Roberta Cannon, an African American, discusses her career as a production worker at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Marilyn Coulter: Fisher Body Historical Team interview. Today is Thursday, January 19, 2006. We're at UAW Local 602's conference room. Uh, first, we'll go around and do the – and name the interviewers. Jerri Smith: Jerri Smith. Cheryl McQuaid: Cheryl McQuaid. Doug Rademacher: Doug Rademacher. Mike Fleming: And Mike Fleming. Marilyn Coulter: [0:21] And Marilyn Coulter. Today, our interviewee is Ms. Roberta Cannon. Roberta, will you please, uh, say your name and spell your last name? Roberta Cannon: Roberta Cannon. C A N N O N. Marilyn Coulter: [0:36] And your address, please? Roberta Cannon: 1202 Fairway Lane, that's Lansing, Michigan, 48912. Marilyn Coulter: [0:46] Um, and you're – are you married? Roberta Cannon: Yes, I'm married. Been married for almost 40 years. Marilyn Coulter: [0:53] Um, do you have any children? Roberta Cannon: I have three children, three grown children. Two girls and one boy. Marilyn Coulter: [0:59] Uh, national origin? Roberta Cannon: They – [laughter] African American. Marilyn Coulter: And your... Doug Rademacher: [Inaudible 1:11]. Jerri Smith: I didn't stop it. Doug Rademacher: Oh, sorry. Marilyn Coulter: [1:14] And your education level? Roberta Cannon: I have [inaudible 1:18] completed high school education and [I have like1:21], um, I think, eight months of home interior decoration. I will have my degree in home interior decoration and design. Marilyn Coulter: [1:32] Uh, any military service? Roberta Cannon: No. Marilyn Coulter: [1:36] So Roberta, um, are you originally from Lansing? Roberta Cannon: I'm originally from Tennessee, and I moved from Tennessee to Lansing after high school. Marilyn Coulter: [1:45] Oh, and what brought you to Lansing? Roberta Cannon: My husband. Marilyn Coulter: Oh. Roberta Cannon: Uh, he got employed with, uh, he come to Michigan after high school and moved to [Albion 1:56] with his, um, uncle. And after that, we got – we, we're high school and boyfriends and girlfriends. And, uh, he moved, uh, from Tennessee to Michigan. And after, um, a year, we got engaged. And he got employed. He was employed with GM. And, uh, after that we got married. And, of course, I followed him. Marilyn Coulter: And you followed your high school sweetheart... Roberta Cannon: Yes. Marilyn Coulter: [2:27] ...husband here. Now, and was he- is he employed also at Fisher Body? Roberta Cannon: He's employed with Fisher Body. Uh, he retired, uh after 36 years. Marilyn Coulter: After 36 years. Roberta Cannon: Mm-hm. Marilyn Coulter: [2:40] And, um, uh, you, you are retired too now? Roberta Cannon: I'm retired also. Marilyn Coulter: [2:43] And how many years of service did you have? Roberta Cannon: Twenty-five. Marilyn Coulter: Twenty-five. Roberta Cannon: Mm-hm. Marilyn Coulter: [2:47] So when did you hire in? Roberta Cannon: 1997. No, no. I'm sorry. Excuse me, it's 1987. Marilyn Coulter: You hired in in 1987? Roberta Cannon: Mm-hm. Marilyn Coulter: [3:02] So, um, what brought you into the plant? Roberta Cannon: Uh, [throat clearing] excuse me. Actually, I wasn't lookin' for a job, I must say. Uh, they were havin', um, interview – well, they was takin' apps at Fisher, the old Fisher Body. And, uh, my sister-in-law wanted to, um, me to go with her to put in for a job. And I said, "Okay," because I had just had a baby. Uh, my son. And, um, so, uh, after that, I went with her. I said, "Okay. What the heck." So I went with her. And the funny thing about it, I got hired and she didn't. I felt really bad. But that's what brought me, and I really wasn't lookin' for a job because, like I said, I just had a s-, my son, and I was a stay-at-home mom. Marilyn Coulter: [3:54] So Roberta, when they hired you in, were you at – did you have to wait in line at the plant? Were you at a hiring agency? What was that day like when you...? Roberta Cannon: Well, and – lemme go back. I guess, I can – lemme see if I can remember. We – when the – we went to put in for application right down in the lower lobby, they had tables set up. And you sat there and you put in the application. They said, "We'll call ya." I got called about four or five days after that. And, uh, that went on. Marilyn Coulter: [4:23] So, um, do you remember the department that you hired in at? Roberta Cannon: Trim. Marilyn Coulter: Trim. Roberta Cannon: And I've always stayed in trim. Marilyn Coulter: [4:29] And so were [throat clearing] you in day shift, night shift? Roberta Cannon: Well, see, that was the problem 'cause I wasn't for sure if I wanted to take the job because, um, I didn't have a baby sitter. I'm the only – I didn't really have family. It was just Harvey and myself. And so, and I didn't know – really know anybody. And they – and I wasn't sure [inaudible 4:52]. They hired me, course, they said new hires, you go in on night shift. And so Harvey had enough, um, seniority where he could switch around. So that's what happened. But luckily, at that time, I was hired in on night shift and he was already on days. And so, he was the baby sitter. And I was work. Marilyn Coulter: Mike Fleming. Mike Fleming: [5:16] I, I – Roberta, talk about when you came in, ask you some questions about that, how intimidating was that for you, coming to work in a factory? Sure, it was the first time you came to work in a factory, [isn't that 5:29] right? Roberta Cannon: Yeah. Yeah. Mike Fleming: Talk about was it intimidating for you? Or was it... Roberta Cannon: No. Mike Fleming: It wasn't? Roberta Cannon: No, it wasn't because if it was, I wouldn't – I would quit. Because, like I said, I wasn't lookin' for a job anyway. So I wouldn't've stayed. It wasn't intimidatin'. In fact, when I was hired in, the, the people were very nice to me. Um, in fact, I think, again, at – I was hired