Marlene Hester discusses her career as a production worker, material handler and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Doug Rademacher: [clicking] This is the Lansing Fisher Body Historical Team. [papers rustling] We are here today interviewing Marlene Hester. Uh. We are at the Frank Dryer [GreenHouse 0:13] across from the Local 602 Union Hall. It is February 16th at approximately 10:50 a.m. Marlene, I’m going to go around the room and in-, have everyone s-, share their name for the record. Gary Judy: Gary Judy. Earl Nicholson: Earl Nicholson. Cheryl McQuaid: Cheryl McQuaid. Marilyn Coulter: Marilyn Coulter. Doug Rademacher: And Doug Rademacher. [0:37] Marlene, would you please say your name and spell your name for the record? Marlene Hester: My name is Marlene Hester, M-A-R-L-E-N-E H-E-S-T-E-R. Doug Rademacher: [0:50] And where do you live? What is your address? Marlene Hester: 818 Eugenia Drive, Mason, Michigan. Doug Rademacher: [tsk] Okay. [0:59] And you are female, correct? Marlene Hester: Yes. Doug Rademacher: [1:04] Caucasian? Now, would you tell me, do you have any, uh, educational background? Marlene Hester: Well, I graduated from high school and I have an associate’s degree. Doug Rademacher: Okay. [1:19] Are you married? Marlene Hester: No. Doug Rademacher: [1:23] Do you have any children? Marlene Hester: Yes. Doug Rademacher: [1:26] And would you tell us a little bit about them? Marlene Hester: I have a daughter, uh, Marisa [Yvonne 1:30], she’s – just turned 26. And I have a son, Marc William. He is 21. Doug Rademacher: Okay. [1:42] And do you have any military service? Marlene Hester: No. Doug Rademacher: All right. [1:49] What did your parents do? Marlene Hester: My father worked at the Olds at the jet plant and, um, my mom was a stay-at-home mom. Doug Rademacher: Okay. [2:03] Would you please tell us what you did before you hired in to the Fisher Body plant? Marlene Hester: I had a job, uh, counting money that came out of the vending machines from the MSU campus. And, um, on, on Fridays, I would count up to sometimes $20,000 worth a coins and a armored car’d come and get the money and it didn’t pay very well. Doug Rademacher: Well, that’s gonna lead into my next question. [2:37] Why did ya come to Fisher Body? Why did ya hire in there? Marlene Hester: It was a chance to triple my income. Doug Rademacher: [2:48] Can you tell us how did you hear about Fisher Body hiring? Marlene Hester: [tsk] I had a roommate and, uh, sh-, she happened to tell me that her fiancée was gonna go to the Olds and put in a – an app that day and, um, I said so am I. But she must a said Fisher Body because I took my lunch that day and come on into Lansing and I stood in line for a little while and I put my app in the – down front there at Fisher Body. Doug Rademacher: [3:26] Can you share that vision please? What was it like to drive into Lansing? Were you familiar with Lansing? Marlene Hester: Yeah. Doug Rademacher: [3:33] And when you drove up to put in your application, can you… Marlene Hester: There… Doug Rademacher: …tell us about that? Marlene Hester: …there was a lot of people. There was like 2 or 3 lines and, um, just a lotta people tryin’ to get their apps in and I was fortunate and I got up to the front, I got to, to get an app and fill it out, turn it in. Doug Rademacher: And when did you hire into Fisher Body? Marlene Hester: M-, they called me in August. Doug Rademacher: Of…? Marlene Hester: August 8th, 1978. Doug Rademacher: 1978. [4:06] How old were you when you hired in? Marlene Hester: Twenty-four. Doug Rademacher: I’m gonna ask you about your first day on the – into the plant. You were called to work. [4:19] Can you talk about what happened? Did you know what went on inside the building and…? Marlene Hester: Well, back then, we had a pretty good orientation. They take us to the labor relations room. There was quite a few of us and we went through orientation. They were pretty thorough about what was – what to expect. And, um, that first day, it was, it was, um, different. Um. Lost. Got lost easy and, um, you know, it’s a big, big place. Doug Rademacher: [4:58] What shift and which department did you start in? Marlene Hester: I was on second shift and I was up in Trim, up in [3X2 5:05]. Doug Rademacher: [5:08] How did that happen? Can you talk about bein’ in that room? How was – how were you selected to go to this particular operation? Do you remember? Marlene Hester: No. There was 3 or 4 of us and, um, they s-, just said follow, follow me and they took us outta the hospital, I think, and on up. We walked up into [3X 5:31] and went to the boss, [George Burdette 5:35], and, um, they just put us on the job. I don’t know how they selected it or – really, I don’t know. Doug Rademacher: We can see your first day. [5:47] Would ya share with us what job did ya do and tell us about that. Marlene Hester: I stocked the rear belts on the B line on the, uh, 98s, 88 line. Doug Rademacher: [6:01] Which belt would that be? Marlene Hester: The rear, the rear seat belt. Doug Rademacher: Okay. Marlene Hester: And I had to go – uh, on the manifest, it’d have a color and, um, so I had to pay attention and then I would, um – there were pull straps at the time on the door and under the pull strap, there was, uh, 2 screws to bolt the door in, so that’s what I – I stocked the belts and I put in those pull strap screws. Doug Rademacher: [6:29] Can you explain what a manifest is? Marlene Hester: Manifest w-, was the, [tsk] uh, printout on the front a the car and it, and it stated what was supposed to go on that particular job. It was usually numbers and letters in a combination and it told you what was needed for that particular car. Doug Rademacher: [6:52] And how was your first day? Did you find it challenging? Marlene Hester: Yes. Yes, I did. ‘Cause, uh, I never worked in a factory before. It was totally, uh, foreign to me and it was, it was somethin’ to get used to. I’ll never forget those first 2 weeks. I mean, feet hurt, body hurt, everything hurt bad. Doug Rademacher: [7:25] Did anyone help you? Did you meet your union people early on? Did, did someone come in and say hi, I’m the union or somebody was, uh, there to help you learn a job? Marlene Hester: I’m sure there was someone to break me in but it was like, uh, 20 minutes and then I was on my own. I remember it was hardly no time at all. ‘Cause I think they had the, the guys that gave relief [inaudible 7:57] [throat clearing] before we shut the line