Working Conditions
Working conditions in the General Motors plants were very difficult. While wages
were low (
Wages and Breaks at Buick [audio],
Chevrolet and
Wage System [audio], and
Piece Work at General
Motors [audio]) and not equitable (
Pay Differences
for the Same Work [audio] and
Lost Wages[audio]),
complaints centered on treatment of the workers themselves (
Demands
of the Union [audio],
The Company Union [audio],
Working Conditions [text], and
Sitdown [text])
from getting breaks for water (
Assembly
Line Work: No Time for Water [audio] and
Assembly Line Work: No Time for
Water Part II [audio]), food (
Working Conditions Caused the Strike [audio],
No Eating on the Job [audio]), extreme heat (
Working in the
Heat [audio]), and in keeping up with the line work (
Working the Line [audio]
and
Getting Sick on the Line [audio]). These conditions contributed to
high turn over rates (
GM and Turnover Rates [audio]) and ultimately, a
surprising Sit-Down Strike (
General Public Caught by Surprise [audio].)