in on nights, but I stayed on nights short time, and I did a flip. They put me back on days. And so I left – Harvey had to switch back to, uh, uh, nights. And, um, but the people – I was luck-, I was hired in the trim department, and the people were very nice to me. Um, so I didn't – it, it wasn't intimidating. I wasn't intimidated by anyone at that time. Mike Fleming: [6:14] So the population of the plant was right around 5000 people at that time, do you know, 3000, 4000 around? Roberta Cannon: Mm-hm. Mike Fleming: Was it five – around 5000 maybe? Roberta Cannon: Was if five or s-...? Mike Fleming: Four or five thousand. Roberta Cannon: Yeah. Mike Fleming: Okay. Um, and you were in trim. Roberta Cannon: I was in trim. And I was in – I was doin' door locks. Mike Fleming: [6:32] Where did you go when you went to day shift? Roberta Cannon: Uh, I went to the same department but somebody bumped me. So that's – I stayed on that job, you know, I did-, I didn't switch. I stayed always in uh, um, in door locks, stayed there. Marilyn Coulter: [6:48] Uh, Marilyn Coulter. So Roberta, um, if I may, how old were you when you hired in the plant? Roberta Cannon: Um, see, you're messin' me up here because, uh, I was 30. Marilyn Coulter: In – 30? Roberta Cannon: Thirty. Marilyn Coulter: [7:03] So coming into the work environment at 30, were there many people your age? Were they younger? What was in that – I mean, what was it like? Roberta Cannon: Um, it was people there, I think, my age, but I worked with a old group, uh, of people my a-, uh, around my age. It was a young people there, but, um, I worked – the area I was in, they were mostly my age. Marilyn Coulter: More mature people? Roberta Cannon: Yeah. The – one of the guys, uh, they called him Junior, and he was from, um, Brighton. He was the oldest one that was on the job. Marilyn Coulter: S-, so what was, um, you said that everyone treated you nice? Roberta Cannon: Yeah. I, I... Marilyn Coulter: [7:45] What, what was your thought... Roberta Cannon: [Inaudible 7:47]. Marilyn Coulter: ...when you – what was the thought on your first day when you walked in? Roberta Cannon: Um, um, I'm sayin' what will I – what am I gonna do here? What's – 'cause, you know, you have all these, these cars goin' and nothin' – everybody's doin' their job and, and I'm sayin', "Can I keep up? Can I keep up?" So, uh, that was my concern, if I can keep up and hope they don't give me nothin' hard [laughter]. That was it. Marilyn Coulter: [8:18] So because you had a husband who already worked here, what did he t-, was it – what he told you, was it what you had envisioned? Roberta Cannon: Mm, no. Not really, he – 'cause I really – he said just go in and, you know, do your job and do it the best you can. If you can't do it, you gotta right to call your committeeman and if you get hurt, you know, he kindly walked me through it. And he says but, um, you may get a hard job, you may get a easy job. And he said, "If you can't handle it, you can't handle it." And, um, he said, "We'll survive." So – 'cause, actually, I thought at the time, mainly is because I just went in because I used the money for my children education. That's basically what I did with the money is for education. And after – and that – really, I didn't feel guilty comin' out because, um, I had got my kids through – we had got our kids through college. My last son, I come out when my last son was in college, and I felt, you know, we had a, we had some, you know, made it and had enough that we could put him through college without doin' a lotta financial aid. Marilyn Coulter: [9:33] And so you have three children, and your children do what? Roberta Cannon: I have three children, and my oldest daughter is a doctor. She's a OBGYN. Um, and they're five years apart. [laughter] Um, and my second daughter is, um, is a pharmaceutical rep. Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. Roberta Cannon: And my son is a elementary educations teacher. Marilyn Coulter: So it's work well spent, right? Roberta Cannon: So the money's [well 9:58] worth spent. Marilyn Coulter: Cheryl McQuaid? Cheryl McQuaid: [10:00] Roberta, you said that your first job in there was, um, door locks? Roberta Cannon: Yes. Yes. Cheryl McQuaid: [10:07] And how long did you do that job? Roberta Cannon: I did that job for about a year. Cheryl McQuaid: [10:11] Could you kinda walk me through that job? How, how did you install a door lock? Roberta Cannon: Well, um, it was – you – I did the back door locks. And you just take a lock and – the door lock itself 'cause, you know, they had the one that, you know, still pulls out and you insert – go in, open the door and you go stick your hand down inside and you put the rod in, insert the rod. And you clip the rod to the door lock so that it could pop up. And that was basic-, basically it. As – and then the next person would tighten it down. Jerri Smith: [10:47] So was it a pretty easy job to do? Roberta Cannon: That was – to me, it was a easy job. Much easier than what I see some of'm were doin'. In fact, um, which we were doin' illegal stuff, we was workin' each other's' job at lunch time. You know, I – we could fix – had to fix that, uh, we could move fast enough, we'd go from one side to the other, uh, to help out the other person, um, if they needed help or if they got down the line because, you know, we didn't want to get down the line. Jerri Smith: [11:18] So if there was a two-door – you worked on the back door... Roberta Cannon: [Inaudible 11:22]. Jerri Smith: ...if there was a two-door... Roberta Cannon: I'm mean, I'm sorry, a two-door. I'm sorry. Excuse me. I did say two-door. It was a four-door, and I worked on the back door. They were four-door cars. I did... Jerri Smith: [11:30] So if a two-door... Roberta Cannon: ...every four-door. Jerri Smith: ...came down the line... Roberta