:40] Okay. Do you prefer night shift? Diana Valenta: Yes, I do. Jerri Smith: [1:46] Any other jobs that you've had in the years you've been here? Diana Valenta: Yes, I, besides that one, I used to do vinyl tops, and I did relief for that plus I was a utility, and, um, put them on. Ya had to cut'm out, make sure you cut'm just right. [coughing] Diana Valenta: And, um, I did, uh, glass, [inaudible 2:10] glass. I worked up in Paint for a while, and I did [inaudible 2:16] line. Did [mizaline] up there, which is a place where it's air conditioned and it's clean and do mostly sanding and stuff of up there, it's easy jobs. And I was in the Body Shop and I cannot tell you the jobs, I can't remember it, but it was an awful job. And then I've also been in the Skill Center, these last two years. Jerri Smith: Doreen? Doreen Howard: [2:38] Um, you've talked about two different seniority dates. Can you explain why you have two different seniority dates? Diana Valenta: Yes. I hired in to Oldsmobile, and I worked over there for not quite a year. And then we got laid off due to a cutback. And I was out of work for like 17 months. And then Fisher Body happened to call me because they needed people and asked me if I would like to come to work for them, which I did. And then they wanted to know if I wanted to back to Oldsmobile, and I told'm no way, I was stayin' here. So and that's how I ended up with two seniority dates. Doreen Howard: [3:13] And that was Olds in Lansing? Diana Valenta: Yes. Doreen Howard: [3:16] Okay. I noticed on your sheet that it said you were born in Flint? Diana Valenta: Yes. Doreen Howard: [3:22] How did you happen to come to Lansing then? Diana Valenta: Well I'm not even from Flint; I was just born goin' through Flint in a car. Doreen Howard: Oh. Okay. [laughter] Diana Valenta: My parents were just drivin' through, and I came two weeks early. Actually I'm from Houghton Lake. Doreen Howard: [3:40] Okay. So when you came to Fisher Body, you had already worked at another plant. What were your thoughts that very first day that you came in to our plant, um, what were your thoughts about the plant in comparison to where you came from? Diana Valenta: Well compared from Fisher Body to Olds at that time back in '83, I gotta tell ya, I worked in Final Assembly over at Oldsmobile, which is very hard work. And we had ta use big guns [inaudible 4:10] seatbelts and stuff we had to do plus other stuff. When I first come to Fisher Body, my first thought was people told me how hard they worked, and I said you don't know how lucky you are that you ain't workin' as hard as they do over at the Final Assembly over at Olds. But then that all changed when Olds took over the whole things, then we were all workin' hard. Jerri Smith: [4:33] Jerri Smith. Uh, have you been in any strikes? Diana Valenta: Yes, I have. We had one strike that [inaudible 4:38] or two, I can't remember. Anyway, I know one for a fact that we come down to and it was only, it only lasted a day or so and then they, that was the end of it so we didn't get paid for comin' down here and picketing. Jerri Smith: [4:53] Do you know, can you tell us what that strike was over? Diana Valenta: Had somethin' to do with the contract. I can't remember. That's been a few, quite a few years ago. Jerri Smith: [5:04] And also why did you hire in to Fisher Body? Just because of the layoff? Diana Valenta: 'Cause they called me. Jerri Smith: And you... Diana Valenta: Well I wanted to get in to Fisher Body anyway. They ca-, I interviewed at Fisher Body back in the 60s, and so, but the place I worked at the time was getting mad because they were losin' all their people to GM, so they wouldn't let us go. They were tellin'm stuff so they wouldn't hire us. Jerri Smith: [5:23] Did you have other family members that worked here? Diana Valenta: Yes, my dad worked down in the Body Shop. Jerri Smith: [5:29] Did he retire from here? Diana Valenta: Yes, he did. Jerri Smith: [5:32] What year was that? Diana Valenta: I have no idea. It had to be probly in the 70s, early 70s. Jerri Smith: And also, um, seein' as how I've been friends with you for a while, I remember back when they used to have dinners in the plant. You used to do fundraisers for different people that had problems or different things like that, and you used to be in charge of them. [5:59] About how many dinners do, can you think of that you did and for what reasons did you do a lot of'm? Diana Valenta: Well I don't know exactly how many I was involved it, but I know we did one big dinner for Oklahoma bombing that time for Oklahoma. And Bruce [McConnell 6:11] and I got together and did that one, organized it. Everybody helped – don't get it wrong, we didn't do it by