DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Burlington Commission on Human Rights, 1964-1965

Transcribe
Translate

Burlington Commission on Human Rights, 1964-1965

At Work in Industry Today Page 26

ence, he had no problem getting a job as a tab machine operator in application engineering in May, 1962.
     His supervisor rated his work outstanding and noted especially Mr. Williams' businesslike approach to his work, his good judgment, dependability and his eagerness to learn.
     In August, 1963, he was promoted to program librarian in marketing. His job is to maintain computer programs -complicated sets of instructions for computer systems to perform specific tasks--and to make sure that customers receive the right programs to perform the work the customer wants to accomplish with his computer.
     In his present job, Charles Williams is enthusiastic about the opportunities he has to learn more from the programming specialists, engineers, salesmen and customers he deals with and who, he says, are always willing to take the time to help him with his personal program of self development. His present objective is to become more expert in computer programming and applications in order to advance to more responsible positions in computer marketing. The people he works with are confident he will succeed.
     Mr. Williams has married and started a family since coming with General Electric. But as part of his career plan, he intends to return to college, probably next winter, to work towards a master's degree in business administration with emphasis on computer applications.

[photo to right]
Esper Williams

Apprentice starting 3 1/2-year program to become machinist

As a graduate fresh out of high school, Esper Williams didn't wait for "opportunity" to knock on his door. Instead, he went out looking for it on his own.
     His job opportunity developed out of a casual visit to General Electric's Lamp Equipment Operation in Cleveland in February, 1964--only a week after receiving his diploma at Cleveland's East Technical High School.
     While looking for a job at a nearby factory one morning, Mr. Williams spotted the Lamp Equipment Plant and decided to make an inquiry there. He recalled that General Electric had been recommended to him by a friend who is employed at Nela Park, headquarters of the Company's Lamp Division.
     The personnel supervisor was in the process of considering applicants for an opening in the apprentice training program. Esper Williams was interviewed and given standard tests required of all shop applicants. He was found qualified and hired.
     He joined a group of ten young men who are currently enrolled in a 3 1/2-year apprenticeship program. The apprentices learn the machinists' trade on the job, with supplemental instruction in classes given at the plant and at Fenn College. Course work includes machine shop math, mechanical drawing, blueprint reading and related subjects.
     The apprentices were selected because they have a marked aptitude for mechanical and technical work. The course covers 6,800 hours of shop work divided into eight periods of 850 hours each. An additional minimum of approximately 600 hours of evening classroom studies is also required.
     Upon satisfactory completion of the apprenticeship course, the employee receives a cash bonus of $100, a certificate of graduation and a graduation pin.
     While at East Tech, Esper Williams found he liked to work with tools and on various machines used by him and fellow students in shop training. He specialized in automotive mechanics.
     Besides an aptitude for mechanical work, he has demonstrated he is industrious and willing to work toward realizing his goals. He served part-time during most of his high school career as a clerk in the book room at the Cleveland Board of Education. During the summer he did maintenance work at a warehouse.
     Mr. Williams believes his religious training accounts for his success in school and in the job opportunity he has found at General Electric. He has been active in his church since an early age and devotes much of his time in volunteer activity there.
     "My family and my church associates have shown a lot of faith in me and have given me much encouragement," he says. "I'd like to justify this faith and be a credit to them as well as to my race and to my employer."
     He adds:
     "I have been very encouraged, too, by the way I have been treated here. It's a fine place to work and I hope I can make the grade in this apprentice training program."
     The young apprentice has a large rooting section at home. In addition to his parents, he has four brothers and four sisters.