Cannon: Mm-hm. Jerri Smith: ...what did you do to the two-door? Did you – it was a just a free job? Or... Roberta Cannon: That was a job, the job for the next person, um, to do because I think – my mind clear, you didn't have to do any tighten down, so that left me free and the other guy had to do it. I'd just stick – stuck a rod down in, and he put the lock in and tighten it down. Because you put your door lock in and it was a little plastic thing you just – it was like a coat hanger, and you stick, stick it through, and it locks it down. So when you did a four-door, you, uh, put, um, the rod in and the other guy put the lock in and it was something different we had to do. Both of'm, the front door's a little bit different from back door. Cheryl McQuaid: [12:21] Okay. And then what was your next job after...? Roberta Cannon: My next job, mm, I hated it. It was, um, [laughter] puttin' in the, um, the deadeners, I think they were called, the deadeners inside the car to sound proof it before they put in the headliners. And you had to climb up in the car and you got this like, you know, they sprayed it. You were all sticky. Uh, it was a mess. I hated it because I was too short for the job, really. And, and you had to climb somethin'. Men could easily do it because they could stand out on the floor and just pop it up, do the deadener up in there. But I was short, and I had to climb up in the car to make sure I got it up in there, especially. It was very hard for me to do the, um, two-door, two, uh, two-doors 'cause I had to climb up in there. Jerri Smith: [13:14] Roberta, how tall are you? Roberta Cannon: I'm 5'5 ½". Jerri Smith: Continue. Marilyn Coulter: [13:26] Um, Marilyn Coulter. Roberta, um, during your time working in trim, are there any special memories that you have? Roberta Cannon: I'd – like, like I said, I had – have always worked in trim. Um, so when I had to go, um, went out on sick leave and had, uh, to go – come back in, uh, on, um, a sp-, had come back in and I had to – couldn't do my job, so they would send me upstairs in 3X, and I did, um, inspection. And I did inspection in the body shop. So, like I said, I have no, um, bad memories, really bad memories about jo-, uh, all my jobs. They were pretty, um, I was pretty well satisfied 'cause I was a crybaby. No, I wasn't really a crybaby but, um, I guess, Lord was on my side. I was lucky. I was lucky this far with some of'm. Marilyn Coulter: [14:27] In your coworkers, what types of things did you, did you do for lunch? Roberta Cannon: Well, well... Marilyn Coulter: [During 13:2] breaks? What types of things did you do? Roberta Cannon: Yeah, um, we used to have at lunch – one of my favorite, uh, supervisors was Doug [Stott 14:42]. And so at that time, if you wanted, uh, anything special, feed him. So [laughter] all we had to do is bring him some lunch. Uh, we would have, um, dinners in our areas, you know, not only holidays, uh, we would bring – have – doin' – it wasn't no special time. Like if I would do barbeque chicken, my friend Debbie [Norris 15:08] and China Wilson, we all worked down there. We'd all bring somethin' in. And we would feed Doug and so that would make our night because if next week we wanted a time off to go to our kids' basketball game or somethin' like that, he would, uh, fix it so we could do that, so we can bless him again next week with some food. [laughter] But, uh, um, I used – I would usually go home for lunch because, um, like I said, I had three kids at home and I wasn't too far from home. Uh, if I had, um, about 30, um, 30-mintues break, I could, uh, zip home and, um, look at my kids, make sure they were okay and come back. And, uh, so, uh, I would – or else I would just stay in my area. Me and my friends, we'd sit there at the table and have lunch or go to a cafeteria. Um, that was, you know, I didn't ever do a lot of runnin' out 'cause if I didn't go home, I would call the kids and make sure that they were okay. [coughing] And that was at the time when, uh, my daughter was in high – my oldest daughter was in high school. And she, um, was good. We could depend on her also, uh, when Dad wasn't there 'cause Harvey – it was at a time when Harvey had to – we were both on the night shift. And, um, and she was – thank God, that was when she was at high school. Um, Like I said, my kids are five years apart, so, um, they basically – they still talk about Freddy give'm a hard time because, uh, he was the baby. And, uh, they would, uh, you know, be the watch over him. But, um, I, I was pretty well – I was pretty lucky. I basically stayed in. We just, um... Marilyn Coulter: [17:01] I seem to remember you tellin' me a story about the [Buckmaster 17:04] sons. Can you, can you share that with us? Roberta Cannon: Yeah. I worked with, um, a Bob [Buckmaster] and – on door locks. He was on one side and I was on the other and along with the, the older gentleman, uh, we called him Junior. And, um, uh, Roger, uh, I can't think of Roger's right name right now, last name. But, uh, we would help at lunch time, uh, and when I was on days. At lunch time, uh, we would, uh, have Bob go down – his dad was a, a plant, uh... Marilyn Coulter: Assistant supervisor? Roberta Cannon: ...assistant supervisor. And, you know, they – their car could be pulled inside the garage. So we would work – when I was speakin' about workin' each side of the job, each – goin' from one side a the line to the other workin' jobs, well, that was a time when we would do Bob's job. And so he could go to McDonald's for us and get us – he would go down – our car, our job was right where he – at the time, where he could zip down the steps, jump in his dad car, and, uh, go to McDonald's and be back by, uh, lunchtime, by the time the line'd go down. So that was, um, exciting thing. We got McDonald's every now and then when we complained about the