ourselves. Everybody, all the employees pitched in and donated food and stuff so we could have it. So this was not just a two-person deal. And then we did ice cream socials like four or five times, and we took that money from the ice cream socials we had out there and we split the money and we gave half of it like to the [Inaudible 6:35] School so to help them out with, uh, playground equipment or whatever they needed, and we took half and we usually give to, uh, to, uh, an organizations to help with gloves and hats and stuff for the wintertime for the kids that needed it. And then we also did one and we sent the money to Feed the Children, which is a big organization that they take care of the hungry families here in the U.S. Jerri Smith: Doreen [inaudible 7:01]. Doreen Howard: So it sounds like you were involved in quite a few, uh, community projects... Diana Valenta: Right. Doreen Howard: ...and activities. [7:09] Was that all through your union activity? [Inaudible]. Diana Valenta: No, this was the stuff that we did on our own. Doreen Howard: This was all [inaudible 7:15]. Diana Valenta: This is stuff that we decided to do on our own. And we did a couple more. Now Connie Swander and I did a, one or two for a person that was, I think in the Body Shop at that time or Skill Trades. I can't remember where they were, but they had a problem in their family. Cancers and stuff, so we did one to help them out. No but this was [inaudible 7:32], you know, I'm a union person, but most of this was in the plant where we, uh, just took it upon ourselves to have these to help our fellow workers out and their families. But then I also always helped the union with, uh, the [gate 7:46] collections for like the Old NewsBoy, uh, Toys for Tots, and I've done the United Way 'cause I've done the community service committee for a while. Jerri Smith: Jerri Smith, um, [8:00] what other committees were, have you been on in the union? Diana Valenta: I've been on the election committee, and I'm on the recreation committee. Michael Fleming: Mike Fleming. [8:00] Tell us a little bit about the elections committee. I think that was a special one for you, wasn't it? Diana Valenta: What do you mean by special? Michael Fleming: [8:19] Did you have a particular role [inaudible]? Diana Valenta: Well w-, I did, the, for, uh, I mean I was just a regular committee person [inaudible 8:23] but then I was a chairperson for a while. And now I'm, I'm still on the committee but just as a committee person. Michael Fleming: [8:32] A, a, as a chairperson, uh, what were some of your responsibilities? How did that work for you as the elections committee? Diana Valenta: The elections committee worked pretty good for me. I had a really good committee, and that helps. You're only as good as the committee you got behind ya. I don't care who ya are, you're only as good as the people that working with you. And I happen to be very lucky. I had a very good committee behind me that helped me through every step if I needed it. And my, some of my, uh, responsibilities was I had to make sure to get the elections lined up, the dates, the times. Make sure the people got to sign up. They had to get that posted and take the postings down and all that stuff and get my committee organized to, uh, to run the election and make sure that the ballots are ready and they all [inaudible 9:15] right and stuff like that. Michael Fleming: [9:19] Basically it sounds your organization skills [inaudible] it was, it was pretty, pretty much a challenge [inaudible 9:22]. Diana Valenta: It was okay. I don't know why you call it challenging because I enjoyed it. I, I really enjoyed it. So I guess it was a challenge too but I just enjoyed it so, and I did feel good because I had people come up to me and, not to say anything about anybody because I don't mean that, but they told me that I put the respect back in the elections committee, which made me feel good. Michael Fleming: [9:42] You know, you, you sound like a very, very strong union individual. I'd like to ask you how many General Motors vehicles or American-made vehicles have you had? Diana Valenta: All my life, I drove nothing but GM except one time. I had one Ford because I had to buy it used because I needed a vehicle right then and there. And it was an old station wagon, which was okay... [coughing] Diana Valenta: ...but my dad always instilled in us kids to buy GM vehicles, and we did. And our kids do today too. And our grandkids. They st-, they buy'm too. Jerri Smith: Jerri Smith again. [10:18] What do ya, what are your reactions to the name changes of Fisher Body when it's gone from Fishy Bod-, Fisher Body to BOC to LCA? Diana Valenta: Well if you want my honest opinion, I don't like it. Never