1937: CONSTRUCTING THE TERNSTEDT DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS
When I began working in the bearing industry in 1952, it was still known as the Ternstedt Division of General Motors, It began as Ternstedt, changed to Eastern Aircraft during WWII, then back to Ternstedt, then Fisher Body. It was a sad example of American industry being upstaged by cheaper imports and unreasonable operating costs.
HI TOM...EVERYONE WELCOMED GM TO THE AREA. THEIR PAY OF 65 CENTS AN HOUR WAS FAR BETTER THAN ALL THE OTHER PLANTS IN THE CITY. I TRIED MY BEST TO GET HIRED BUT COULD'NT MAKE IT. MY BROTHER LOU MADE IT AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE I KNEW WERE HIRED. I FINALLY GOT INTO THE POST OFFICE, WOPRKING NIGHTS AT ABOUT THE SAME PAY AS GM.
HEY JOE...65 CENTS AN HOUR WAS A FORTUNE IN THOSE DAYS. I WAS MAKING 18 CENTS AN HOUR IN STAR PORCELIN DURING THE 30'S AND MY GIRL FRIEND WAS MAKING 25 CEDNTS AN HOUR AT BAYER ASPERIN. THANK GOD FOR THE NYA, WPA, PWA AND ALL THE OTHER HELP THAT FDR CREATED.
Tom, My dad Steve (W2QJO) went to work there in 1939 - went to FLA for the war and came back after and retired from GM in March 1975 after 35 yrs in that building. He never took us kids to see it. We thank GM for our family living. Steve Jr.
HI TOM...EVERYONE WELCOMED GM TO THE AREA. THEIR PAY OF 65 CENTS AN HOUR WAS FAR BETTER THAN ALL THE OTHER PLANTS IN THE CITY. I TRIED MY BEST TO GET HIRED BUT COULD'NT MAKE IT. MY BROTHER LOU MADE IT AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE I KNEW WERE HIRED. I FINALLY GOT INTO THE POST OFFICE, WOPRKING NIGHTS AT ABOUT THE SAME PAY AS GM.
ReplyDeleteRalph:
ReplyDelete.65 an hour, when was that? The last I heard was floor sweepers were making 16.00 an hour.
HEY JOE...65 CENTS AN HOUR WAS A FORTUNE IN THOSE DAYS. I WAS MAKING 18 CENTS AN HOUR IN STAR PORCELIN DURING THE 30'S AND MY GIRL FRIEND WAS MAKING 25 CEDNTS AN HOUR AT BAYER ASPERIN. THANK GOD FOR THE NYA, WPA, PWA AND ALL THE OTHER HELP THAT FDR CREATED.
ReplyDeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteMy dad Steve (W2QJO) went to work there in 1939 - went to FLA for the war and came back after and retired from GM in March 1975 after 35 yrs in that building. He never took us kids to see it. We thank GM for our family living.
Steve Jr.