down but, um, yeah, he wasn’t too happy about breakin’ anybody in. Doug Rademacher: Gary Judy. Gary Judy: Marlene, you said, uh, your girlfriend, roommate, came with ya. [8:12] Did she get hired in with you or…? Marlene Hester: Her fiancée was gonna put in an app, John, and he ended up over, I believe, at Plant 3 and, um, the best – that’s the best of my knowledge. She didn’t put in an app. Gary Judy: Oh. [8:31] Was, was there – you were a young girl and goin’ into the factory and… Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Gary Judy: …was there a lot of other girls that hired in with you at that time? Marlene Hester: Yeah, there was. Quite a few other women. Gary Judy: [8:47] So it was, uh – did you – so you felt comfortable? Uh, did you make some friends the first day and…? Marlene Hester: Yeah, I did. Doug Rademacher: Marilyn Coulter. Marilyn Coulter: Marlene, I’m just gonna take ya back a little bit. Now, I know you said that you were from Lansing. [9:02] Did you know anything or anybody who worked in Fisher Body [tsk] that you heard any stories about the plant? Marlene Hester: No. No. Marilyn Coulter: So, um, when you came in – he asked you were there other women. [9:18] Were there any other women in the department that you hired in? Marlene Hester: Yes, there were. Marilyn Coulter: [9:21] And so there were other women down the line? Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Marilyn Coulter: [9:24] Did they befriend you? Did they give you any words of wisdom on what it’d be to work [inaudible 9:29]? Marlene Hester: No, not really. We just, um, [tsk] tellin’ each other how bad our feet hurt and how bad our back hurt and just stuff like that [inaudible 9:41]… Marilyn Coulter: Hm. Marlene Hester: …the first few weeks. Marilyn Coulter: [9:45] So now were there any other women who were already seniority employees there? Who had already been workin’ in the department? Marlene Hester: Oh, yes. Yeah, there were. Marilyn Coulter: [9:53] Did they tell you how to make it through it? Marlene Hester: My – I had an uncle, his name is [Bob Simons 9:58] and he was a foreman at the Olds. He’s the one that told me to buy shoes, uh, 1 size larger, where 2 pair a socks. He says your feet are gonna hurt worse than anything, so that’s what I did. And, um, they still hurt a lot. [laughter] Didn’t matter. That break-in time, you never forget it ‘cause it’s so bad. Doug Rademacher: Earl Nicholson. Earl Nicholson: [10:23] Did you wear boots or tennis shoes? Marlene Hester: Boots. Earl Nicholson: [10:27] Over the, over the ankle boots or, um…? Marlene Hester: No, they were – they weren’t high-top or anything, they were just regular boots. Earl Nicholson: Mm-hm. [10:39] And, uh, and did you use gloves and – did they give – ish-, issue gloves and safety glasses and…? Marlene Hester: Yes, uh-huh. Had to use gloves. Just ca-, cloth gloves. Doug Rademacher: Doug Rademacher. Marlene, you had never worked an assembly line, uh, factory. ‘Course you put a lotta coins from what you said into, uh, probably, uh, machines or sleeves or whatever. [11:06] But can you tell wh-, what it was like to have a vehicle approach you? You’ve read the manifest, you grab your stock. How do you, how do you, um – was there enough time to get your job done? Was it a challenge to get that job done? Marlene Hester: There was enough time to get the job done. Um. I just – I had a big rack beside me. It had all the rear belts, all the colors, [papers rustling] and, um, [tsk] it told me on the manifest it was K something, K with a number, and I s-, threw the belts in and put in the pull strap screws and then right next to me was my partner. He’s the one that bolted in the rear belts and then, uh, up the, up the line, that’s when the rear seats would go in, so had to pay attention. Get the, get the right color, get the right style, stuff like that. Doug Rademacher: Well, your – obviously your goal was to learn how to do the job and keep up. [12:10] When did ya start establishing relationships with your coworkers? Marlene Hester: Right away. Doug Rademacher: Right away? Marlene Hester: Hm. Doug Rademacher: [12:17] Do you remember your first break and things called wagons? Was there anything like that at that time? Marlene Hester: Yeah. Doug Rademacher: [12:25] Can you describe that? Marlene Hester: Well, they had relief men then and, um, [Quimby 12:31] was my relief man. And he knew who the new guys were and you couldn’t complain but he would, he would cheat us out of our break 3 or 4 minutes but what could ya say? And yeah, I remember the wagon comin’ up, buyin’ stuff off the wagon. Doug Rademacher: [12:55] Did ya start waiting for that part a the day [inaudible 12:58]? Marlene Hester: Yes. Doug Rademacher: Became a… Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Doug Rademacher: I know the wagon was a bargained benefit and it went away in the f-, in the future, so… Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Doug Rademacher: …just, uh. [13:07] I know we had breaks but that wagon was a special break wasn’t it? Marlene Hester: Yeah, it was. Doug Rademacher: [tsk] Earl Nicholson. Earl Nicholson: [13:16] I was gonna ask you when you first came into the factory and, uh, when did you meet your supervisor and do you remember who it was? Marlene Hester: [throat clearing] Well, um, there was a group of 4 of us, uh, that followed this person up into 3X and I th-, it was either [Lonnie Duke 13:38] or George Burdette. I can’t remember which, which foreman I had first but they – [throat clearing] that was, uh, the foremans that were up in 3X in, in my particular department. Earl Nicholson: [13:52] And how – and, and, and how was – do you remember the, the initial interaction between you and a supervisor or did he just walk up and say anything important to you or did he just ignore you or…? Marlene Hester: Yeah, Lonnie Duke was real – he was, uh, mean-looking and a little bit grouchy and, um, George Burdette was a little more friendly and a little more open, so, um, ya just do your job, you, you were all right. Doug Rademacher: Cheryl McQuaid. Cheryl McQuaid: Marlene, you said that Quimby, um, was your relief man and he would short you 3 or 4 minutes. Was there – and you couldn’t do anything about it. [14:32] Was there any importance of that 3 or 4 minutes and did it matter? Marlene Hester: Yes, it did. Because, um, add that up through the whole day and it could’ve added up to almost 15 minutes and when your feet are, are kickin’ ya and