did like it. I think it should stay Fisher Body. I know we have to go on and we have to move on different things, but I still always felt, the people that I talk to that always told me they always look for that on the cars, body by Fisher, and that always made them feel confident in buying it. And once that changed, a lotta people was very upset about it. Jerri Smith: [10:56] Do you, do you still refer to the plant as Fisher Body when you speak to people or...? Diana Valenta: You know, I always say Fisher Body, and they know what I mean. If I say BOC, they look at me, "What do you mean?" Fisher Body is it. It will be till the day I die. Doreen Howard: [11:13] Doreen Howard. You came from Oldsmobile over here. Um, could you, um, describe some of the things that make the people or our facility different from Oldsmobile? What made us special compared to the Olds? Diana Valenta: Well for one thing, I, like I said, I worked in Final Assembly over to Oldsmobile, and, um, management over there was not very good. They didn't treat the people right. I mean, I know we have that here now, sometimes we did have, but when I first come to Fisher Body, I could not believe how management was helpful, they worked with you. I mean, the ones I had anyway. I don't know about anybody else's experience, but I was very fortunate that the supervisors I had when I first come here was excellent ta me. I mean, I had no problems any of'm. The only problem I had, and it's a joke today, because Cookie and I are very good friends, which is Eldridge Cook, and, uh, first time I ever laid eyes on this man, he come up to me, he says, "What's hapnin' mama," and I says, "I ain't your mama," and now we laugh about it. It's just a joke that's gone on all these years because I wasn't used to somebody talkin' to me like that so. You know, I was not from Lansing. I was from up north and, so we just didn't have that kinda talk. And so it threw me off at first, but like I said, Cookie and I we laugh about it every time we get together now. It's a joke between us. And management just helped me out. I mean they just was work with me and I had no problem. I mean, I had some supervisors that people told me they didn't like, that they were terrible supervisors, but you know what, I didn't have a problem with'm. I was straightforward with them and they were with me. We respected each other. That's what counts. Doug Rademacher: [12:58] Doug Rademacher. Would you share with us, did you notice a difference in your union representation from the time you worked at the Olds plant and when you came over to the Fisher Body plant? Did they greet you at Fisher Body? Did you know who your union reps were? And what was the environment as far as union representation? Diana Valenta: Well, now you gotta remember, back in '81 was when I was at Oldsmobile, and the union over there at that time was pretty good. They actually were. I mean, I had a problem – see, I was a UAW member. I had been a UAW member since back in the 60s. Every plant I've went to has been UAW. Whether it was at GM or a different plant. I started out at Gibson's in Greenville building refrigerators, that's UAW. So every plant I went to has been UAW. So I've been there for 60 some-, since '63 in the union. And but I went over there to Oldsmobile and as an example, if you'd like one, they were pickin' on me over there. I had a supervisor who for some reason didn't like me. I did my job. I did it for over two weeks, not a problem. All of a sudden he yanks me off my job, puts me on this other job that nobody, even the relief men, could not do. Took two people to do it, and he told me I had to do it by myself. Of course, I didn't have my 90 days in, so you know you can't go to the union till you get your 90 days in. And, but somebody got word to the union what was goin' on, and the union did come up and take care of it. So back then, the union was pretty decent, but it got worse as it went, as far as I'm concerned, over there. Over here at Fisher Body, the union I've got right now and the people that's in the union, I love'm to death. I think they are the greatest people we've had 'cause there's been some probly good ones too in the past but I didn't know them. And, um, as far as when I first came here did the union come up and present themselves to me, no they didn't. I had no idea who any of'm were until the committee man finally came up and talked to me so I knew who that was. And he come up and introduced himself. Course, I worked with his wife too, so [laughter] that helped when he come over and introduced himself and let me know who he was. And he ended up bein' our president for a while. And that was Garry Bernath. And the union here so far, I mean, I've had