Quirino (Sal) Salazar, a Hispanic American, discusses his career as a production worker and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Cheryl McQuaid: [recorder clicking] [clicking] This is Cheryl McQuaid with the Lansing Fisher Body Historical Team. [clicking] Today is December [clicking] 7th, [tinkling] 2005. It's approximately [background movement] 9:15 [clicking] a.m. [clicking] We're at the [background movement] UAW 602 [clicking] Union Hall, [clicking] um, preparing ta interview Sal Salazar. Um, first we're gonna state everybody else that's in the room. [background conversation] Doreen Howard: Doreen Howard. Marilyn Coulter: Marilyn Coulter. Cheryl McQuaid: [0:27] And Sal, could you state your name and spell your last name for the tape? Quirino Salazar: [background movement] [coughing] Excuse me. [Inaudible 0:35]. [clicking] First name is, uh, Quirino. They call me, uh, Sal, at Fisher Body. And, um, my last name's Salazar. [clicking] It's [clicking] S-A-L-A-Z-A-R. Cheryl McQuaid: [0:48] And how do you spell your first name? Quirino Salazar: My first name is Q-U-I-R-I-N-O. Cheryl McQuaid: [0:53] And what is your address? Quirino Salazar: 3200 North Cedar, [clicking] Lansing, Michigan. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [1:00] And, Sal, do you remember the day you hired in? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: [sniffing] Uh, I hired in, uh, October 15th, 1968. [background movement] Cheryl McQuaid: [coughing] Excuse me. [1:15] Do you [background movement] remember why you wanted to work at Fisher Body? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Well I had just got outta the army and [coughing] I didn't, [knocking] didn't have a job, so [background noises] that was the best place ta get into [coughing]. Everybody was gettin' hired in Fisher Body and Oldsmobile, so [clicking] I applied at both and got hired at Fisher Body. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [tsk] [1:36] Do you remember your first day at Fisher Body? Quirino Salazar: Oh, [clicking] that's a long time. [laughing] [background movement] Yeah, I think I came in, uh, took the physical, and they wanted me ta – well they asked me if I was ready to start work. I said, [tinkling] "Yeah, I'm ready." [clicking] But they told me to come the following day, so di-, you know, [clicking] that's as much as I can remember. But, uh, I know I hired in, [background movement] uh, I went into, uh, [thumping] installing door handles on the, uh, I think it was the [B-line 2:10]. [background conversation] It was, uh – [clicking] they built the, um, [thumping] [clicking] '88s, Toronado and that. [clanking] Yep. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [2:19] So [clicking] what'd you think [background movement] about the job that they gave you, about walking into this place? [background movement] Quirino Salazar: At, at first it's scary, you know. You, you come in here, and everybody's lookin' at you. It's like [clicking] when you go into prison, you know, like they say, "Oh, new meat?" Well that's the way we felt, you know. [background movement] We could hear people [tinkling] sayin', "Hey, new meat, [background movement] new blood," or whatever, you know. [background movement] But it was scary at first, you know. You, you don't know what you're gonna get into. But, uh, like me, I had worked in the fields [scraping] when I was 8 years old, so [thumping] I was used to hard work, and I said, "Well this should be a piece a cake." But when I [clicking] started out, it, it was hard. [clanking] It was really hard, [clanking] you know. [background noises] But I had a good, uh, guy breakin' me in, yep, [clicking] yeah. His name was, uh, [Jose Cortez 3:10]. And [background movement] he, uh – [clicking] 'cause I, I was tryin' to rush everything. I remember I had, I had [background movement] cuts on my arms 'cause you have, [clicking] had to install the door handles and tighten'm down with the [clicking] air tool, [clicking] yeah. [background movement] Cheryl McQuaid: [3:26] So you were reachin' inside the door? Quirino Salazar: Yeah. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [3:28] That was why you got the cuts on your hands? Quirino Salazar: Yep. And in fact most times, I don't think you had protectors or anything, you know. [background movement] And it was hard, like I couldn't keep up. He finally told me to slow down, you know. He, he says, "You have to take it step at a time and, [clicking] and learn, learn the job." [clicking] And from there this – it didn't take me long ta, ta learn it. [knocking] Cheryl McQuaid: [3:50] And how long did you do that job? Quirino Salazar: Jeez, I don't know. [laughing] [background movement] What, I, I was on days [coughing] for the first 90 days [background movement] that I can remember, [clicking] and then I got bumped to nights. [thumping] And [thumping] I think I remember I was doin', uh – I think it was, uh, [background movement] door moldings or somethin' like that [background movement] on the, uh, '98s [clicking] and '88s on nights. Uh, I can't remember how long [background movement] I did that. [clicking] Then after that, I went into, uh, [clicking] [absentee 4:26] replacement, [clicking] was with Utility, yep. [background movement] And heck, I did that for a long time. [clicking] I think most of the time that I was in Fisher Body, I did that. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [4:39] So you said that you went – you were on days for the first 90 days, and then you went to the second shift? Quirino Salazar: Right. Cheryl McQuaid: [4:44] Do you remember the difference between day shift to night shift, if there was a difference? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Uh, well there were – [background movement] night shift there, there was a lotta young kids, [clicking] you know, like me. I was – and day shift there were older guys, you know. Probably low seniority was on nights, yep. [clicking] It was louder. [laughing] Cheryl McQuaid: [5:07] How old were you? Quirino Salazar: Uh, I was 21. Yeah, 21, 22. Cheryl McQuaid: Marilyn [clicking] Coulter. Marilyn Coulter: [5:17] Um, so, uh – do you remember, um, was there any kind of – since you were considered new meat, was there any kind of pranks or initiation-type things that they did, either on the day shift or the night shift, when you first got there? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Uh, I, [background movement] I know, uh, on Thanksgiving there was [always someone 5:38], "Yeah, you gotta go down to the Union Hall to get your free turkey," or somethin', but [background noises] that was only a prank. They never gave you turkeys or anything. [laughter] Yeah. Marilyn Coulter: Okay. [5:46] Um, [clicking] did they – were there any types of jokes or anything that were played [clicking] on the site? [thumping] Things to kinda pass the time? Quirino Salazar: Well [clicking] I used to work this, uh, guy named, uh, [Jim Swayne 6:03]. And me and him, we used to do a lot of pranks, you know, to each other. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: [6:07] So what... Quirino Salazar: Yeah... Marilyn Coulter: ...type of a prank – what, what would be a prank that you two would pull? Quirino Salazar: Well when we were sleepin' on the bench, we usually tape our, uh, feet together, you know, somethin' like that or [laughter] [background movement] a lot of times we put [scraping] stuff in our lunch buckets and, yeah. We used to do a lot of stuff. [laughter] [clicking] But, yeah, you had to do somethin' just ta pass the time, time a day, you know. Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: Make the [clicking] time go faster. Cheryl McQuaid: Cheryl McQuaid. [6:35] Sal, I forgot to [background movement] ask you, are you married? Do you have children? [thumping] Quirino Salazar: I'm married, yes. I got 3 children, yeah. [background movement] I got, uh... Cheryl McQuaid: Does... Quirino Salazar: ...2 boys and a girl. Cheryl McQuaid: [6:44] Does any of your other family work at the plant? [background movement] Quirino Salazar: Uh, yep. My son works at the, uh, Cadillac [clicking] plant at, uh, at [clicking] Grand River [clicking] Assembly Plant. Yeah, and he's a team leader [clicking] out there. Yeah, when I retired, he got hired in, so, [clicking] you know, that worked out pretty good, [thumping] yeah. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [7:04] And you said you were raised on a farm? Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Yep. Cheryl McQuaid: [7:08] So your parents were farmers? [background noises] Quirino Salazar: No. My, uh, dad was a boss. He was, uh, [thumping] for the, uh, farm there, yeah. We used to weed onions and carrots and all that stuff, yeah. [background noises] Cheryl McQuaid: Doreen [clicking] Howard. [thumping] Doreen Howard: Um, on your bio sheet it says that you were born in San Antonio, Texas. How... Quirino Salazar: Yes. Doreen Howard: [7:32] ...how long did you live there before you came to this area? [background movement] Quirino Salazar: Well I think I was, uh, [clicking] 6 years old when we came down ta Michigan State for good. [scraping] Doreen Howard: Okay. Quirino Salazar: That's as far as I can remember 'cause we used ta, [thumping] you know, we were like, uh, immigrants. We... Doreen Howard: Mi-... Quirino Salazar: ...used ta... Doreen Howard: ...like migrant workers... Quirino Salazar: ...migrant workers... Doreen Howard: ...for the s-... Quirino Salazar: ...come... Doreen Howard: ...summer? Quirino Salazar: ...come down during the summer and work and then go back. Yep. Doreen Howard: Okay. So, um, [tsk] like you said, you were, um, used ta hard labor. Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Doreen Howard: [8:03] And when you came [background movement] into the factory, [background movement] um, you thought that it was, um, the work was just as hard [clicking] or, um, it's just that it was different or, to you, [clicking] or – what was the comparison [clicking] to doing the manual labor that you did in the fields? Quirino Salazar: Well once I got used to, uh, [background movement] workin' [background movement] at the factory, [clicking] it was a lot easy [scraping] for me, [thumping] you know. It was [creaking] easy or simple. You know, you'd learn the job and that was it. [clicking] [thumping] You'd do it day in, day out. [thumping] You didn't have to be in the sun or anything. [background movement] So yeah, it was easy for me, [clicking] yep. Cheryl McQuaid: Marilyn Coulter. Marilyn Coulter: [8:41] Um, [clicking] now, Sal, how long have [clicking] you been a resident of Lansing? Quirino Salazar: Oh, since '78. Marilyn Coulter: Since '78. [background movement] Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Marilyn Coulter: Okay. [8:50] So you – [clicking] your job br-, brought you to Lansing to live? Quirino Salazar: Yeah. [background noises] Marilyn Coulter: Okay. Quirino Salazar: Yeah. I used to live in, uh, Stanton. [thumping] [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: Hm. Quirino Salazar: I grew up in, uh, Sheridan, [background conversation] and, uh, [clicking] then when I got married, uh, we moved to Stanton. [thumping] Uh, we were there, I don't know, maybe a couple a years. [background noises] 'Cause I had to drive from Stanton all the way ta... Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: ...Lansing. [thumping] Marilyn Coulter: Hm. Quirino Salazar: Which was almost 60-some miles every day. [background movement] Cheryl McQuaid: [9:19] Did you ever carpool? Quirino Salazar: Yeah, yeah. Cheryl McQuaid: [9:23] What did you think about that? [clicking] [thumping] Quirino Salazar: That was, it was all right 'cause my brother-in-laws, they all work here at Fisher Body, and [clicking] we all drove together. Yeah. Cheryl McQuaid: Mm-hm. Marilyn Coulter. Marilyn Coulter: [9:35] So how many brother-in-laws do you have? How many – how much family do you have working [thumping] [clicking] at Fisher Body? Quirino Salazar: [laughing] [clicking] Well let's see. Uh, I had, uh, 7 – [thumping] there were 7 brothers that worked there at Fisher [clicking] Body. And, uh, brother-in-laws, I think there was 3 of'm. [background conversation] And then I had 2 that work at Oldsmobile. [background conversation] Let's see, my sister-in-law and my nephew [clicking] work at Fisher, [background movement] and I got another nephew that works at Olds, [clicking] [thumping] and then I got a few cousins that work here at Fisher [clicking] and some more at Oldsmobile, so yeah, [clanking] we're – I, I can't [thumping] count'm. There's a lot of'm... Marilyn Coulter: [10:22] So you're a true GM family, huh? Quirino Salazar: Right, yeah. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [10:26] What kind of vehicles do you drive? Quirino Salazar: Well I got a Suburban, [background movement] yep. Hm, and, uh, my [scraping] daughter got a Grand Am. [scraping] My younger son's got a S-10. [clicking] Yeah, we all drive, [background movement] we drive, uh, GM. [clicking] [background conversation] [thumping] Female: [Inaudible 10:47]... Cheryl McQuaid: Doreen Howard. Doreen Howard: Um, [tsk] you have a very large extended family that work here. [10:58] Um, did they all come in around the same time that, that you were hired in or did they, um – and [thumping] obviously some of'm hired in after the fact, but as far as your brothers, who are su-, I assume close in your, your age – did they hire in around the same time that you did? Quirino Salazar: Well I think, [clicking] uh, I think there was 5 of'm that got hired before I did. Doreen Howard: [11:20] Before you did? Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Let's see, 5, 6, yeah, 'cause I was the 6th one hired in, yeah. Doreen Howard: Mm-hm. [11:29] Um, the other question that I have [background movement] is, um, [clicking] as a Hispanic, when you first came in to Fisher Body, was there a lot of other Hispanics already working for, for the company or were you, um, and your other family members, [scraping] um, [clicking] being brought in, [thumping] um, [thumping] because you were [thumping] of Hispanic descent? [background movement] Quirino Salazar: Well when I hired in, there was quite a few, yeah, [clicking]. Yep, there were... Doreen Howard: [Inaudible 12:02]... Quirino Salazar: ...quite a few, yeah. [clicking] Doreen Howard: [Mm-hm 12:04]... Quirino Salazar: I know when I – there in that, uh, one area when I hired in, there was a lot of'm. [clicking] Yeah, maybe 5 or 6 of'm right there in that one area, yeah. Doreen Howard: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: 'Cause I, I hired in in Trim, so you know, [clicking] there was a lot of'm, yeah. Doreen Howard: [Hm 12:21]... Quirino Salazar: And my brother-in-laws were already in here. My brothers were already in here, yeah. [clicking] There was quite a few, [clicking] yeah. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: Marilyn Coulter. Marilyn Coulter: [12:28] So [background movement] um, [clicking] when you hired in here, did you primarily hear about it from your brothers? Did one brother [clicking] like tell another brother they're hiring or how did you find out about the work here? [background conversation] Quirino Salazar: Well my older brother got hired in, and... [clicking] Quirino Salazar: ...you know, he, he was doin' good, so... [thumping] Marilyn Coulter: [Hm 12:46]... Quirino Salazar: ...you know it's – [thumping] then, uh, my other brother got hired in. They were all doing good, so I, [clicking] I said, "Well I think that's the place for me to work." [clicking] But I, I, I was working, uh – [background movement] when I graduated, I started out in the cafeteria. [background conversation] Yep, I worked [clicking] in, uh, you know, washing dishes, [clicking] pots and pans, you know. I started from the bottom. Marilyn Coulter: [13:10] So you worked in the cafeteria in... [background movement] Quirino Salazar: At Fisher, yeah... Marilyn Coulter: ...at Fisher Body? Quirino Salazar: ...yep. Cheryl McQuaid: [13:14] Is that when the cafeteria was in the basement? [thumping] Quirino Salazar: No. It was up... Cheryl McQuaid: It was upstairs... Quirino Salazar: ...stairs, yeah. Cheryl McQuaid: ...then? Marilyn Coulter: [13:20] And how long did you do that? Quirino Salazar: About a year. Marilyn Coulter: Okay. [13:24] So as working in the cafeteria, what were your responsi-, you, you, all you did was wash dishes there? That was it? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: No, I pushed the wagon... Marilyn Coulter: And what was the wa-... Quirino Salazar: ...so, uh, [thumping] what was the wagon? Marilyn Coulter: [13:35] Yeah, what [thumping] was the wagon? [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Okay. The wagon, we, uh, used to sell coffee, donuts, [clicking] sandwiches and everything to the workers. Marilyn Coulter: [13:42] So [background movement] what did [background movement] the wagon mean to you when you became a worker? Quirino Salazar: It was like a break. Well it was a, a break, [clicking] and I do – [background movement] you see the wagon coming, you were ready for [thumping] break. Go get a coffee [thumping] and sit down, you know. [thumping] I think it was [thumping] 6-minute break or somethin' like that. Marilyn Coulter: Hm. Quirino Salazar: Can't remember what [clicking] it was. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: [14:06] Now was it somethin' that came up just in the morning or morning and afternoon? Quirino Salazar: I, I think it was, uh, once in the morning and one in the afternoon. Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. [14:14] And did you – I bet you never had an idea of what that wagon meant when you were, when you were out there servin' folks, did you? Quirino Salazar: No. For me as a worker, it's, [thumping] it was just somethin' I had to do. [thumping] But it was hard 'cause I had to push [background movement] the wagon, you know... Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. [thumping] Quirino Salazar: ...but, hey, [thumping] you know. You met a lotta guys, you know, that were workin' on the line. Marilyn Coulter: [14:36] Now because [clicking] you had already worked in the cafeteria, [clicking] did that make [tinkling] the transition for you on the line, um, easier? Did you see people that you had already known that you might've seen when you worked in the cafeteria? Did that make it easier for you [thumping] or just the fact that you already had family here? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Well I think it made it easier 'cause I knew a lotta the guys already, [clicking] yeah. You know, you, maybe like, uh – [background movement] [clicking] they were like fathers to me, you know. Marilyn Coulter: [Inaudible 15:00]. Quirino Salazar: You know, they took me [clicking] under their wings and that, so yeah. It, it made it a lot easier, [clicking], yeah... Marilyn Coulter: So and then... Quirino Salazar: ...'cause I knew, I knew [clicking] the way around at, [thumping] you know. [clicking] I could see the workers every time, you know, I, I'd [check'm out 15:14], [clicking] yeah. Marilyn Coulter: Okay. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [15:17] What did you think of the workers when you brought the wagon down? Did you [clicking] know that you were [background noises] as much of a relief to [thumping] them as you were? [background noises] Quirino Salazar: Uh, uh, I don't know of what I meant to'm, but I know they, they enjoyed the, [clicking] the wagon, the coffee and the donuts and all that, and then, you know. There were some that are, you know, they're – you're gonna find some [thumping] that are always playin' jokes on you and all that stuff, but I don't know. I think, uh, yeah, they, they kinda enjoyed the wagon, yeah, yep. I think everybody looked forward to it. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [15:52] What kinda jokes were played on you? [background movement] Quirino Salazar: Uh, they, you know, sometimes they, they come behind and poke you or somethin', yeah. [laughter] [thumping] Yeah, I guess everybody used to do that, uh, on the line... Female: [Hm 16:05]. Quirino Salazar: ...yeah. But, uh... [background noises] Cheryl McQuaid: Did... Quirino Salazar: ...uh, they, they used ta whistle, you know, like when you're going down the [background movement] aisle and, uh, all that stuff, yeah. [clanking] Cheryl McQuaid: [16:17] Did any of your brothers give you any pointers on [clicking] how to, [clicking] how to get along in the factory when you [clicking] were finally hired in? [background noises] Quirino Salazar: N-, [background movement] I don't think they ever did. And you know, 'cause, uh, [background movement] when I hired in, uh, [clicking] they were mostly in the Body Shop. And then my other – one of my brothers that was in, uh, Trim, he was, uh, in the army when I [background movement] got hired in. [knocking] He got drafted, yep. [clicking] So re-, really I – they just told me just [clanking] do the work and, you know. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [Inaudible 16:58] [16:59] Did you ever serve any military time? Quirino Salazar: Yeah. I did, uh, 2 years regular army and then 20 years in, uh, national guards [background conversation], yep. [clicking] Yep, but I got, uh, [clicking] I got drafted before I got hired in, [clicking] [background movement] and I, [clicking] I was in the cafeteria when I got drafted, yeah. [background movement] Cheryl McQuaid: [17:20] And did you ever see any layoffs or were you involved in any strikes? Quirino Salazar: Well I think, uh, we were – I don't know how many strikes. [clanking] But yeah, we were on strike for quite a while [thumping] at one time. I can't remember what year it was. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [17:37] Do you remember what you were on strike for? Quirino Salazar: Jeez. [clicking] That's a good one. I can't [laughter] – [clicking] I think it was, uh... [clicking] [background conversation] [thumping] Marilyn Coulter: [It was, uh 17:50]... Quirino Salazar: ...no, I don't think... Marilyn Coulter: ...[inaudible 17:52]... Quirino Salazar: ...it [clicking] was – I [scraping] think it was, uh, [clicking] pay. [clicking] I think that was a pay issue and, uh, [clicking] working conditions I think it – [background conversation] uh, it was... [clanking] Marilyn Coulter: So... Quirino Salazar: ...a way back, [clicking] yeah. Marilyn Coulter: [18:05]...health and safety issues? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Yeah, I think [clanking] so. [background movement] Cheryl McQuaid: [18:08] And what about layoffs? Did – were you ever laid [clicking] off? Quirino Salazar: Yeah, I was laid off for, uh, 3 months. [clanking] I think, uh, [inaudible 18:15] [clicking]. Yeah, they, they cut, [clicking] cut back quite a bit, so [background movement] they sent me on nights. [clanking] And I think I had about 10 years' seniority, somethin' like that, maybe [clanking] less. [clicking] And I figured well I [inaudible 18:30], [scratching] you know, [thumping] I probably won't get laid off. [thumping] Well I got laid off. I was laid off for 3 months. Cheryl McQuaid: [18:37] And what was that like [clanking] for... Female: [Mm-hm 18:39]... Cheryl McQuaid: ...the family? [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Well [clicking] it wasn't too bad 'cause we were gettin', uh, SUB pay in that, at that time. [clicking] [background conversation] And, uh, [background conversation] that wasn't really bad for me 'cause I only, [clanking] only had 1, 1 kid. [clicking] And, [clanking] you know, it wasn't really [background movement] bad 'cause I, [thumping] I spent a lot of time in Texas. [clicking] [laughter] I was on vacation, [laughter] so it wasn't really bad, [thumping] yeah. Cheryl McQuaid: When you hired in in '68, I'm sure you've noticed a big change in the working conditions at the plant [clicking] from the time you hired in to the time you retired. [19:22] Could you explain maybe some of those to us? [background movement] Quirino Salazar: Well let's see. [scratching] When I first hired in, uh, it was dirty. [clicking] You know, the floors, [scraping] they – [thumping] once in a while they swept'm. [clicking] You know, you'd, [clanking] you'd drop a screw, and it stayed there [clanking] for 2 or 3 days. [clicking] Uh, but right now the, [clicking] you know, [thumping] they had, uh, [background movement] groups where, you know, you, you'd give'm time off so they could sweep the floors [clicking] and all that. It was, [thumping] it was really clean. [thumping] I noticed the, uh, [thumping] [clanking] a lot of the, uh, [clanking] tools were real heavy and that, so you know, there were – [background movement] they made'm [clicking] more workers friendly as you [background noises] would say, you know, a lot easier to handle. [thumping] Uh, [thumping] if you needed anything, n-, uh, uh, back at that time, it was hard to get it. You'd probably have to go to the, uh, [thumping] committee or, or, or, [thumping] what is that, your, uh, [thumping] committee man [clanking] just to get somethin' done. Now you can go up to the foreman. You ask'm for somethin', you know, and they'll, they'll do it for you, you know, just to make your job easier, yeah. [thumping] But yeah... Cheryl McQuaid: And you had mentioned that you didn't have a lot of protective equipment. [clanking] Quirino Salazar: No, no. Cheryl McQuaid: [20:43] Did you notice a change in that? Quirino Salazar: Yeah, yep, [clicking] 'cause [clicking] they'd give us gloves and sleeves, [clicking] aprons. [scratching] Back then you didn't have nothin'. Probably [clicking] ju-, maybe an [thumping] apron to carry your screws and bolts or whatever. Yeah, but it was, it was hard, [clicking] yep. [creaking] [thumping] Cheryl McQuaid: Marilyn Coulter. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: [21:06] Um, did you have to have protective eyewear back then in 1968? [tinkling] Quirino Salazar: Yeah... Marilyn Coulter: [21:14] So that was... Quirino Salazar: ...we did... Marilyn Coulter: ...the only protection that you did have was... Quirino Salazar: N-, n-... Marilyn Coulter: ...for your eyes? Quirino Salazar: Yep. Marilyn Coulter: Um, [clicking] were there – there were other Latinos there. [21:23] Were there other minorities and/or women in Trim Shop when you hired in? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Yeah, [background movement] yep, there were. Marilyn Coulter: [21:31] [There was quite a bit? 21:31] Quirino Salazar: When I hired in, [clicking] there was a, a girl that hired in with me, yeah. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: Mm. [21:36] How had that changed during your time of '68 to [background movement] when you, when you left, [clicking] retired [rather 21:47]? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: You mean, uh, hiring, uh, minority... Marilyn Coulter: Did... Quirino Salazar: ...or what? [thumping] Marilyn Coulter: [21:52]...did the, did the demographics [thumping] change? [thumping] Did, did it seem like they hired more or did it pretty much seem the same or less? What would you [clicking] say? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: I think they hired more. Marilyn Coulter: Feel like they... Quirino Salazar: Yeah... Marilyn Coulter: ...hired more? Quirino Salazar: ...'cause now there're [thumping] Blacks, uh, Orientals, Hispanics. [background movement] There's all kinds in there now. Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. [clicking] Quirino Salazar: You know, there's a lotta different races... Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: ...in there. Yep. Marilyn Coulter: [22:15] Um, [clicking] were, were those people represented when you hired in in '68? [clanking] Quirino Salazar: Um, there was, there was a lot of Hispanics and, uh, [clicking] and Blacks when I hired in, but I didn't see any Orientals. Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. [clicking] Quirino Salazar: But now all that changed. You know, there, [background movement] you know, [clicking] there's a lot of'm... Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: ...different kinds, yeah. But they were all [background noises] good workers, [clicking] you know. [background noises] Marilyn Coulter: Um, so you came in when it was Fisher Body, and you [clanking] left when it was LCA. [22:46] How did that change to – wh-, what is it to you? Is it Fisher [scraping] Body? Is it LCA? And how did you feel about [thumping] the changes? [clicking] [clanking] Quirino Salazar: Hm, at first I, I couldn't get used to it, you know, 'cause [background movement] Fisher Body was always Fisher Body. [background movement] And then, [clicking] then it was LCA, then, [clicking] well – [that, it 23:07] changed about 3 or 4 times. [clicking] And I could always, you know, [clicking] they always asked me, "Where do [clicking] you work?" I said, "Fisher Body." [clicking] Yeah, you know, that's the main, [thumping] main name for this plant. [clicking] It was Fisher Body. [clicking] And it's hard to get used to it. [background movement] Marilyn Coulter: As the names changed, so did [clicking] some of the theories and the practices, and, um, changed. [23:34] What are some of the, the different types of changes with employees and supervision did you see over the years? [background conversation] [clicking] Quirino Salazar: [throat clearing] Well I, [clanking] I, uh, I noticed, uh, [clanking] there was more input from the employees [clanking] towards the end. You know, there was a lotta – [clicking] they went into [thumping] a team build and, [thumping] and, uh, they had [clicking] groups [clicking] that worked together. But [clicking] when I hired in, uh, everybody was separate, [clicking] you know. You, [creaking] you work on your own [creaking] [thumping] [clicking] [inaudible 24:10]. [I know 24:12] there was no communication between the workers [inaudible 25:15] or the foremans and the management. [clicking] Now there's more communication between all of'm, [background movement] yeah. Marilyn Coulter: [24:25] Do you think that – [throat clearing] did that [clicking] help to make it a better place to work and better quality [clicking] vehicle? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Uh-huh, yeah, I think it did, [clicking] yep. Yeah, 'cause you knew, you know, we, we used – while I was a team leader, always was, uh, [background movement] in, uh, the group. [background movement] When they first came out, I was [clicking] a group leader or whatever they [clicking] call'm, an EPG [clicking] leader or [inaudible 24:52] participation leader [clicking] [or whatever 24:54] group. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: The employee [clicking] participation group leader? [clanking] Quirino Salazar: Yeah, there you go. And [clicking] they used to – we used to have meetings once a week, and then, uh, we relayed that to the team. [clicking] [background conversation] And they would tell us, you know, what was wrong with the, uh, [background movement] [clanking] you know, [inaudible 25:10] comin' outta your department, [thumping] you know, like repair or anything [clicking] and how many cars you used to [thumping] build a day and [clicking] all that. You'd take it back to the group, and you, [thumping] [clanking] you know, have meetings with'm and [clicking] let'm know, you know, what was goin' on, [what – they were gettin' 25:27] [thumping] a repair. [clicking] So you know, it, it would, [thumping] uh, let'm know if they were doin' a good job or not, [clicking] you know. Marilyn Coulter: [25:35] Um, how did – [clicking] as the names changed, how did the supervisory – how did supervision change? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Hm. [clicking] [throat clearing] Marilyn Coulter: Or was there a change? Quirino Salazar: Or what? Marilyn Coulter: Or was there a change? [clanking] Quirino Salazar: Uh, [clicking] I think there w-, there was a change in supervision. Uh, it was like, you know, like the employees, a lot of'm didn't like it, [background movement] and I guess management didn't like it either, [background movement] you know, [thumping] 'cause it was givin'm – we were gettin' more input. [background movement] The employees were gettin' [thumping] more input in, [background movement] in how the jobs are set up, and they kinda [clicking] didn't like that. [clicking] [background conversation] You know, they were used to [hey 26:19], you do the job [thumping] and you do [clicking] it this way, you know. Well now, [background movement] [thumping] you know, if you can find a better way to [clicking] do it, they'll listen to you. Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: Like [clicking] before, no, [scraping] you do it this way, [thumping] you know. [thumping] They were set in their, [thumping] you know, you do it one way, and that's the way it's supposed to be done. Now, you know, it's different. [background noises] Marilyn Coulter: Now towards the end before [clanking] you retired, they went from having [clanking] supervisors who came up through rank and file to having [clicking] what was called contract supervisors from the outside. [clicking] [26:50] Did you find a big change between the two of [clicking] them? Quirino Salazar: Hm, [clicking] uh, I don't think I did. Marilyn Coulter: Okay. But you ha-, you didn't? Okay. [background movement] Quirino Salazar: No. [clanking] I know, uh, [background conversation] [thumping] uh, there at the end when I retired, uh, there was, [clicking] there was a lot of the, [clicking] uh, team le-, uh, [clanking] team leaders... Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. [clicking] [thumping] Quirino Salazar: ...that, uh, [thumping] actually ran the line. [clanking] 'Cause we used to [inaudible 27:25] we need you, you know, we'll call, [thumping] we'll call you, you know, if there's a problem, [clicking] [they said 27:32]. But other than that, just stay in your office. [thumping] We'll take care of, of the line, you take care of the business stuff, [clicking] so. [clanking] And it worked out pretty good [clicking] 'cause I had pretty good bosses, [background movement] you know. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [Inaudible 27:43]. Doreen Howard. Doreen Howard: [tsk] [clicking] Um, over your [clanking] time here, um, [clicking] I'd like to know how has the quality [background movement] change, um – [clicking] Fisher Body was known as the capital of quality. [clicking] [28:00] Um, and what, what do you think [clicking] is the reasons for [clicking] that? Quirino Salazar: Hm. [thumping] Well I, [background movement] [clanking] I think it's 'cause, uh, [clanking] a lot of the older workers already knew what to do. [background movement] You know, they had a lotta seniority [background movement] and [clicking] year in, year out we used to build a lotta quality cars here. [clicking] You know, they, they were hot, hot items, you know. You know, like the F-85s and, you know, the muscle cars, the [4-4-2s 28:44], [clicking] the Toronados. And they were all great cars, you know. They were [background movement] high-quality cars. [sniffing] Doreen Howard: [28:55] And did that quality change [clicking] over time in any way? Quirino Salazar: Well I think towards the end it started gettin' even better, [clicking] you know, the – 'cause [thumping] the parts were comin' in better, [clicking] and they fit better, you know, uh. And [background movement] I know there's, uh, [clicking] more training, [clanking] you know, before you, [clicking] before, uh, [background movement] you used to have changeover. [clicking] You know, they, they'd kick you out for 2 weeks and they'd [clicking] bring you in and you learned right, right on the job, you know. Now they bring you in [thumping] and you do [clicking] offsite, [clicking] you know, uh, on a new model, and you – [clicking] they give you the parts on that, and [thumping] you practice [thumping] before you go on, uh, [thumping] out on the line. So you know, [clicking] you're gonna get better quality, yeah. [background noises] Yeah, see – I'd seen that [background movement] change quite a bit, yeah. [background noises] You do a lot of schooling [background noises] before you go into the plant and, [background noises] and do the actual work on the line, yeah. Doreen Howard: [Mm-hm 29:58]. [thumping] Cheryl McQuaid: Cheryl McQuaid. [thumping] Sal, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna ask you to think back ta a typical day when you first hired in. [30:06] How far was it [background movement] from your job to the parking lot, from your job to the [tank lot 30:10]? [thumping] [clicking] Um, what did you have to do to prepare [clicking] to get ready [clicking] to do your job? [thumping] Do you – [thumping] can you remember any of that stuff? [background noises] Quirino Salazar: [Inaudible 30:20] [laughter] [clicking] Well I knew, uh, they had a time clock [background noises] you had ta, that you had to [background movement] time in, [coughing] [thumping] and then you have, uh, I think it was 6 minutes, 6 minutes, uh, [background movement] si-, it was 6, 6 minutes before the line went... Female: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: ...before you punched out. [thumping] That was, uh, [clicking] wash-up time. [clicking] But, uh, [background movement] toward the parking lot, I think I was pretty far 'cause I used to work way on one end [clicking] and then [clicking] had to walk all the way across. [clicking] But, uh, a typical day I think [clanking] when I first hired in, it, it was – heck, we used to work 10, 10 ½ hours I think it was. [clicking] A lot of times I, [background movement] we, uh, [clicking] we'd get here [thumping] 'cause I, when I was on nights I remember [background movement] I got here, and the guys were still workin', [background movement] uh, the line was still runnin'. [thumping] Then they stopped for 6 minutes, [clicking] and we'd jump in, and the l-, line kept runnin'. [clicking] It was only 6 minutes' difference. [thumping] And we ran for 10 ½, [scratching] 11 hours [clicking] every day. [background noises] Hm, it was tough. [laughter] [background movement] Cheryl McQuaid: Doreen Howard. Doreen Howard: Um, [tsk] [thumping] you talked about, uh, punching a card [thumping] to... Quirino Salazar: Mm-hm. Doreen Howard: ...to come in and out of work. [31:48] [clicking] You had a physical time punch card in the beginning, [clicking] um, versus [clicking] what type of system [thumping] did they have later on? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Yeah. It was a [thumping] regular time card [clicking] with a clock. You punched it in. [thumping] Doreen Howard: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: And, [thumping] [clicking] and they get the [inaudible 32:08] was just a card that you [clicking] do it through the gate, and that was it, [clicking] yeah. Doreen Howard: [32:14] Like an electronic [clicking] type... Quirino Salazar: Electronic, yeah... Doreen Howard: ...of system? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: ...yeah. [background noises] Doreen Howard: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: Actually I think I still got my old [thumping] one. [laughter] Doreen Howard: Um, [laughter] and you talked about something called [clicking] wash-up time. [clicking] [32:25] Um, what, what was that, and why did you [background movement] get that, and, [thumping] um, explain a little bit about what you mean by wash-up [thumping] time. Quirino Salazar: I think the, uh, [contract 32:36] calls for a 6-minute wash-up time that [background movement] they'd give you [thumping] so you could wash up before you punch out. [clicking] I think that's what it was. [clicking] Doreen Howard: [32:46] So that was a contractual issue that... Quirino Salazar: Right... Doreen Howard: ...at the end [clanking] of the shift that [clicking] everyone – [clicking] the line shut down, and you were able to go and clean up? Quirino Salazar: Mm-hm. Doreen Howard: Okay. [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Yep. Doreen Howard: [32:58] And did – [clicking] how long did that continue for? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Mm. [laughter] [background movement] [thumping] Uh, [thumping] I can't remember when it stopped. [clicking] Doreen Howard: Hm. [thumping] [Inaudible 33:13]... Quirino Salazar: It was, I don't know. [background movement] Was it 10 years, '68 [inaudible 33:18], '78, '79? Maybe longer. I can't really remember. [background movement] Doreen Howard: [33:25] Bef-... Quirino Salazar: Yeah... Doreen Howard: ...before the, probably before the '80s? [background noises] Quirino Salazar: Yeah, [clicking] [I think so 33:28]. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: Cheryl McQuaid. [sniffing] [33:31] Sal, do you remember what a typical lunch was? What you did? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: For me, lunchtime was, you know, I had my own lunch. I never went up to the cafeteria or anything. And [creaking] all I did was just [background movement] sat around and read the paper, [thumping] [clanking] yeah. That was my – [clicking] I never went out of the area. [clicking] But, uh, [clicking] once in a while we'd play cards, [sniffing] but a lotta times I [clicking] read the paper, [clicking] yep. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [34:01] What kind of cards did you play? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Uh, euchre. Cheryl McQuaid: Euchre? Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Cheryl McQuaid: [34:07] Did you ever play any of the [check 34:08] pools or football pools or... Quirino Salazar: Oh that was a big thing, yeah. [thumping] Football pools, yep. Cheryl McQuaid: [34:15] You enjoyed the football pools? Quirino Salazar: Yeah. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [34:17] Were those big money? [clanking] Quirino Salazar: [No 34:20] [thumping] but the Super Bowl is pretty big money, [background noises] but other than that it was, uh, just regular, yeah. Not too much. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [34:31] Do you have – [background movement] if one of the grandkids said, "What was it like to work in the plant? Do you have a favorite mem-, [background movement] memory?" [clicking] What would you tell them? [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Hm. That's a good one. [thumping] [laughter] [clicking] Uh, what would I tell'm? [thumping] Cheryl McQuaid: [34:51] Or maybe do you have a favorite supervisor, a favorite partner, co-worker... Quirino Salazar: Hm, [background movement] uh, the one, uh, the one that I worked most was, uh, Jim Swayne. They used to call him cowboy. Uh, [clicking] me and him, we, [clicking] we set up this one, uh, [clicking] one game that we used to do. We found, uh, [thumping] the crank for the windows with a [stem 35:22] stickin' out, [thumping] and we'd found some rubber donuts like I think from the Body Shop or some place or, [background movement] or Paint Department. [clicking] And we used to play ringers all day. That's [laughter] what we used to just pan-, spend the time. [clicking] We'd do one job, [clicking] see how many ringers we could get. Cheryl McQuaid: [35:43] Throw the donuts and try to hit the crank... Quirino Salazar: Yeah. [background movement] Cheryl McQuaid: ...or... Quirino Salazar: Yeah. There was a [stem 35:45] on there like [clicking] horseshoes, you know. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: Oh. Quirino Salazar: Ringers, yeah. [clicking] [background conversation] And we played that quite a... Cheryl McQuaid: Hm. Quirino Salazar: ...just about all day, yep. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [35:53] In between cars, whenever... Quirino Salazar: Yep. Cheryl McQuaid: ...the line broke down, that type a thing? [background movement] Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Mm-hm. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: [36:01] Do you remember any, [thumping] um – [thumping] what type of music [thumping] was in the plant? [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Music. [background conversation] [clanking] [thumping] There was a lotta [clicking] country western. [background conversation] [clicking] Uh, when I was on, when I was on nights, there was a lotta rock, loud, [background movement] you know, young kids. [background conversation] [laughter] They, they used to [clicking] really crank it up real loud. [clanking] Yeah, but, yeah, you'd find all kinds of music, yeah. [thumping] A lotta music, yeah. Cheryl McQuaid: [36:30] Do you remember any radio [thumping] wars? [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Hm, when I was on nights, yeah, yep. I know a lotta, lotta [coughing] people would complain, you know, their [clicking] radios were too loud or somethin', [clicking] yeah, yep. I remember those, [clanking] yep. Cheryl McQuaid: Marilyn Coulter. Marilyn Coulter: Um, Sal, I know you have kids, [background movement] and you have a lot of family here. [36:54] Do you remember [clicking] at the holiday time purchasing things from employees [clicking] that may have made items? Did you purchase any of those types of items? Did you sell any of those [thumping] types of items? Quirino Salazar: Hm. I can't remember if I did or not. Marilyn Coulter: Ah. [sniffing] Quirino Salazar: But I, I n-, well I think, uh, [thumping] was it that rock candy and the [clicking] peanut brittle. I used to buy some of that and take it home. [background conversation] [thumping] Marilyn Coulter: Okay. [clanking] Quirino Salazar: Yeah, yeah. [background noises] Female: [Okay 37:25]. Marilyn Coulter: [37:25] Now were you ever [clicking] active in your union? Did you go to union meetings? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Just when I had to vote. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: Just when... Quirino Salazar: Yeah. I don't think I ever did. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: [37:38] Did you attend any of the union picnics? Were you ever at any of [clicking] the union sports teams or anything like that? Quirino Salazar: Yeah, yep. We played, uh, softball, [thumping] yep. We were on the softball team, yeah. Marilyn Coulter: Hm. [37:54] Now I know for a fact that you also were involved in [clicking] a bowling league, yes? [clanking] Quirino Salazar: Yes. Marilyn Coulter: [38:02] And [laughter] [clicking] that was – that [clicking] basically consis-, your team was primarily, um, your family, wasn't it? Quirino Salazar: Yeah, yep. Most of'm, yeah. [clicking] I think I had my son, my brother-in-law, [clicking] and nephew, yeah. [background movement] Yeah, we bowled at the 602 [clicking] league. [background movement] Marilyn Coulter: [38:26] How long had, [clicking] did you, had you [clicking] done that? Quirino Salazar: Well in the, in the league, yeah, the 602 league, I think we did it for about 10 years. Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. [clanking] Quirino Salazar: Yeah. And finally it broke up 'cause [thumping] a lot of the teams were droppin' off, yeah. Marilyn Coulter: [38:40] How many of your members have [thumping] rings? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Hm, I think – [clicking] let's see, my brother's got one. [clicking] Uh, I think he's [clanking] got two or three 300 rings. My son's got 2 of'm, and I got 1 of'm. And I think that's about it. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: [39:04] So oftentimes you were one of the teams to beat, yes? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Yes. [laughter] [thumping] Cheryl McQuaid: Cheryl McQuaid. I'm sorry, I didn't understand the question. [thumping] [39:12] What are, what are the rings? [thumping] Quirino Salazar: There's, uh – you get a ring for a 300 [thumping] game, which is a perfect game, [clicking] 12 strikes in 1 game. Cheryl McQuaid: Oh, very impressive. Quirino Salazar: Then you get – you can get one for, uh, 299, 298, [background conversation] and then you can get one for 800 series, [background conversation] yep. [background conversation] Female: Hm. Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Finally, [background conversation] finally hit mine last year, so... [background conversation] Female: Hm. Quirino Salazar: ...that took [about 3 39:36] years of bowling. [laughter] Marilyn Coulter: [Inaudible 39:40]... [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Marilyn Coulter: ...[inaudible 39:41]. [39:42] Um, [background conversation] what would you say was your most appreciated benefit that was bargained for you? [thumping] [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Hm, I think that [inaudible 39:56] I think [clanking] was the best. Of course, [tinkling] the, uh, [clicking] cost of living was pretty good, [background movement] and then the – [clicking] [inaudible 40:06] the health [background movement] insurance. Uh, that was a big item there, [clicking] you know. Before you had to pay outta your pocket, and now everything [clicking] was free, yep, [clicking] yep. [clicking] So yeah, [clicking] that was about the biggest item there. Now they're tryin' ta take it away from us. Female: Hm. Quirino Salazar: That's what I hear or we have to go, have to pay for it, so, [clicking] uh. I guess you gotta give somethin' back I guess. I don't know. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: Doreen Howard. Doreen Howard: [40:40] [tsk] Um, was anyone [thumping] in your family or your family's, [clicking] um, extended children able to take advantage of the TAP program? [clicking] The tuition assistance that, that... Quirino Salazar: Hm. Doreen Howard: ...to receive [thumping] additional education at all? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Uh... Doreen Howard: [Inaudible 40:59]... Quirino Salazar: ...I don't know if they did or not. I know [background noises] my kids didn't, but I don't know if my brother's [clicking] kids did or not. [clicking] Doreen Howard: Hm. Quirino Salazar: Yep. [clicking] [thumping] Cheryl McQuaid: Marilyn Coulter. Marilyn Coulter: [tsk] Sal, um, [background movement] you've, you've retired, [clicking] and now Fisher Body [thumping] Lansing i-, is beginning, is getting ready to be no more. [tsk] The plant has closed. [41:23] What do you think about that? Did you ever think the plant was gonna close? What are your thoughts on that? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Yeah, I didn't think it was ever gonna close, [background movement] you know. [thumping] I think [the way they were 41:32] buildin' the cars, I said nah, yep. I knew it was gettin' old, but, you know, th-, there was always [thumping] somethin' being built, [clicking] you know. They always – [background movement] you'd be on the line, you could [clicking] see the workers building stuff, you know, but... Marilyn Coulter: [41:50] How does it make you feel knowing [clicking] that [clanking] your 7 brothers, your [background movement] 3 in-laws and your family had a chance and an opportunity to work at Fisher Body Lansing, [clicking] and now with the changing times, that may not be the same [thumping] for all of your children? Um, how does that make you feel? [clicking] [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Uh, [thumping] I don't think it makes me feel [thumping] good, I know that. And, I mean, it's, [clicking] it's somethin' else. It's ha-, it's hard [clicking] 'cause, you know, [scratching] [thumping] Fisher Body always gave you a [thumping] good job, [clicking] you know, good living. And now [thumping] that it's closed, you know, it's – I've seen [thumping] a lotta the guys that work there [clicking] that are laid off. [clicking] Yeah, they said, uh, it's hard for them [clicking] 'cause they got, you know, they [background movement] got kids, they got bills, they got this, they got that. And [clicking] it's not the same thing as [bein' 42:47] workin', you know. But I know my kids ain't gonna have a chance to work, [background noises] work at Fisher Body anymore. So well, it's kinda sad, yep. Cheryl McQuaid: Hm. [clicking] Sal, I really appreciate you comin' in for an interview. [43:04] [clicking] Is there anything that we've not asked you that you would like to talk about? [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Let me see. [laughter] [throat clearing] Excuse me. [background movement] [sniffing] Yeah, uh, [background movement] I had, uh, like different jobs, you know, [clanking] like – man, I, I did, I did everything. I did, uh, [thumping] door build. I did, uh, uh – I worked at the [clicking] Body Shop, you know, [clicking] 'cause I was Utility, [clicking] and they used to send me out to the Body Shop. [clanking] [thumping] I did, uh, [background movement] Paint Department, [clanking] and, and I worked at the, uh, Cushion Room, [background movement] [you know 43:53] when I got laid off. [clanking] They, they called me back in, 'cause you leveled off, and [clicking] they called me [clanking] back in, and I was in [clanking] the Cushion Room. [clanking] That's when it was separate, and, [clanking] [sniffing] and