food in the lunch room. And another time [throat clearing] was when, um, again, when I didn't get any sleep and my son was sick, you know, at night and I'd stay up half the night with him sick, I would come in and Junior would go to the bar every day. That was Junior's – he, no doubt, he would go to the bar every single day and, uh, so I would sleep. And, uh, I would tell Junior, "When you come back, Junior, open up – wake me up." I would climb up on the, um, the door locks was in a- the big, the big, uh, big container. And I would climb up in the, the container and lay down on a piece of cardboard and sleep until, um, 12:30. That was a big booster for me. I didn't need – just that, just energized me. So, um, he would wake me up. So that, they helped me out. They really helped me out a lot. Um, let's see, what else. I can't think of anything exciting. Uh... Mike Fleming: [19:25] Roberta, Mike Fleming. Uh, throughout all this, as, as you were workin' in the trim department, did you happen to have a, a boss, supervisor or even a general foreman that, uh, you liked better than another one? Or did you have [throat clearing] problems at all with any management before? Roberta Cannon: You know, ame-, um, it's amazing how lucky because Doug [Stott] was basically, was on one shift and Dale [Tolliver 19:53]. Um, Dale [Tolliver] was one. And, um, and the other – I can't think right now of other supervisor, but those are the two that stuck out in my mind, uh was Dale – 'cause they worked opposite of each other. And Dale [Tolliver] was a quiet supervisor. He was a great – he was great. And I can rem-, I can remember one incident that we pulled on Dale [Tolliver]. All you had to do was, uh, feed Doug, [laughter] and he was, he was great. But Doug was great anytime. He would – and in fact, he, um, rem-, was – I think I was the oldest one that he remembered my social security number by heart. Uh, so I guess I – somethin' about me that excited him, but I think it was the food though. [laughter] And Dale [Tolliver], when it was his birthday, we used to celebrate the supervisor's birthday and so, you know, how quiet Dale was, you know, he was quiet, easy goin' guy. So we had it all planned up where he need excitement. So on his birthday one night, we had a belly dancer to come in. [laughter] And you sh-, and you know, he doesn't take much for him to get red anyway. Man, was his face red. We, uh, it was one of the, um, girls in there, I'm not for sure if it was Jackie [Romenaugh 21:21] or who, but she had a friend that did belly dancin'. And so we sneaked her in through the basement, up the steps. And we were still down on the end where we could get her up the steps from [the H line 21:33]. And here come this lady across the hall, across the aisle, with – and everybo-, I – the line almost stopped 'cause when we had it, I had him – had him come in – had her come in about lunch time. And this lady come in and everybody was lookin'. And then she had her radio and her music went off, and we had Dale right there. And it was, it was amazing. Everybody come around and Dale, I tell ya, that was great. I will never forget that. It was funny. It was really funny. And one a my favorite pickup guys was, uh, [Nelly 22:09]. Jerri Smith: [Nelly Cox 22:12]. Roberta Cannon: [Nelly Cox]. [Nelly Cox] was my – was one of the great pickup person that, uh, I enjoyed. Marilyn Coulter: [22:21] Roberta, can you please explain what a pickup person is? Roberta Cannon: Oh, I'm sorry. Uh, when we get down the line and, um, and I'd miss a job, or we mess up a job, we would holler pickup. And that – he was a repair guy. I guess I should re-, he's a repair, our repair per-, he was our repair person in our area. And so when we got down the line, we would holler pickup, and [Nelly] was our pickup person. He would come and do it. Um, or if you had – need to go to the bathroom before you – before time come for your break or the pickup man to give your break we would call. So [Nelly] was a good person. He was always there. He didn't have an excuse or nothin'. But the, uh, my biggest crybaby person was Roy [Plumber 23:08]. [laughter] Roy [Plumber] was – I – but I, but I, I was a person that had a big mouth. And I threatened his life because he was – I felt – I was [oldler 23:21]. [laughter] And he was the, you know, they were the bunch a young guys And, uh, so, uh, Roy come up with some kinda excuse, especially after lunch and, "Don't come here with no mess, Roy. Come on, give me my break," you know. "I'll be back, I'll be back." "No. Now." So, um, some of'm, uh, I treated'm like my kids, uh, for when [inaudible 23:46] but, uh, it was a lot of'm I treated like my children in there. You know, Larry Johnson was one. Uh, I think Larry Johnson still owe me about $50 [laughter] 'cause he, he stayed broke. But, uh, I would – I had some pretty good times. Also, one thing that I – person I remember was Gary [Barnett 24:10]. Mm, he was our past, uh, president here. Uh, Gary was in our area. And, um, that was the time I was puttin' in, uh, gas doors. And, uh, Gary was supposed to leave the area, and he was gonna go down in – they was – they wa-, he got bumped and they w-, he had to go j-, down in the b-, uh, A – on the A line. At that time, it's called A line, uh, to do a job. So we were goin' to give Gary [Barnett], um, a dinner. And they had me do turkey and dressin' and I think he had figured out and I, I did everything. And what happened? Gary no show up. Gary stays home that Friday night. [laughter] And he won't let me forget that either. Every time I see'm and he said, "I know, I know." And like to this day, when I see'm in Detroit, uh, at, um, he'll say, "I know, I know." And he said, "That was one big one I pulled," and he said, "But I really hated that because you know how I like your food." "Ah, it's too late. I'll never cook another