no complaints on our union. I'm union strong, and I always will be and our union has stand behind their people. Doug Rademacher: [15:20] Diane, you just shared a moment ago that... Jerri Smith: Diana. Doug Rademacher: [15:24] Diana, you just shared a moment ago that you've been UAW all your life. You said Gibson's of Greenville, they closed that plant. You've, uh, they just, um, they're still open and building? I thought the UAW was [inaudible 15:42]. Diana Valenta: No, they're – Electrolux is what they are now. And they are closing, but they haven't closed yet [throat clearing]. Doug Rademacher: [15:49] There's a UAW plant closing there. Lansing's closing the Fisher Body. What's your feelings about what's going on and, and the closing of the facilities and, around you that you've worked with all your life? Diana Valenta: Well, in the first place, the reason the, the plant in the Greenville is getting closed is because it's going to Mexico. So you don't really want my honest opinion on that on tape, but I'm tired of NAFTA and CAFTA and all this that's takin' all of our American jobs away from us and sendin' them overseas. And my feelings for Fisher Body, I re-, I really did not want to see it close, but I do understand that we do have to move on and we have to keep up with times whether we like it or not. And I'm one a these people that would rather keep it the way it was. But then they weren't makin' money and they had to do somethin' different to, to get back into the game. So I can understand it, just don't have ta like it. Doug Rademacher: [16:45] What was your most enjoyable moment at Fisher Body? Could you pick one that you remember where either you had an impact on the situation that was rewarding to you or that something happened for or to you that you, uh, remember and hold dear? Diana Valenta: Well actually there's a couple I can think of. One is that's really always stuck in my mind that I thought was wonderful. That's when everybody came together for the Oklahoma bombing. I mean it wasn't just the employee, I mean, s-, it was salary and hourly. I mean everybody came together for that one, and I thought that was just great that they would all work together to do that. 'Cause we all know that management and hourly don't always work so good together. And, but they did for that. They all come together. I mean they, management made sure I got off the line so I could handle it. And they stood behind the whole thing on it for us, all of them. That will always stick in my mind as a memorable time that – and I enjoyed it and it made an impact on me how people will get together, stay together, to help somebody. And which Lansing, especially Fisher Body, I can't, I don't know about Olds so much anymore because it's been years, but Fisher Body has always been a group of people that always, when something happens, they get together, they stand together, and they help people. And it's like a big family. It's not one person or that person, it's everybody. And part of the second thing I remember, I won't go into details about it, but my fellow employees one time, I did not know it, I was not prepared for it, and somehow they found out when my birthday was. They put on one heck of a party for me. And I was in total shock over it that everybody that put in on it and how big of a party it was. But I won't describe the birthday cake 'cause that was embarrassing. But it, it's funny, I never forget it. Michael Fleming: Mike Fleming. [Inaudible 18:40] you're talkin' about that particular party, this, that goes to the culture of Fisher Body. You said how everybody helped each other. You were in Trim as I recall. Diana Valenta: Right. Michael Fleming: [18:53] Fisher Body has this, uh, uh, thing where if you come in and you're new in the department, they don't let you fail. Have you noticed that at all when you start to work on a job, you don't have the job, you may not be able to catch up [inaudible 19:04] or whatever it is. What, what, talk about those times on the line. Diana Valenta: Okay. As far as that, you know, I mean, as you know, everybody probly knows that if you're gonna lose your job, especially to a higher person that's bumpin' ya, I mean, it does upset ya. But, uh, they still stay right there and help that person, train that person so they know how to do that job to the best of their ability. And, and I've had people take me out, and I've always worked with them. I ma-, I've even said, "You know, don't tell them how to do their job but suggest," which is a nice way of doin' it. Could I suggest to you the way I do it that might help you. And I've had a lotta people thank me for that. So, and that's happened to everybody and, that I've worked around that always