I found that to be real hard for me. [laughter] [clicking] Yeah, it was real hard in the Cushion Room. Marilyn Coulter: [44:12] Sal, can you explain what leveling off is for those people who don't know what leveling off [clicking] is? Quirino Salazar: Leveling off, you sign when, [thumping] when you get laid off. They, uh – [clicking] you sign like a, I don't know, [background movement] leveling off sheet or whatever. And, [thumping] and if you got more seniority than somebody that's [thumping] workin' [thumping] or they need you in a different department, [thumping] they – you can take [thumping] that job, and, [throat clearing] and then you can transfer back ta your own department. [thumping] I think that's what it was, [thumping] yep. Marilyn Coulter: [44:45] Out of all the different departments that you worked in, [background conversation] which one did you prefer the most, and which one did you [clanking] least like? [coughing] [thumping] Quirino Salazar: I think the, the, [clanking] [background conversation] the one that I least liked was, uh, [clanking] [background conversation] Cushion Room. [background conversation] I don't know why I could never keep up with that. [laughter] Yeah, [thumping] they had the old guns, you know, real heavy... [thumping] Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. [clicking] Quirino Salazar: ...that you staple the [clicking] seats to the bottom, [clicking] you know, the [cushionin' 45:14] on it. [thumping] And [clicking] the best was Trim. [thumping] I like the Trim [clicking] 'cause I, I always worked [clanking] Trim Department. [thumping] Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. [thumping] Quirino Salazar: And then, uh, then they put us up, uh, up on the Door, [background conversation] Door Line, which [thumping] they went into a new [thumping] build where they [thumping] took the doors [clanking] off instead of [thumping] [buildin'm 45:37] right on the car. [clicking] And, and I was a group leader for that, [background movement] and [clicking] I liked that, yeah, 'cause I had, uh, [clicking] took care of, uh, 10 people, 5 on each side. [clicking] And [I'd give'm 45:52], you know, I, [thumping] [scraping] [clicking] I would fix their stuff [thumping] when they couldn't fix it, their, [clicking] you know, with repair. [clicking] They couldn't finish their job, [scraping] [clicking] I would, you know, [thumping] do it. [clicking] I'd check, make sure everything was on right. [clicking] Uh, if I had extra time I would, uh, give'm [scraping] time off the line to do whatever they wanted to do, [scraping] you know, like [clicking] give'm a break, whatever, [scraping] you know. I'd try to keep'm [background movement] all happy. [laughter] Yeah. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: [Okay 46:23]. [clicking] Quirino Salazar: But, uh, [clicking] yeah, I remember back, uh, when I first hired in. [background movement] I was, uh, on nights. And then I got, [clicking] I, I got married in '69, [clicking] and [clicking] I was livin' in Stanton [clicking] at that time. [background movement] Yeah, it was hard for me 'cause, I, uh, I had to drive. At first I started out [background movement] by myself. [clanking] Then I found out, [clanking] found some guys that worked [background movement] with me on, on the night shift that were [thumping] coming from, uh, I think it was Ionia and Stanton, Sheridan, you know, small towns from up north. So we carpooled. [thumping] [background conversation] And then finally, uh, [background conversation] [clicking] I decided, well, you know, I'm gonna [background conversation] [clicking] try to go on days. So [creaking] [thumping] once I started lookin' at the seniority [clicking] list, [and 47:22] found somebody that had [clicking] less seniority. [thumping] [clicking] Well I'd go and learn that job, you know, on my own time. [clicking] And [clicking] when I did that, then I would tell the foreman, "Hey, I wanna bump this guy." Which was, you know – and [clicking] if he had low seniority, you could take his job. [thumping] And I wanted to go on days, so [clicking] yeah, I would find a guy that had low seniority, so I'd bump him. Well sure enough, that guy had the worst job in the whole Trim Department or whatever, you know. It didn't matter whether it was the [A-line 47:54] or the [B-line 47:55], you know. [scraping] But, [thumping] yeah, I remember doin', uh, the Toronados, doin' the speakers. [thumping] I used to carry cardboard, throw it in the trunk and then lay in the trunk and put the speakers in. [background movement] And sure enough, I would get bumped one week, and the following week I'd bump right back. [clanking] The worst job you can find. [thumping] And that would, uh – [background movement] I think I did the, uh [clicking] Cruisers, the Vista Cruisers wagons. I used to climb inside and [thumping] did the skylines, whatever they call the – I used to do that. [scraping] Female: Headliners? Quirino Salazar: Yes, yeah, that was like [background movement] a headliner, yeah. Then [thumping] in the, uh, [clicking] Toronados, I used to do the same thing. Used to climb in and out every day, [clicking] yep. But, uh, [clicking] I used to do the worst jobs there was, I, I remember. [clicking] A lotta times I, you know, uh, [knocking] hey, I gotta stay on days. I gotta do the worst job there is. [background movement] And you always, uh – there was always one guy that you knew [thumping] on the seniority list, you know, and you always followed him. If he went on days, that's where you're going. [laughter] And every time he – [laughter] and I, I'd, [clicking] I'd be the same way, you know. Uh, somebody was right [thumping] behind me, had more seniority, 1 or [thumping] 2 days, and sure enough he [thumping] [right 49:24] after me. [clicking] Cheryl McQuaid: Doreen Howard. Doreen Howard: Um, you talked about [clicking] a few of the different jobs that you've done. You said you did quite a few, uh, jobs. [49:37] Um, [clicking] [background noises] how did that affect you physically [background noises] doing these jobs? [clicking] You said you had one where you had to lay down in the trunks and ones you had to climb in and out of. [clanking] Um, doing that on a daily basis seems like it would be awfully [thumping] hard on, on your body [thumping] or were you [clicking] young enough at that time that you didn't really... Quirino Salazar: I think I was... Doreen Howard: ...didn't really... Quirino Salazar: ...young enough. Doreen Howard: ...notice it. Quirino Salazar: Yeah. I think I was young enough that I didn't notice it, you know. But toward the end there, you, you start [background movement] gettin' old. [clicking] Like when I, I know when I got to be 50 years [clicking] old, I start feelin' everything. [laughter] [background movement] But, uh, [clicking] actually I nev-, I never, [thumping] I never went on sick leave or anything. [clicking] I was never on sick leave, [clicking] and I don't think I ever missed any days either. [clicking] Doreen Howard: Hm. Quirino Salazar: And vacations, uh, [thumping] the only vacations I used to [background movement] take was when we had changeover. [clanking] And then, [thumping] then finally, um, [background conversation] I started takin' vacations 'cause we used to go to, uh, [background movement] bowling tournaments [thumping] with, uh, national, [creaking] national bowling tournaments, [clicking] and that was [background movement] different cities, you [thumping] know. We went to like Salt Lake City, uh, Texas, Alabama, Reno, you know. [clicking] So that's, that was my vacation, [scraping] yeah, [clicking] but... [clicking] Doreen Howard: [tsk] Uh, [creaking] Doreen Howard. [51:06] Um, how did working that many hours [clicking] and, and bein' on a second shift – how did that affect [thumping] your family? [background movement] Quirino Salazar: Well my wife didn't like it too good, but, [clicking] uh, she liked the money. [laughter] [background noises] But, uh, [clicking] then, uh, I don't know. I, like I said, I was on, on days quite a bit. [Inaudible 51:33] I was hardly on nights, [background noises] but then I spent, uh – [scraping] [clanking] when I got laid off way back, I think I spent about 5 or 6 [clicking] years on nights. [clanking] Doreen Howard: Hm. Quirino Salazar: And it was hard 'cause, you know, we [background movement] hardly seen each other, [thumping] but I think [scraping] we only had one, one kid at that time. [background conversation] And [clicking] then, uh, [clicking] when I had my second one, uh, [scraping] I volunteered to go on nights. [thumping] I was on days, so I, I traded with this [thumping] one guy for about a year. [thumping] And my wife [thumping] was workin', and [thumping] she, uh, she was workin' days, so, you know, I said, "Well I'll, I'll go on nights [clicking] and help you out." So, [background