every-, everything’s hurting so bad, I mean, yeah, 5, 6 minutes made all the difference. And – but he knew what he was doin’, s-, you know, sooner he could get done, sooner he could leave. Doug Rademacher: Doug Rademacher. Marlene, you said you were hurting, aching. [15:11] Is that the common job in a, in a auto factory? Was everybody hurting? Uh, there’s thousands of people work there. What – were the jobs equitable or was everybody hurting? Marlene Hester: I imagine everybody, um, had their own aches and pains. It just depended what job they were on or they might’ve gotten used to it or, um. [tsk] I, I – the people that I was around, they, they did, um, voice their opinion on how achy and tired, sore they were. [laughter] Doug Rademacher: Gary Judy. Gary Judy: [15:54] Did, did you ever feel like quitting? Did, did you think that maybe you wouldn’t make it through your probationary period or… Marlene Hester: No, no. Gary Judy: …did any of the people that you hired in with, uh, did, did they all make it through that period? Marlene Hester: We all made it. We all made the 90 days. Gary Judy: Uh, I’d like to go back to your relief person. [16:13] Once you got your time in and got established and, and was in the union, did you ever confront him about ripping you off on your relief time? Marlene Hester: I don’t think I did because by that time, I had put in a transfer for another job and I went downstairs on the A line, so I don’t remember ever confronting him about it. Gary Judy: [16:39] [Inaudible 16:39] – can you tell us a little bit about that job that you went to [inaudible 16:42] and how it compared to your previous job? Marlene Hester: It was good job. It was at the end of the line on the A line and the, the jobs were all done. The seats were in and, uh, me and my partner would put plastic over the seats and put a big rubber band around the seats to, um, you know, keep dirt off from’m. So that was our, that was our job. It’s a good job. Gary Judy: Hm. Doug Rademacher: [tsk] [17:17] Marlene, tell us a little bit about pranks. Did anyone pull pranks on you and would you share that? And did you ever pull a prank on anybody else? Marlene Hester: [tsk] Well, when I went down on the A line, uh, [sighing] th-, there was quite a few guys that would hang around and, um – anyways, I was, I was sitting on one a those high chairs. Remember when the foremans, they didn’t have an office then, they just had a high table where they had their books and whatever and I was sitting at one a those h-, tables and, uh, mindin’ my own business and someone, I don’t know who it was, if it was [Don Bogart 18:04] or who it was, came behind me and, and took a hold a that back seat and then I thought I was flipping backwards. And that scared me more than anything. And I, I really – I jumped all over him for that ‘cause I was like 4 months with my baby and I said don’t ever, ever do that to me again. [laughter] So stupid. But I don’t, I don’t think I ever pulled any pranks on anybody. I minded my own business and like that. Marilyn Coulter: Uh. Doug Rademacher: Marilyn Coulter. Marilyn Coulter: [18:38] Um, now how long had you been working when you went downstairs to the A line? Marlene Hester: Um. [tsk] I had been working at least 3 or 4 months. Marilyn Coulter: Three or four months. [18:54] So, um, how were you treated being a new hire and pregnant? Marlene Hester: Well, mostly everybody left me alone. It, it got to a point where they wanted to eliminate that plastic job and it was [Rocky Wright 19:17] and he was bound and determined to eliminate that job. And, um, and he did. He got his own way eventually. And then – so I had to take out low man in Trim, which was installing the rear belts and, um, I wasn’t strong enough. There was no way I could do that job, so I, I just went out on maternity leave. Marilyn Coulter: So you just went out on leave. So… Marlene Hester: Yeah. Marilyn Coulter: …um, 2 questions. [19:51] Number 1, so how long – so you went out like shortly after your 4 months? Okay. Marlene Hester: Four or five. Marilyn Coulter: Four or five months. Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Marilyn Coulter: [20:01] And so once again, what is that like to work on an assembly line at a pace that you don’t have any control over and being pregnant? What was that like for you outside a your feet killin’ ya? Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Marilyn Coulter: [20:17] Was that difficult? Marlene Hester: Yeah, it was. Um. Just, you know, ya had to keep up or you’d get in trouble. End up in the office. So ya had to keep up. Marilyn Coulter: [20:32] The next – when you said you took out somebody, was that a transfer? How was that – what does that mean you took somebody else out? You took out low man. What’s taking out low man? Marlene Hester: I, uh, I bumped into the low man – I bumped low man in the trim shop because I had more seniority than him. [clicking] Doug Rademacher: Doug Rademacher. [20:56] Marlene, did you have any other family members that worked at the Fisher Body? Marlene Hester: No. Doug Rademacher: [tsk] [21:05] Would you please tell us about the different supervisors you had? Did you, uh, have supervisors that were good? Supervisors that were bad? What made a good or bad supervisor? Marlene Hester: Yes, I had good, good ones and bad ones. Um. The good ones were the ones that would leave ya alone and it’s – that’s the most of it. Uh. If they left ya alone, you do your job, that was good. Um. I had a, a really bad foreman. It was in, in 1980. His name was [Jerry Done 21:44] and every day I had to go up to his desk and get chewed out about something and, um, [tsk] he was a really, really bad foreman. Earl Nicholson: [Inaudible 22:04]. Doug Rademacher: Earl Nicholson. Earl Nicholson: [22:05] Is he – was he the type a guy that he just liked – he kinda liked trouble? Did he stir the pot or was he, was he… Marlene Hester: Yes. Earl Nicholson: …pushing unnecessarily? Marlene Hester: Yes. He – I, I could tell he’s a – he was the type that liked, uh, the adrenaline and getting upset and makin’ the other person upset and he was that type. Earl Nicholson: [22:31] So, so how was he when he was out on the floor when he was away from his office and he was out on the floor? Was he the type a guy that would pace up and down the line watching people? Would he – was he – he wasn’t helpful at all? Marlene Hester: No, not really. Gary Judy: Gary Judy. Doug Rademacher: Gary Judy. Gary Judy: [22:47] Did – now did he treat everybody this way or was it just you? Do you feel you were singled out or…? Marlene Hester: Yes, I do. I was singled out. Gary Judy: [22:56] Do ya have any idea why he might’ve acted that way? Was it somethin’ maybe against women or – do ya think or…? Marlene Hester: [tsk] I do. One day, I told him – I said I got a doctor’s appointment and it was that afternoon whatever day it was and he refused to let me out. So I left at lunch and I didn’t come back for 2 weeks. I mean, he, he had gotten on, on my nerves so bad and so I had my doctor write me out a slip and I didn’t go back for 2 weeks. I had to get away from that man. Gary Judy: [23:32] So, so what happened? Did… Marlene Hester: He… Gary Judy: …uh, how did ya – did ya call into work and report it to somebody that you were out on [sick leave 23:39]? How did… Marlene Hester: I… Gary Judy: …that work… Marlene Hester: Yeah, I did. Gary Judy: …[inaudible 23:41]? Marlene Hester: I’m sure I talked to my committee man and, uh, told, told him what was goin’ on and – but I covered all the dates and all the times and he, he tried to burn me every which way but I w-, like I had myself covered, so there wasn’t too much he could do about it and that made him angry too. Gary Judy: So, so you were out for 2 weeks and you come back to work and you have to come back to the same supervisor. Marlene Hester: Yeah. Gary Judy: [24:12] And what, what happened when you came back to work? Did, did things change at all or, uh…? Marlene Hester: No. No, they didn’t change. Um. [tsk] I got away from him somehow. I, I either put in for another job or, um, or they relocated me or – I can’t remember but I didn’t have to work for him for very much longer ‘cause it wasn’t workin’ out. Gary Judy: [25:40] Did he have other women in the area that he… Marlene Hester: Hm. Gary Judy: …harassed or…? Marlene Hester: There was no other women there. I was the only one. Gary Judy: So you were the only one in that area… Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Gary Judy: …and he was probably one a those supervisors or men that didn’t feel women should be workin’ in the shop. Marlene Hester: Yeah. Gary Judy: Sounds like. Hm. Doug Rademacher: Doug Rademacher. Marlene, you said you got with your, your, uh, committee man, your union representation. [24:59] Can you imagine [inaudible 25:10] what it would be like, uh, to work in a plant that didn’t have a union and can ya share how did that union help you in that situation? Marlene Hester: [tsk] Well, having the union there, it would be difficult to imagine what it would be like without one. Um. Because you know there’s always somebody in your corner. Um. [tsk] What was the s-, the second one? Doug Rademacher: [25:37] I just was curious if the – you, you needed the time off and you were able to be protected by the doctor but… Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Doug Rademacher: …did the committee, the union representation step in and give you… Marlene Hester: Yes. Doug Rademacher: …some support? Marlene Hester: Yes, they did. Doug Rademacher: [25:51] Did that keep that supervisor at bay a little bit? Marlene Hester: Little bit, yeah. Doug Rademacher: Earl Nicholson. Earl Nicholson: Um. [25:59] Could you describe the interaction that you had back then? Can you remember the interaction that you had with your, with your committee man or, or any other union people? Marlene Hester: Just that they knew the problems I was having with Jerry Done and, um, I, I kept them informed and they helped me, um, with – you know, they helped me through that situation. Earl Nicholson: [26:28] So did they, did they come and talk to you? Did you go talk to them? Marlene Hester: It was both. It was both ways. Earl Nicholson: [26:34] And did you, and, and did you go to the union hall or did you go to the work center? Marlene Hester: I went to the work center. Earl Nicholson: [26:41] And, and, what, what – well, what is the work center? Marlene Hester: It’s, um, a special place in the plant where the union reps have their offices and, and they’re located in a, in a particular, you know, spot and you – when you go down in the work center, you know, you know you can find your rep. Earl Nicholson: [27:05] So was that sort of like a safe zone for you… Marlene Hester: Yes. Earl Nicholson: …that you could go in there and you could feel comfortable and, uh, you could, you could be able to voice your, your problems without, without repercussions. Marlene Hester: Yes. Yes, it was a – it made you feel safe. Doug Rademacher: Marlene, this is Doug Rademacher. [27:25] Could you – do you have a particular committee person that helped you that you’ll always be thankful for? Anybody s-, uh, step out of the – out there and help you out a lot? Marlene Hester: I think, uh, [Bill White 27:39] was one of’m and [Joe Serna 27:42] was another one. And [Curly Jones 27:45], he was pretty good. Those 3. Doug Rademacher: Sounds like you used th-, the union quite a bit to, to protect you and help you. Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Doug Rademacher: [27:58] Can you tell us what ya did on your lunch break? Marlene Hester: [sighing] Oh, I always carried my lunch ‘cause it was always far to go up to the cafeteria. There wasn’t that much time and I just usually stayed in and stayed near my job and [inaudible 28:20] just made it easier for me. And rest. Doug Rademacher: You said [laughter] that. I, I’m just curious. [28:26] Did ya ever get lost in the plant when you first hired in? Marlene Hester: Yes. Doug Rademacher: [28:30] What’s that like when you know you’re supposed to be somewhere and the assembly line starts and you don’t know where you’re at? Marlene Hester: You just start asking, um, the first person that comes along and ask’m for directions or which way and, uh, they get a kick out of it but usually they’re, you know, they’re helpful. Point ya in the right direction. Doug Rademacher: [28:54] Is there a particular panic – can you even describe that feeling? Marlene Hester: [sighing] Yeah, that you’re gonna get in trouble [laughter] ’cause [laughter] you’re, you’re not [laughter] where you’re supposed to be. Yeah, it is, it is – push the panic button. Definitely. Doug Rademacher: Okay. Marilyn Coulter. Marilyn Coulter: Marlene, I wanted to know – you said before previously that you were the only woman working in that department. Uh, 2 questions. [29:21] Number 1, did that happen often that you were the only woman working in the