work with the other person to help'm. Michael Fleming: [19:47] Not just so much the bumping, uh, just when you come in to a new department and that you don't have the job and it doesn't look like you're ever gonna catch up, uh, the co-workers seem to all pitch in in front and behind to, to make sure you don't fall behind. Did, did you experience that [inaudible 20:02]? Diana Valenta: Oh yes. I've experienced that more than once that they're always there, they're always helping to help ya get back up the line or, if there's a part they can put in for ya that you don't quite understand yet, they'll show you the best way to put it in. They're always there to help ya. Doreen Howard: [20:19] Doreen Howard. You have a nickname that was given to you. I'd like to know what is your nickname and how did you get that nickname? Diana Valenta: Well my nickname's Ma, which is very simple. Ma. I don't know how, or I was, it started out with two guys out in Trim. And, uh, I was, uh, walkin' in from lunch one night, and this guy was walkin' with me talkin' ta me. And these other two guys, I had worked with'm. And for some reason, they just started in, "Hey, you better watch how you talk to her, she's our Mom." And that's what started it. And then just more people got into it more. So I'm just known as Ma. Now I got, the only thing I got to say about that is if all, if I was a mother to all these kids, I wish they'd support me so I could retire. [laughter] Jerri Smith: Okay. Jerri Smith [21:09]. Um, were there ever any pranks pulled on you as a new hire and have you ever pulled pranks on people while you've been working here? Diana Valenta: Well there's always been pranks pulled, I think, on different people. And, um, do I pull'm on people, I don't know why you'd even ask me that. You know I wouldn't do that. Well, maybe I would. [laughter] Diana Valenta: But, you know, it's just in the, like the game of playin' with people and workin' with people, it's just like a family, like I said, and we just had, we had fun together plus do our jobs. Jerri Smith: [21:43] So you have pulled pranks on people. Would you like to elaborate and tell us some of them? Diana Valenta: Well about 'bout the one I just did recently with Jerri Smith? I sent her a email [laughter] and it's about her driver's license. And she was thought, she fell for it. Let me tell you people, she fell for it. All the way through, she was fillin' it out, she got to the end, there's a monkey laughin' at her. [laughter] Diana Valenta: You asked, Jerri, you got it. [laughter] Jerri Smith: [22:13] Were there any other pranks you pulled on people in the plant? Diana Valenta: Oh sure. There's lots of'm, but I can't remember them all. I mean, it's been so many years. You gotta remember, this was 20-somethin' years ago that I've been here, so... Jerri Smith: [22:23] Were there any pulled on you when you first came to the plant? Diana Valenta: Oh yeah. Well when I first came, you know, they were pretty good to me 'cause they knew I was, I was new comin' in to this plant, and I was actually a little shy. And I know most a you guys don't believe that, but I was actually shy. [laughter] Diana Valenta: And they took me under their wing and, and they... Jerri Smith: [22:40] Did they pull, the, the, the tur-, the free turkey for the new hires? Diana Valenta: No, they didn't pull that on me 'cause they knew I wasn't a turkey. Was you? Jerri Smith: No. Are there any other questions anybody'd like to ask Diana? Doreen Howard: I'd like to say thank you very much for allowing us to interview you. Diana Valenta: Oh, you're so welcome. Michael Fleming: I'd like to thank you as well, Diana. Jerri Smith: Marilyn? Marilyn Coulter: [23:04] Um, now, what is it that you currently do now? Diana Valenta: I currently work in the Skill Center now. Marilyn Coulter: [23:10] What do you do in the Skill Center? Diana Valenta: I, uh... [coughing] Diana Valenta: ...work on computers, and I help people that has to come in and, and sign'm up for [TAB 23:18] and, uh, we have a library, well we did till we started packin' it up, but we have a library where we rent, let'm take out movies, take out books. Go back on the computers and if they have a problem, we help'm on it. Marilyn Coulter: [23:33] That's considered a non-traditional job that you have? Diana Valenta: Yes. And I'm also known as Betty Crocker, by the way, by Marilyn. Marilyn Coulter: [23:40] And you're known as Betty Crocker because you do what? Diana Valenta: I do a lotta bakin', and I have backed a lotta stuff durin' the years that everybody out on the line eat. I use'm as my guinea pigs, and they said they love it. [laughter] Marilyn Coulter: All right. Thank you. Diana Valenta: You're welcome. /kj