thing for ya." [laughter] But that was on of the nice thing I remember also. That was funny. Doug Rademacher: [25:27] Roberta, it's Doug Rademacher. You're talking about [coughing], uh, helping each other on the assembly line. You had, uh, where you'd help each other. If someone got down the line, you'd take, uh, initiative. Did you consider your work, uh, people in your work area your, your brothers and sisters? And what was the – what is that family relationship that they talk about? Roberta Cannon: Yes. Um, that was a time when I think all of us enjoyed coming to work because we had good time. We could – we had good times also. We could mix the work with play. I guess I put it that way. And I considered all of'm brothers and sisters. We could say anything, you know, and to help out each other and nobody – we all enjoyed helpin'. It was – we come together when someone needed help. And, um, I considered that we were all friends and neighbors, um, away from home. Brothers and sisters away from home. And it was a happy time. It was a happy time. Like I said, I enjoyed it but, um, [coughing] I guess, uh, as we grow older and the young peop-, young, young generation come in, they don't realize, I guess, I, I [paper ripping] it's the up-, I think it was the upbringin'. Doug Rademacher: [26:50] And what do you think's lost now? Roberta Cannon: Um, I think what's lost now w-, the – like I said, the young generation, um, it's the upbringin' that they come in that they think they can do everything with to – by themselves. I can do this, and I don't need your help. Um, where that – back then, we could do it, but we help out each other to make our jobs easier. And the young generation think they don't have to [has 27:30] anybody. They c-, they make the job harder by not communicatin' to myself, my – that's my, uh, theory on it. Mike Fleming: [27:30] Mike Fleming. Roberta, um, there was, uh, name changes throughout the times of the facility. Um, there were name changes throughout the facility from LCA to BOC to, uh, um, what – and, and, and whatever the other one was I don't quite remember. What did you feel about the changes in the name of that facility? Do you – what, what, what did you call it? What, what would you call the facility? Roberta Cannon: Um, they, you know, they had different names, specified different areas and everything but [laughter] at the time I was in there, I considered, uh, none of this name changin' really didn't come around until, I think, after I had, had gone out. I had, uh, retired, I was outta the plant. Um, I was out of the plant on a disability leave for a couple years with my back, so lotta this change come around – before I retired, I was in and out on a sick leave. Uh, my base thing, I was also at the plant a EPG leader in my area. Um, that was the, uh, Employees, uh... Doug Rademacher: Participation [Leader 28:51]. Roberta Cannon: Yeah, Employee Participation. And I was the EPG leader in the area. And, um, and I tried to help everybody, and if they had problems, I did the lay work. I was the gopher, you know. Um, and I think go back to, um, and I – lemme kinda revert back. That comes in when you got a person, uh, [inaudible 29:19] one you try to help somebody in the area, you know, some of'm don't want – the young people don't want your help, you know. They think they know everything. But at that time, I was a EPG leader before they start [categoring 29:32] everything in each area. And, um, and I tried to help everybody, got all the information I could, you know, and that – I felt that was my job to, um, help the people in our area. And at that time, I did, uh, have – a couple people was, uh, Frank [Lily 29:50]. He was a Cuban, and he couldn't speak very, uh, English very well. And, um, and Freddy [Smitz 30:00]. He was a person, um, didn't, you know, he, he come on his job. He would not leave his area unless he go to the bathroom and, and he wouldn't, uh, really talk to anybody, so you had to befriend him. He wasn't a unfriendly person, but he was, I would say, the shy person. So you make it a point to go up and down the line, let people know who you are, speak to'm every day and, um, see if there's anything you could do for'm. Even if I wasn't off the line to do my EPG work, I'd still, uh, focus on the people that I thought they had, um, that needed help and, and try to clarify [throat clearing] stuff. Mike Fleming: Roberta, they, they changed the name of plant from, um, DOC to LCA but it was Fisher Body to start with. What do you call that place over there? What, what, what does it mean to you? Roberta Cannon: Um, uh, Fisher Body. It was Fisher Body to me. And, um, and it's still Fisher Body to me because I was hired in as Fisher Body. And I was a Fisher Body person. So, you know, and I think that's what everybody think. A – I don't care what you – what you call it. It's always gonna be Fisher Body because it was Fisher Body when I come in. You can name, name it 50 names, but it's always gonna be Fisher Body because you – reflects back to the Fisher Body days. Mike Fleming: [31:23] Mm-hm. When you, um, worked in trim, did you experience any type of, uh, accidents, fatal accidents? Did you see anyone like get hurt really seriously? Possibly anyone – did you ever see anyone get killed in the plant? Roberta Cannon: No. Thank God I didn't. And the trim department, I think, was a pretty safe area. The department I was in. So, uh, no, I did not experience any heart attacks or, or nobody – a car hittin' anybody or anything. So, uh, I think it was a pretty safe place. Jerri Smith: Go. Marilyn Coulter: [32:00] So you said as an EPG, um, group leader, you used to take care [of your 32:05] people, were you able to be involved in other type programs? And what were some of the differences that you noticed in the plant once employees started getting involved, involved