noises] but it, you know, it's, it's hard, you know. [clicking] I don't know. My, [background movement] my, uh, [clicking] 2 brothers, they, they spent most of their time on nights. [scraping] They seemed to [thumping] like it, but I, I never liked nights. [clicking] Yeah, it was, it was rough for me, [background conversation] but, uh, hey, you get used to it, yeah. Doreen Howard: Hm. [tsk] [52:35] Now the day shift – [clanking] [background conversation] what hours was considered [thumping] the day shift hours, [clicking] and did they change from when you first hired in versus when you retired? [background conversation] Quirino Salazar: Yeah, it, it changed. I think it was, [clicking] was it 6:30, somethin' like that? Uh, it was 6:30 to maybe [thumping] 4:30, somethin' like that. [background movement] And then [background movement] I think nights was about 5, from 5 to 1 or 2 in the morning. [background movement] But it changed. I think, uh, [thumping] I don't know if it was 6:40, 6 – [clicking] is it 12 minutes to 7 or somethin' [clicking] like that now [clicking] at the end? Marilyn Coulter: [Inaudible 53:19]... Quirino Salazar: I, I can't even [thumping] remember... Marilyn Coulter: 6:48. Quirino Salazar: 6:48... Marilyn Coulter: 48. Quirino Salazar: ...yeah. You know, I used to come in, uh, [clicking] it was dark. You go out there, it was dark, yeah. And I remember, uh, 'cause I used to work on, on the [inner 53:34] line. Then there was another line towards the windows [thumping] 'cause they used to have windows up, [background movement] up in Trim. [background movement] When I was on the in-, on the inside, and [clicking] a lotta times [clicking] if you wanted to see the sun, you'd go [clicking] see it out the windows. [clicking] And then they closed the windows, and then you couldn't see anything. [background movement] [clicking] Yeah, you go in, it was dark. You come out, it was dark. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: Uh, Marilyn Coulter. [54:04] Do you remember like what year they [painted 54:06] in the windows? Quirino Salazar: Jeez. [laughter] Marilyn Coulter: [54:09] I mean, was it in the 70s, in the 80s? Quirino Salazar: I think it was in the 80s, I think... [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: In the 80s... Quirino Salazar: ...yeah, yep. Yep, there was a lot of changes there, so... [background movement] [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: Um, did you have – [background noises] um, you were able to work in the Body Shop and the Trim Shop. [54:33] Did knowing those types of jobs [background movement] help you on the outside at all? [background movement] In fixing your own [thumping] vehicles, doing... Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Marilyn Coulter: ...other things? [thumping] Quirino Salazar: It, it did, yeah, 'cause I could take my car apart and [thumping] put it back together if I wanted to, [scraping] yeah. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: Yeah, it helped [clicking] me quite a bit, [clanking] yeah. Marilyn Coulter: [54:51] Did you develop, um – [clicking] or do you have like one friend that you met here and you still [clicking] see outside the plant, you still stay in touch with now that you've retired? [clanking] [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Uh, I don't [thumping] actually, you know, spend a lot of time with the guys that, uh, [thumping] retired that we worked together. But I see, uh, [Mark Austin Sugar 55:15]. [background movement] I see, uh, [Charlie Watts 55:17], [clicking] uh, [Jeff Half 55:19]. Uh, [clicking] I just talked to, uh, [John Sawyer 55:25], uh, and boy, he's a bowler. So uh, he gave me his phone number, and I talk to him. [clicking] Uh, [clicking] [thumping] [clanking] there's a, there's a guy that used to work, uh, Small Tool Repair. [background movement] I can't remember his name, [thumping] but I, [thumping] I sa-, I got a [thumping] stapler gun or [roofing nail 55:50] there [thumping] that I wanted to get fixed. And I called this one place, [thumping] and when I [thumping] took it over there, [clicking] I seen him walkin'. I [thumping] says, "Man, that guy works at Fisher Body." [I knew it 56:00]. [clicking] And I asked him. He said, "Yeah." He said, "I was at Small Tool Repair." Marilyn Coulter: Hm. Quirino Salazar: So he, he's [clicking] got his own business, yeah. I guess he retired [background movement] in '98, somethin' like that. [thumping] So you know, you run into a lotta guys that [clicking] used to work [thumping] Fisher Body but now they're doin' somethin' else. [thumping] And I know [clicking] there's another guy that I, I met. He was doin', uh, a parking lot, you know, driving one of them [clicking] rollers where you do the blacktop. Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Yep, and [thumping] I can't remember his name, but I said [inaudible 56:34], [thumping] "Didn't you work Fisher Body?" [clicking] He said, "Yeah." He retired in ninety, [clicking] '98, '99, somethin' like that. [clicking] Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: And, and [clicking] he's, [background conversation] he said, "Yeah." He said, "Yeah." He, he says, "I, I help my brother do this and do that." And I said, "Oh, okay. That's good, yeah." [background noises] Yeah, I run into a lotta guys that [thumping] they're [scraping] doin' side jobs or, you know, doin' somethin' else, yeah. [thumping] Marilyn Coulter: [56:59] Are you doin' something else? Quirino Salazar: Yes, I am. [thumping] Marilyn Coulter: [57:01] What is it that you do now [laughter] that you're retired? Quirino Salazar: I work at the golf course. [laughter] Female: Hm. [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Marilyn Coulter: [57:08] Are we workin' or are we playin' or a little a both? [laughter] Quirino Salazar: Well I try to do a little a both, but [clanking] [laughter], yeah, my... Marilyn Coulter: [57:14] What is it that you do now at the golf course? [thumping] Quirino Salazar: Well I do, uh, [clicking] I mow the greens, [clanking] yeah, and the, uh, around the greens and the tee boxes [clanking] and trim. Mostly, you know, [clicking] do the maintenance and all that, yeah. Marilyn Coulter: Hm. Quirino Salazar: Yeah. It's, it's all right, yeah. [thumping] I do it during the summer. During the winter, [thumping] I just collect unemployment, so [laughter] not bad. Marilyn Coulter: All right. Quirino Salazar: I think my, uh, is it – my older brother was workin' out at [inaudible 57:46], [scraping] [thumping] and [Margo 57:49], he's workin' out at, in Hastings. Marilyn Coulter: Hm. Quirino Salazar: Yeah. [clicking] So, you know. Oh and then [background movement] when I go play out at Highland Hills, there's a few guys out there that work at Fisher, [background noises] and they're workin' out there, [background movement] yeah. They're doin' part-time [clicking] work out there, so [clicking] [clanking] yep. Cheryl McQuaid: Doreen Howard. [clicking] Doreen Howard: [tsk] I had, [clanking] uh, one last question. [58:11] Um, [clicking] were you ever involved in any of the community [clanking] service, [thumping] um, programs at all through our plant or, [clanking] or outside of the plant, um, [clanking] or involved in any of the, the blood drives or the food, uh, [clicking] dinners or, or [clanking] anything like that? [background conversation] Quirino Salazar: Hm, nah. [clicking] I know I donate a lot of blood, [clicking] but, uh, [clicking] not... [clicking] Doreen Howard: Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: ...no. I don't think I ever did. [clicking] Doreen Howard: Mostly just in the athletic... Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Doreen Howard: ...[inaudible 58:48] with the sports programs. Mm-hm. Quirino Salazar: Yeah, I, I, uh, [background movement] I coached, uh, Little League, you [thumping] know, for a long time, [clanking] baseball, yeah. I, uh, did that for about 20 years. [clicking] I used to help [clicking] the kids out in the north side. Yeah, we used to have a team. [clanking] I'd get outta work and straight to the ball field. [clicking] I was pretty good. [laughter] Doreen Howard: Well that kept [thumping] you very active within the community with a group of young kids... Quirino Salazar: Mm-hm. Doreen Howard: ...playing [clicking] ball. [clicking] Quirino Salazar: Yeah. Now they see me, and [clanking] they call me coach, and [I say 59:30], "Oh who is that?" [laughter] I can't remember who they are. [laughter] Yeah, yeah. Doreen Howard: Okay. [background noises] Cheryl McQuaid: Sal, thank you so much. Marilyn Coulter: Thank you. Cheryl McQuaid: It's been a... Doreen Howard: Thank you. Cheryl McQuaid: ...pleasure talkin' to you. [clanking] Marilyn Coulter: [Inaudible 59:41]. Quirino Salazar: Been a pleasure. [clicking] Doreen Howard: Thank you. [recorder clicking] /lk