department and how did that work for you? Marlene Hester: During that time, I was on first shift and it happened more, um, that there were less women on the day shift and then when I went to second shift, of course, there was more women and, uh, which was – it was a lot better… Marilyn Coulter: Hm. Marlene Hester: …on the second shift. Marilyn Coulter: [29:52] Did the men – when you worked in areas where you were the only female, did your coworkers – did they befriend you? Did they take care of you? Were you the queen or were you somebody they wanted to push out? Marlene Hester: [tsk] There was only usually 1 or 2 that would, uh, buddy up but the maj-, the majority of the guys, they just kept to themselves. They really didn’t make a point to be friendly or… Marilyn Coulter: Hm. Marlene Hester: …anything like that. Marilyn Coulter: [31:31] Did you find that when you went to the night shift and there were more women there that the men and women got along better? Marlene Hester: Yes. Marilyn Coulter: [30:40] What were some a the biggest differences that you noticed about the night shift from the day shift? Marlene Hester: Um, there’s not as many, um, shirts and ties walkin’ around and it was a little more relaxed and, um, most of my friends were on night shift. And that’s where I stayed for, uh, 20 years. Marilyn Coulter: For 20 years. Marlene Hester: Yeah. Marilyn Coulter: So you said that you had fam-, friends. [31:09] Did any of these friendships take place outside of the plant? Marlene Hester: Yeah, there was 3. Um, [Debbie Calwaite 31:19] and, uh, [Lottie Walker 31:22] and, um, [tsk] [Turell], [Lorrie, Lorrie Tarrell 31:30]. That’s it. Those 3. Marilyn Coulter: [31:38] And have you kept close contact throughout the 20 years? Marlene Hester: With Lottie I have mostly. Marilyn Coulter: That’s great. [31:47] How did, um, ya pass the time workin’ on the line? What types of things did you guys do to pass the time to break the monotony of work? Marlene Hester: [tsk] Hm, lis-, we could listen to radio back then and we could look at magazines and read the newspaper, talk to our partner across the line. Um. Stuff like that. Doug Rademacher: Earl Nicholson. Earl Nicholson: You said, uh, that you were 4 months pregnant. [32:20] When did you go out for maternity leave? Marlene Hester: Four or five. Earl Nicholson: And how long did it last? Marlene Hester: Lemme see. My daughter was born in January, the end a January in – [tsk] of ’80. Then I had 6 weeks to recover after that. Earl Nicholson: [32:46] And when you came back, um, with a child – you know, t-, caring for a child and husband in the house, you know, was that – did that make, you know, your, your factory experience even more difficult? Marlene Hester: Yes, it did. I, I remember I was, um, I was in Trim. I was putting the, uh, the window crank on and some other things there in Trim and I remember just crying and – ‘cause I – my daughter was a newborn and I’d call home. My mom was watchin’ her but st-, that was good enough. I just – I missed her. And I cried every day for as long as I can remember ‘cause I missed her. Marilyn Coulter: Hm. Marlene Hester: Didn’t wanna be there. I wanted to be with her. That was rough. Marilyn Coulter: It was rough… Doug Rademacher: Marilyn Coulter. Marilyn Coulter: Marilyn Coulter. [33:38] It was rough, so was that a time when your friends really helped you through it? Did your friends help you get through that time? Marlene Hester: Yes. ‘Cause they – there was other women there. They, they were going through the same thing. They all had kids at home. Marilyn Coulter: Marlene, you said that you worked on the assembly line. You said that you had time to read. [33:58] There’s time to read when you’re workin’ on the line? Marlene Hester: Dependin’ what job you had. How much, um, how much work was on that particular job. Some you could, some you couldn’t. Marilyn Coulter: [34:12] And what type of music? Um. Is it easy to hear a radio inside a factory? It’s not noisy? Marlene Hester: Hm. I always wore ear plugs. You could – I could always hear the radio, what was playin’. Marilyn Coulter: [34:27] Were there a lot of radios? Was it…? Marlene Hester: Yeah. Sometimes they were on different stations or whatever but that never bothered me. Marilyn Coulter: Oh. Marlene Hester: Just havin’ somethin’ to listen to. Gary Judy: [34:38] Marlene… Doug Rademacher: Gary Judy. Gary Judy: …you, uh – now you went to trim on nights and how long did you stay there? Marlene Hester: Well, it was quite a while. Um. It was a couple, couple a years anyways. Gary Judy: [35:01] And, and then what happened? W-, where’d you go? Marlene Hester: Well, um, [tsk] in 19 – about June of 1982 is when I got called into Material. Gary Judy: [35:13] So that was, uh, a preferred job getting called into Material? Marlene Hester: Yes, it was. Gary Judy: [35:19] Can you tell us a little bit about that experience and, and what that was like and how many – was there very many women in Material at that time or…? Marlene Hester: Um. I – my job had been eliminated a-, a-, again and the, the foremans were looking through my transfers in – or something to give them, you know, um, a reference point to a job to put me on or that I could go to and, um, it just so happened I had a transfer into Material and it was, uh, [Lyle Leatherberry 35:56] that, um, [tsk] got me in, got me in Medical and, uh, got my physical all done and I was on a truck that evening, so. Gary Judy: [36:11] So that was a – predominantly a male job, wasn’t it at that time? There – was there very many other women on Material? Marlene Hester: There was no other women in Material at that time, uh, and I was told that it had been at least 10 years went by be-, and there had been no women in Material for the – for that last 10 years. So I was, I was being watched [laughter] real carefully. Gary Judy: [36:39] So you were kinda breaking new ground for, for women at that time… Marlene Hester: Yes. Gary Judy: …in the plant. Marlene Hester: Yes. Gary Judy: [36:46] How did that feel? What was, what was that like and did you feel any added pressures to ya? I mean, did people, did, did people, uh, encourage your or discourage you or…? Marlene Hester: There was both. There were, there were men that, uh, turned their nose up, went the other way, um, and they were no help but there was always 1 or 2 that, you know, took me under their wing and helped me. You know, made sure I didn’t… Gary Judy: [37:15] Did you find, did you find jobs in Material, uh, some of’m that were hard for women to do because a the job itself? Can you d-, describe it a little bit and what it was like? Marlene Hester: [tsk] Well, opening up, uh, back glass racks and the, and the door glass racks. Those were really hard to open. And, um, then out to the body shop, those big [quarter 37:40] racks. You had to unsnap a wooden bar and snap it back into the rack, you know, up outta the way. There, there was some things that it was h-, it was more difficult. Gary Judy: So normally when you go into Material, uh, ya go in as a utility person. Marlene Hester: Right. Gary Judy: [38:02] Is, is that w-, how you went into material? As a… Marlene Hester: Yes. Gary Judy: …utility person? Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Gary Judy: 38:06] Did you ever get stuck on a job where you felt pressured that maybe you wouldn’t be able to do the job because of some of those racks that were hard to open and, and what you did to overcome that? Marlene Hester: [tsk] [sighing] I didn’t ever have a fear that I wouldn’t be able to do the job. I – um, if anything, I would go get my, my supervisor and let him know that I was h-, havin’ this problem or that problem and he found another driver and – to show me an easier way to open up the rack or like that. I wouldn’t let it go. I’d get help. Gary Judy: So you never shut the line down. [laughter] Marlene Hester: No. Not that I know of. Marilyn Coulter: Marlene. Marilyn Coulter. [39:00] To be a trucker, do you have to have any kind of training? Do you have to have any kind of annual training that you have to take or special tests and if so… Marlene Hester: Yeah. Marilyn Coulter: …what? Marlene Hester: Um. Every 3 years, we have to get relicensed and it’s, um, [tsk] it’s a physical and then it’s a written-type test and, uh, that takes about 4 or 5 hours outta the day to get that done and get relicensed. Marilyn Coulter: [39:33] When you first started, you said that they put you – so they… Marlene Hester: When I… Marilyn Coulter: …tested you, trained you, and put you right onto the truck that same night? Marlene Hester: When I, when I first went into Material, they didn’t have any training or anything like that set up. There was a physical but that was it. There was no training t-, to learn how to drive a fork truck. Marilyn Coulter: On the job. Marlene Hester: It was on-the-job training. Marilyn Coulter: [39:58] What was your first night on the truck like? Marlene Hester: [tsk] I was drivin’ an 8000-pounder and that was, that was pretty overwhelming because th-, that was the biggest fork truck in the plant and – but bein’ out in the body shop every night, uh, you got used to it. And then when you go to Trim, t-, and use those little 6000, you couldn’t even see the forks and so it was – I liked bein’ in the body shop. Marilyn Coulter: [Inaudible 40:30]. Gary Judy: Hm. Marilyn Coulter: [40:33] How did the body shop differ from the trim shop insofar as environment and people? Marlene Hester: Yeah, it was, it was a lot different. Um. In the body shop, there was a lotta sparks, a lotta smoke. You know, it was real noisy and not a, not a whole lotta room to set your stock in and, um, and in Trim, it was m-, m-, quiet and everybody wore shorts and, and, uh, but like I said, once you get sent to body shop, day in, day out, for years, that’s what you get used to and that’s what I got used to. Marilyn Coulter: [41:19] In the body shop, you’re not allowed to wear shorts? Marlene Hester: No. Marilyn Coulter: [Inaudible 41:22]. Marlene Hester: You have to have sleeves and long pants or wear coveralls. Cover up your skin ‘cause you don’t wanna get burned from the sparks. Marilyn Coulter: [41:33] Even truckers along with the people who worked on the line? Marlene Hester: Yes. Marilyn Coulter: [Inaudible 41:38]. Doug Rademacher: Doug Rademacher. Marlene, you just said you preferred the body shop. Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Doug Rademacher: [41:44] Now did you ever work in body shop outside of the material group? Marlene Hester: [Inaudible 41:49], never. Doug Rademacher: Never? [41:51] And what about the paint department? Did you ever have to go to the paint department? Marlene Hester: [tsk] When they reduced, um, drivers at one time, um, I had to – I ended up in Paint up in 21, [21-2 42:08], for a little while, a few months. That’s the only contact I had with Paint. Doug Rademacher: [42:17] Now, the 21-2, that’s a location in the plant? Marlene Hester: It’s a, it’s a location, um, in the plant that the cars are already painted and they’re taped off and our job was to remove that masking tape and, and the paper ‘cause it was getting ready to go down into the trim shop. Doug Rademacher: You worked in Trim on the assembly line. Now you were up in the Paint removing paper and tape. [42:53] What’d ya think of the difference in those jobs? Marlene Hester: [tsk] Doug Rademacher: [42:56] What the – again, the job – are they equitable or…? Marlene Hester: Hm. No. The ones in Trim are not that good. The one in, in Paint was, was a good job. It didn’t – alls you were doin’ was removing, um, protectors from the bolts on the floor and like I said, the masking tape and the paper, just removing that and throwin’ it away. Doug Rademacher: [43:24] Can ya talk a little more about the environment? What was the air like in the paint department and did you have to use any chemicals ever or anything around that area? Marlene Hester: Hm. [tsk] Up where I was, um, it was well-ventilated and it was actually a real small area and the cars just, uh, came up outta the ovens and looped around once and, and then they were done – we were done with them. Doug Rademacher: Marlene, I had the pleasure of working with you in the Fisher Body plant. Uh. [44:03] Would you talk a little bit about, uh, the different jobs you did in body shop and Material [coughing] and can you describe a particular location, uh, where the train would come in and wasn’t there a particular odor in that area? Marlene Hester: [tsk] Okay. Um. Being on utility, I done every job that could be done in the body shop and, uh, driving fork truck. And there, there was the [Hoffman 44:33] and, um, that was [tsk], uh, an area where the paint sludge would come down from Paint into these big gondolas and in big sheets of, um, paper towel or something and it – some, some days, it would take [coughing] take your breath away [coughing] it smelled so bad. [sniffing] Thank goodness