in the processes? Roberta Cannon: I think it, um, helped when the employees got st-, uh, got involved because it, um, I think it let them know that they were tryin' to hel-, was gonna make a difference. Uh, they were tryin' to make a difference, um, within their workplace. It wasn't all, uh, management. The management allowed them to, um, voice their opinion and to help out. Marilyn Coulter: [32:46] So, um, Lansing was always called the Capital of Quality. We were all at the top of the – we were always at the top of the list. What do you attribute that to? Roberta Cannon: I contribute that to, um, solidarity. Working together. Uh, pulling together. And employees, um, understandin' where they were and where they tryin' to get to and how to make things, uh, better for them in order to keep their job. And in order to keep you job, you got to, um, do a good job. And I think by doin' that, uh, that's what, um, we're – it'll bring you to the top. Marilyn Coulter: [33:30] And you said that Doug Scott and, um, [Tolliver] were good supervisors. What were some of the things that made a bad supervisor to you? Roberta Cannon: Um, I – and, you know, you would have these little other y-, guys come in, um, like – I know it's... Doug Rademacher: Contract. Roberta Cannon: Yeah, the contractors come in. And to, uh, to take over. Um, not take over but thinkin' that they know, you know, more than you and they couldn't even do your job. Uh, they didn't even, [you know, attempt 34:04]. You would tell'm, uh, I need this on the job. This is botherin' me; I need to go to the hospital. Why is this – you know, why is that doin'? You can't go to the hospital because you – that's, that's simple. You could do that. How can – how do know you can – I can do that when you haven't stood there and watch me and, and you, you – they couldn't do the job. So if you can't do the job, don't tell me what I should be doin'. Um, or how I should do it or how it should affect, affect me. So it was the contractors, I think, um, put – left, um, a bitter taste in some of the people's, um, uh, their employees' job. Marilyn Coulter: [34:44] You spoke earlier about your husband sayin' if there was problem, call your committee man. Um, tell me, how'd you feel about your union? Were you active in your union? Wanna tell us a little about that? Roberta Cannon: I was – I, I was active in my union. I attended the union meetin'. Um, but, um, I never had a problem where I had to call my committeeman. Um, but I did have a great committeeman when I needed to call him. I – and one person stands out more than any was Ron Perry. Ron Perry was, um, um, a caring person, and he cared about his people in his area. Um, but, um, I, I was lucky. I wasn't a person that called my committeeman every time I turned I around, every time a problem come. I tried to talk to my supervisor first and tried to work it out through my supervisor, and if I couldn't get it [throat clearing] through my super-, you know, work it out – anything with my supervisor, then I would, um, call my committeeman. But, um, usually, um, with a good understanding, uh, with my supervisor, we kinda worked it out. And I think, uh, most of us in that area, you know, by me bein' the EPG leader, we tried to – the area I worked in, we tried to work it out with the supervisor without interfer-, getting' a mil-, another person involved. But myself, I, um, talked with my supervisor, but I would call my committeeman and we'd kinda get things straightened out, um, uh, if I had a problem. Marilyn Coulter: [36:15] So, uh, you said you attended your union meetings. Were you ever active on any committees? Did you ever hold any offices? What kinda things did you do in your [union meetings 36:23]? Roberta Cannon: I didn't hold any offices because, um, but I was active. I worked with the Women's Committee, and I worked with the [Recreation 36:31] Committee, and, um, what else? Um, I, uh, worked with the, um, Civil Rights. Marilyn Coulter: [36:44] So can you tell me, um, how did that impact the people in the plant? The things – the committees you did? Roberta Cannon: I wasn't, uh, I, uh, when you get involved with, uh, something with the union, you go back and you tell the other people in your area what you doin' and they will, "How you get to do that? How you get off the line?" You get involved with the union. You get involved with the union, then you know what's goin' on and if somethin' come up, a job or somethin' come up or open come up for the committee, um, then you, um, you can, uh, put up dibs in for that. I – and I'd say why they ask, "So how you get that job? How you get off the line?" was, um, I worked with Andy [Graham 37:39] on, uh, employee, uh EPG and, uh, I worked with Rudy, uh, on – I was, um, on the community service and I was cochair of United Way. Uh, and they wanted to know, "How you get off the line?" You know, you just go to the union meeting. You listen, and if there's a openin', you find out who, who's chair of this and you say, "I'd like to get on your committee if you have an openin'." Uh, and, and by doin' that but, "I don't wanna go to the union meetin'." Well, if you don't go to union meeting, you won't know what's goin' on unless somebody come back and tell ya, and I'm comin' back to, you know, I'm comin' back to tell ya. So, um, it was mostly, you know, it. Marilyn Coulter: [38:14] So, um, with the United Way, how did the union work with that? What was that? Roberta Cannon: Um, and in fact, I'm a, I'm a person that loved to work in the community. And, um, and to try to help people and to try to give back. I feel that I've been blessed, and I think that's why I keep sayin' I been blessed, the reason why my children are where they are today by givin' back and tryin' to help somebody else and bring them along with me. And, um, doin' United Way and helpin' other, other, other people, uh, tryin' to convice'm how great it is, um, by just not bein' selfish. You gotta give sometime. And, um, you'll, you'll see. You're – you'll, you'll see that it might not come when you want it but, uh, it happens. It happens for you. So, um, that affect me and I just try to take that back to the plant, you know, and United Way, um, felt that was a time – place that I could do it. By sitting down, talkin' to people, lettin'm know how good I, I've been blessed and what I've done in order to get here and what I've seen done and what I know can happen. And just let them know 'cause you talk with people, uh, I've found out when I did United Way and I was cochair of United Way, that you go and talk to people – a lot a people have problems and they didn't know how to solve the problem. And, and you – it, it'll make your day when you know if you can help one person. And so that how I en-, uh, enjoyed doin' that by goin' through the plant, just talkin' to people, and findin' out things. And if I could help'm, then fine, I'll do that. Marilyn Coulter: [39:53] And so – and that was part of some of those programs that got employee involvement because it went from supervisors doing the soliciting to allowing the community service representatives... Roberta Cannon: Exactly. Marilyn Coulter: ...to do that and talk one-on-one with... Roberta Cannon: Family. Marilyn Coulter: ...other employees. Roberta Cannon: Your, your friend. Um, supervisors doin' that, they – all they do is just lay the card down, "Have that signed when I get back." They don't talk to you and explain to you what this money's gonna do for you or your family member or somethin'. They just sayin' this is what you need to do, sign it, and go on and I'll pick it up. [throat clearing] And they don't have time to talk to ya. Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. Roberta Cannon: Where as if you have a employee, your sister or your brother doin' it, they can have time to stop and 'splain things to you if you have a question. If you have time that – right then, I [usually 40:38] say, "Well, I don't have time right now, but I'll be back." Make sure you go back. Make sure you go back, and I did that. Doug Rademacher: [40:47] Roberta, it's Doug Rademacher. You sound like you have been a caring person and, and tried hard to help others. Was there ever a time when you felt that you were – that there was any racism or sexism as a woman in the workplace? Was there – were you ever treated poorly? Your attitude shows that you stayed [throat clearing] positive. Did you have any trouble in the plant? Roberta Cannon: No. I didn't have any trouble in the plant with racism or, um, sexism or anything like that. Um, the people were at – like I said, when I was in there, the people were very friendly, but I'm sure it was, but I just wasn't there in [laughter] I didn't pick up on it, uh, and, uh, people complainin'. I, I can't tell you that I had any bad, uh, time or someone approachin' me with a attitude about what's, uh, racism, sexism, or nothin' like that. I didn't – and I, and I, like I said, I, I also worked with – I worked with a lot of the young people, uh, younger than I was. Mike Fleming: [41:57] Roberta, Mike Fleming. Um, I'd like to ask you, what, what do you consider your, your most, uh, or, or appreciated bargain benefit by the union for, for yourself? What do you think is the best thing that they've done as far as negotiating benefits for you? Roberta Cannon: Uh, medical. Medical and health. The health benefits. Uh, that is a big plus. Not only for me, and I think it was, uh, the medical benefits a plus for everybody, uh, because, um, like I said, back into the community and health, you find, um, out that lotta people have health problems. They were – they have kids that's born with health problems. And if it wasn't for the health, uh, our health benefits, uh, they don't know – they probably could've lo-, they would've lost their child or, uh, something like because they would not have the monies because today you see where children have health benefits, adults have health benefits, and they don't have – they, uh, still can't afford medication and stuff like that. There's still a problem out there. So, um, again, the community – your community service, United Way, uh, stepped back in because your health, uh, coverage covers so much. And then, if it's gonna be a lifetime sickness for your child or for you, uh, it's gonna run out. So you gonna have to pick up from someplace else. Marilyn Coulter: Robert-, ... Mike Fleming: [43:40] Robert-, um, Roberta, when you – just – and I'll be done right quick. When you, you talked about, you know, you did a lotta cooking and how you all get along very well in the departments that you worked in, um, can you remember when you were – in your departments, has anyone came across a hardship and you all took up a collection or does anything re-, that you remember that you helped out someone within your department? Uh, or d-, was that something that you all did in your [inaudible 44:05]. Roberta Cannon: Um, we took up collection mostly of death, um, people losin' their family member or, um, people, um had, um, problems with – like I said, sickness with their child or somethin'. We did, uh, collection, uh, mostly with death or sickness. Um, our – and people would pour their heart out for somebody – somethin' like that. And I think they still do. They still do. Uh, but, uh, all you have to say is somebody need this and they're sick and then, "Oh yeah, I know." And they would give their last penny outta their pocket in order to try to help this poor soul. I found that again in our plant as brothers and sisters, uh, we was a given family. Marilyn Coulter: [44:56] Uh, Roberta, you did a lot of community service while you were working. Um, were there any types of organizations