for summer ‘cause then we had to open the door [little bit 45:01]. [sniffing] Doug Rademacher: [45:03] Can you tell us about moving into what is, uh, a different job that, uh – in the material department. One a the preferred jobs in Material. Can you share that and tell us what that was? Marlene Hester: Oh, the controller jobs were, um, were real good positions to have. You call in your trucks or you order in your trains and, and the guys would haul, haul the, uh, parts out. And, uh, controller jobs were hard to get. Doug Rademacher: [45:43] Can you talk about a Friday night? Was there – in that particular group, was there camaraderie? Marlene Hester: Yes. Doug Rademacher: [45:54] What are some a the things that would happen on a Friday evening? Marlene Hester: Oh, throughout the week, we’d get together and try to set up something for Friday to have a dinner and, and have people bring in something. We’d make a list and, and have a dinner on Friday night. Doug Rademacher: [46:14] Was that common practice? Marlene Hester: Most a the time, yep. Doug Rademacher: [46:19] And did that go on in other parts a the plant or was it just in the material group? Marlene Hester: Yeah, it went, it went on throughout the plant also. I, I don’t think Production did that as much but we had dinners al-, almost every week. Marilyn Coulter: Mm-hm. Doug Rademacher: [46:42] Did you ever come to consider your coworkers brothers and sisters? Marlene Hester: Yes. Doug Rademacher: [46:51] Can you explain that bonding, that…? Marlene Hester: Well, working with, with them every, every night for 8 hours, 9 hours and, um, [tsk] tryin’ to help them or they’d help you, I mean, you get close and you know a lot about each other and, um, yeah. Doug Rademacher: There were programs that were introduced into the plant and I believe you took, uh, the opportunity to, uh, be a leader in one of them. [47:32] Can you say what – d-, describe what that was and what you did for that? Marlene Hester: Well, in the early years, they had the EPGs, that was Employee Participating Group, and I really enjoyed that. I was out on track 8, um, at the time. That’s a rail dock and – uh, in the body shop and I done that for quite a while. Probably until I, I got laid off outta Material again. W-… Doug Rademacher: [48:03] Well, y-, you had a job, so what exactly did ya do for this EPG? Marlene Hester: We would hold weekly meetings and, um, I would have the guys – it was mostly about safety and safety hazards, things that were unsafe and the floors being in really bad shape and trying to get the floors fixed and things like that – of that nature. Doug Rademacher: Marilyn Coulter. Marilyn Coulter: Marlene, can ya – we talking about safety. [48:38] Can you tell us some of the things that happened as a trucker where safety’s concerned? I know that – with pedestrian or structure-type things that have happened. Marlene Hester: Well, it was always the ped-, the pedestrian had the right a way. And, um, we always, always had to be alert and payin’ attention because there would be people that would cut through and they wouldn’t – you wouldn’t see’m until the last second but, um, after people did get hurt or whatever happened, they started making the pedestrian routes. They outlined it in green and, um, that helped a little bit to let the pedestrians ha-, have their own little walkway and it helped a little. Marilyn Coulter: Hm. I know that there was some times when some truckers would hit pipes and things like that. [49:42] Did that ever happen to you? Marlene Hester: Mostly [laughter] when you’re backin’ up and you didn’t see the steel beam behind ya, you’d back up into the beam but, [sniffing] um – [tsk] and that was a wakeup. I’m tryin’ to, I’m tryin’ to think. I, I never, I never spilled any, uh, load and, um, [tsk] no, just backed into a beam 3 or 4 times but that’s about it. Doug Rademacher: Doug Rademacher. You said you never spilled a load. Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Doug Rademacher: [50:26] Was there anything that was – uh, if you did spill a load, was there somethin’ that was, uh, expected of ya? Marlene Hester: Yeah, you had to jump down off your truck fast and get the stock back in the basket and be on your way ‘cause you’d be blockin’ the aisle. Doug Rademacher: [50:46] But what about the fellow truckers and – was there a, was there a due to be paid for that? Marlene Hester: Yep. When you, when you spilled a load, ya had to bring in doughnuts the next day for everybody. That was the law. Doug Rademacher: I wanna take ya into a different part of your work life and this is, um, [papers rustling] union activities. [51:11] Were you ever [sniffing] active in your union? Marlene Hester: Hm, goin’ to the union meetings. Doug Rademacher: [51:17] Did you participate in the elections? Marlene Hester: Always. Doug Rademacher: [51:23] What was your feeling about people that, uh, didn’t exercise that right? [sniffing] Marlene Hester: Well, um, it’s, it’s their choice, um, to be involved or not. I, I didn’t – I wouldn’t hold it against’m but they – that’s what we’re – that’s what you’re there for is to help us and stuff. Marilyn Coulter: Marilyn Coulter. [51:52] Marlene, can you tell us how did you, um, find out about the different candidates who were running for officers – uh, to be officers in your local union? Um. How did that happen? Marlene Hester: Mostly, um, the candidates would come in on the shop floor and hand out flyers with their, with their picture and all of their background information on it and [tsk], um, like that. That’s how I’d hear about it. Marilyn Coulter: [52:26] Was it difficult to do your job and also listen to campaign speeches at the same time? Marlene Hester: Hm. Marilyn Coulter: [52:35] Or how did that go for you? Marlene Hester: I think they knew if we were – if we were on a run or we had stock, uh, on the front of our, our truck, they wouldn’t hold us up for too long. So. But the, the sheet gave all the information too that we needed. Doug Rademacher: Doug Rademacher. Marlene, I wanna talk about the benefits. [53:06] Could you share what is your most appreciated bargained benefit that the union secured at the bargaining table for you? Marlene Hester: Um. I, I’d have to say healthcare because, um, it’s pretty tough in, in this world without it, so I’m very appreciative of that. Doug Rademacher: [53:35] Was there any other benefits that you were able to utilize? Any a the education things? Can you tell us about those and… Marlene Hester: Yes. Doug Rademacher: …explain? Marlene Hester: Um. The TAP. I, I got, um, quite a bit a money for my daughter. Sh-, she’s been in college sh-, for 5 years. And, um, I’ve been taking classes since, since last May and, uh – so that’s a good program. Doug Rademacher: Okay. Marilyn Coulter: [54:11] Marlene, what is TAP? Marlene Hester: Tuition Assistance Program. Doug Rademacher: Could you tell us, uh – community activities. Uh, you’ve worked and you’ve met lots of people. [54:27] Do you do anything outside of the plant? Uh, has your plant life affected things that you see, uh, that are needed in the community and have you done anything outside of the plant? Marlene Hester: I, um, signed up for community service in May of, um, ’05 at the Goodwill up in Mason and I worked up there every day for 30 weeks. I got all my sheets. I kept’m all together. And that was a good experience. Um. [tsk] It was, um, having donations being brought in, sorting through the, the donations, and then, uh, getting them up, up on the floor to sell. And, um, I enjoyed workin’ at the Goodwill. Doug Rademacher: [tsk] That’s wonderful. [55:22] Can you just take for a moment and think about anything that – special happened to you in the years at Fisher Body? Did anyone do something special? Was there ever a day that stands out as the best day you ever had at Fisher Body? Marlene Hester: [tsk] Well… Doug Rademacher: [55:47] And if not, could you tell me y-, the worst? Marlene Hester: [laughter] That’d be 2, that’s be 2 days long. Um. Well, it’s the, it’s the night I got my daughter back from Mexico and my mother and brother picked me up in Detroit and the very first stop I made, I s-, came, uh, up to the shop and brought my daughter in and, um, everybody got to see Marisa. So that was one a the best days. Earl Nicholson: Earl Nicholson. [56:24] Uh, Marlene, you might have to explain that one just a little bit. Marlene Hester: When [sighing] my daughter was 2½, um, her dad picked her up for a visit on a Sunday and he was supposed to take her to Greenfield Village for the day and he was supposed to be back by 6 or 7. Well, 6 and 7 came and went and I found out a-, after, uh, [tsk] oh, a few days that he had plane tickets and it was all arranged and h-, he took her to Mexico. He flew her to Mexico. And, um, it took me 16 months to get her back home. And, uh, it was right around Christmastime when I got the call that they had arrested him and they said get down here right away by tomorrow, this such, such-and-such a time. And I did, I got down there the next day and, um, it was kinda funny ‘cause I flew outta Lansing and I, I told the stewardess on this little prop plane, I said I gotta make my connection in Chicago to Mexico because I haven’t had – seen my daughter in 16 months and they found her. And so they radioed ahead to Chicago and they held this plane for me for 45 minutes. They held it open. And they w-, they had guards running with me through O’Hare, got me to the plane, and I made my flight. Otherwise, I woulda, I woulda never got down there in time. And so anyways, I got my daughter back. Earl Nicholson: [58:13] Were you working, uh, during this time period? Marlene Hester: Yes, I was. Earl Nicholson: [58:17] And when you got the news, were you at work? Marlene Hester: I was at home. Earl Nicholson: [58:23] And how – and – this, this happened on a weekend or was it during the weekday? Marlene Hester: It was, um, a weekday. Earl Nicholson: [58:30] And how did you secure the time away from the factory in order to…? Marlene Hester: I remember, uh, getting ahold of, uh, [Lyle Auten 58:42] and telling him that I had to go and I’d be back within a couple a days. And, uh, I was, I was back within 3 days, I think. Earl Nicholson: [58:58] But there was no harassment or something? They said just go do it. Marlene Hester: Right. They were totally understanding. Earl Nicholson: Fantastic. Marlene Hester: Yeah. Yeah. Marilyn Coulter: [Inaudible 59:08]. Marlene. Marilyn Coulter. You worked in, in the factory since 1978. Um. You’ve been through a lot. You know, you’ve broken ground, you’ve been through a lotta things personally. [papers rustling] [59:28] What would you think would be one of the – made Fisher Body the capital of quality as [inaudible 59:33] became known as? Marlene Hester: [tsk] I just think that we, we had a oneness and we worked – most, most a the time, we worked together pretty, pretty well. And, um, and our union. Got a good union. Marilyn Coulter: After all this time, now it’s closing. [1:00:00] Uh, they’re gonna tear it down and Fisher Body, Lansing Car Assembly, as we know, will no longer be – how do you feel about that? Marlene Hester: Well, it’s sad. Um. I drive by every once in a while and [sighing] it’s gonna be sad to see it go. And, um, but sorta lookin’ ahead to goin’ to the new plant. It’s a little bit scary but we all gotta do it. Marilyn Coulter: [Inaudible 1:00:30]. [1:00:31] What words of wisdom [throat clearing] would you give to a young lady now coming in facing the things that you faced in the factory? What words of wisdom would you leave for young people? Marlene Hester: Well, my daughter works at Lear right now. She makes the seats that go into the Cadillacs and, um, I do, I do tell her to wrap up her wrists and wear comfortable shoes and, um, get to know your union reps and, um, do the best job that you can, be on time, and all a that. I let her – I told her that when she first started and I do remind her that every now and then but she’s a good employee. She’s always on time and always there. Marilyn Coulter: Excellent. Marlene Hester: Mm-hm. Marilyn Coulter: You told her to wrap up her wrists. [1:01:28] Why do you tell her to wrap up her wrists? Marlene Hester: I don’t want her to get an injury to her hands, to get carpal tunnel or – just give her wrists some support and then sh-, hopefully she won’t get the carpal tunnel. That’s all I’m really worried about. Marilyn Coulter: Thank you. Doug Rademacher: Well, it’s been a real pleasure. Doug Rademacher. Uh. [papers rustling] Marlene, we really appreciate the opportunity to interview you. Is there anything we did not ask you that you’d like to share today? Well, as you said, you were exercising your TAP money and, uh, you have a class to get to, so we really appreciate your time today. Thank you. Gary Judy: Thank you. Cheryl McQuaid: Thank you, Marlene. Earl Nicholson: Thank you, Marlene. Marlene Hester: Thank you. [clicking] /ad