that you were participated in that extended outside the plant? Roberta Cannon: Um, yes. I – and I think this was, uh, maybe I started from – I participated in feedin' the homeless. I participated in, um, mentorin', um, young mothers, um, and their children. I was the wa-, I took people, um, oh, elder people to their doctor's appointments. Um, uh, I, uh, cook and made meals for, uh, families that just come home from the hospital when they were sick, and we had a group of people that we would get together and make sure they had dinner. We would do it for a week. And then somebody else would do it for a week. So, um, at some of my ac-, uh, outside activities and, uh, worked with the church funerals and things like that. Marilyn Coulter: [46:02] Did your union... Roberta Cannon: Family. Marilyn Coulter: ...did your union activities extend outside the plant as far as any organizations that were union based? Roberta Cannon: Yeah. Um, we did, uh, out, uh, union activities. The Women's Committee have done, uh, activities, helpin' the homeless. Um, helpin' the Heart Foundation. The – we did, um, fundraisers, fundraisers to help the, uh, Heart Foundation. Um, cancer, we donate, make money, donate to the cancer and to the homeless. Uh, we have, um, [inaudible 46:39] at Christmas time, we, uh, take up mittens, caps, and, uh, and donate it to, um, Krista Ray, the children at Christmas time. We – Thanksgivin', we donate food and Christmas we donate food. So it's, uh, um, outside things and that's the union has taken part in and still do. Marilyn Coulter: [47:03] And you're also part of the [inaudible 47:05] groups also, aren't you? Roberta Cannon: Yes. Yes. I – like I said, when come to mentorin', I was, um, Greater Lansing Chapter Jack and Jill. Uh, we, uh mentored teenagers. And, uh... Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. Roberta Cannon: ...also, we mentor, uh, I was in a organization where, um, the cotillion, debutantes, um, the young ladies [coughing], um, we mentored them and taught them how to eti-, no, dance. Stuff like that. Marilyn Coulter: [47:33] Mm-hm. You also hold offices in Coalition of Labor Union Women, yes? Roberta Cannon: I am the treasurer of Coalition of Labor Union Women. I, uh, am a trustee on the Region 1C women's organization. I am, um, [laughter]. Mike Fleming: [Executive Committee 47:54]? Roberta Cannon: And I'm on the Executive Committee of... Mike Fleming: [Inaudible 47:59]. Roberta Cannon: ...NAACP. Uh, so I am involved with a lot of, uh, outside communities now. In – with the help-, uh, helpin' other people. Marilyn Coulter: [Inaudible 48:12]. Roberta Cannon: And all those, uh, committees is... Marilyn Coulter: [48:14] Even though you've retired, you continue to do... Roberta Cannon: Yes. Marilyn Coulter: ...your union activities? Roberta Cannon: [Inaudible 48:17]. Right. Marilyn Coulter: [48:22] And your activism? Roberta, is there anything that, um, you'd like to share with us that we haven't touched base on? Roberta Cannon: I think you guys have done a real good job on that. Uh, um, you know, touchin' base on, um, a little bit of everything, uh, that, uh, we have, uh, that I've done. And I still continue to do that in – although I have retired. I still try to stay involved with my union and, uh, and keep busy, uh, and try to, um, attend the, uh, retirees' potluck and, uh, stay involved and get involved, uh, with them and, um, still try to help the people. I guess, right now, I think I'm the youngest one that's retired that attend the retirees. And so, um, they need a cup a water, I try to get up and get a cup a water. And – or take their plate to the trash and, and, um, so forth. So I, I, I keep busy. And I think that it helps me. I, I think I receive my blessin' if I could just help someone each – do something good for somebody. Marilyn Coulter: [Inaudible 49:30]. Roberta Cannon: Maybe once a day, uh, I receive my blessin'. Marilyn Coulter: You do well. Roberta Cannon: Thank you. Doug Rademacher. Doug Rademacher: [49:35] Doug Rademacher. Roberta, the Fisher man-, Fisher Body plant is closing, and we have, uh, uh, you've retired and we're moving on to a new chapter in Lansing, Michigan with the Delta plant. To someone that's going to listen to this and read this someday that's never been in the auto industry, what would you say to the young people, uh, about work and, uh, work ethic? Roberta Cannon: Um, yeah. It's – things, uh, are changin' and they're changin' every day. Um, our labor force is, um, seems like it's ex-, nonexists sometimes and I get – and it's, um, very depressin' when you see how we made it and how we come up. Um, I stress up on the young people to, um, continue to – if they are in the labor force and, and the new plant's comin' along, uh, try to make it, um, a bigger and better place to work in and try to – the work you're doin' every single day tryin' to make it a numb-, your number one, um, top. So that – I feel that when we were number one, Fisher Body still, even though it'll be Delta, um, we made it number one. And it took hard work. It took solidarity, and you can't do it by yourself. It takes a group a people. And you have to learn to work, um, not only with, uh, employees within yourself, your union, you have to work with management also. And I think if you, if you work as one as a group, you can better yourself then to be, uh, pull apart, pull apart from each other. So it's still togetherness anyway you look at it. Marilyn Coulter: Okay. Doug Rademacher: That's wonderful. Uh, I wanna thank you for your time today. And we've, uh, enjoyed your interview very much and all you've given to the local union and to the workplace. Marilyn Coulter: And what you continue to do. Thank you. Roberta Cannon: Thank you. Jerri Smith: Thank you. Mike Fleming: Thank you, Roberta. Roberta Cannon: Thanks. [throat clearing] /tl