[photo to left]
Ollie Williams

She deals with many people as editorial secretary on GE magazine

In the summer of 1962 the outlook was bleak at the New York City publishing company at which Miss Ollie Williams was employed as a secretary: Business was poor, there had been staff cutbacks, and there were rumors of pay reductions. In July Miss Williams started showing her record to prospective new employers.( She had seven years of secretarial background with two publishing companies, American Girl magazine, a trade union, and the NAACP.) One of her first stops that July was at the executive offices of General Electric. She filled out application forms, passed stiff proficiency tests, and then continued on her job-hunting rounds.
     A few days later, the editors of General Electric's award-winning employee magazine, The Monogram, had a problem. Their experienced editorial secretary was planning to leave. They were delighted to find Miss Williams' application on file. Her publication experi-

26

Saving...

ence, he had no problem getting a job as a tab machine operator in application engineering in May, 1962. His supervisor rated his work outstanding and noted especially Mr. Williams' businesslike approach to his work, his good judgment, dependability and his eagerness to learn. In August, 1963, he was promoted to program librarian in marketing. His job is to maintain computer programs -complicated sets of instructions for computer systems to perform specific tasks--and to make sure that customers receive the right programs to perform the work the customer wants to accomplish with his computer. In his present job, Charles Williams is enthusiastic about the opportunities he has to learn more from the programming specialists, engineers, salesmen and customers he deals with and who, he says, are always willing to take the time to help him with his personal program of self development. His present objective is to become more expert in computer programming and applications in order to advance to more responsible positions in computer marketing. The people he works with are confident he will succeed. Mr. Williams has married and started a family since coming with General Electric. But as part of his career plan, he intends to return to college, probably next winter, to work towards a master's degree in business administration with emphasis on computer applications. [photo to right] Esper Williams Apprentice starting 3 1/2-year program to become machinist As a graduate fresh out of high school, Esper Williams didn't wait for "opportunity" to knock on his door. Instead, he went out looking for it on his own. His job opportunity developed out of a casual visit to General Electric's Lamp Equipment Operation in Cleveland in February, 1964--only a week after receiving his diploma at Cleveland's East Technical High School. While looking for a job at a nearby factory one morning, Mr. Williams spotted the Lamp Equipment Plant and decided to make an inquiry there. He recalled that General Electric had been recommended to him by a friend who is employed at Nela Park, headquarters of the Company's Lamp Division. The personnel supervisor was in the process of considering applicants for an opening in the apprentice training program. Esper Williams was interviewed and given standard tests required of all shop applicants. He was found qualified and hired. He joined a group of ten young men who are currently enrolled in a 3 1/2-year apprenticeship program. The apprentices learn the machinists' trade on the job, with supplemental instruction in classes given at the plant and at Fenn College. Course work includes machine shop math, mechanical drawing, blueprint reading and related subjects. The apprentices were selected because they have a marked aptitude for mechanical and technical work. The course covers 6,800 hours of shop work divided into eight periods of 850 hours each. An additional minimum of approximately 600 hours of evening classroom studies is also required. Upon satisfactory completion of the apprenticeship course, the employee receives a cash bonus of $100, a certificate of graduation and a graduation pin. While at East Tech, Esper Williams found he liked to work with tools and on various machines used by him and fellow students in shop training. He specialized in automotive mechanics. Besides an aptitude for mechanical work, he has demonstrated he is industrious and willing to work toward realizing his goals. He served part-time during most of his high school career as a clerk in the book room at the Cleveland Board of Education. During the summer he did maintenance work at a warehouse. Mr. Williams believes his religious training accounts for his success in school and in the job opportunity he has found at General Electric. He has been active in his church since an early age and devotes much of his time in volunteer activity there. "My family and my church associates have shown a lot of faith in me and have given me much encouragement," he says. "I'd like to justify this faith and be a credit to them as well as to my race and to my employer." He adds: "I have been very encouraged, too, by the way I have been treated here. It's a fine place to work and I hope I can make the grade in this apprentice training program." The young apprentice has a large rooting section at home. In addition to his parents, he has four brothers and four sisters. [photo to left] Ollie Williams She deals with many people as editorial secretary on GE magazine In the summer of 1962 the outlook was bleak at the New York City publishing company at which Miss Ollie Williams was employed as a secretary: Business was poor, there had been staff cutbacks, and there were rumors of pay reductions. In July Miss Williams started showing her record to prospective new employers.( She had seven years of secretarial background with two publishing companies, American Girl magazine, a trade union, and the NAACP.) One of her first stops that July was at the executive offices of General Electric. She filled out application forms, passed stiff proficiency tests, and then continued on her job-hunting rounds. A few days later, the editors of General Electric's award-winning employee magazine, The Monogram, had a problem. Their experienced editorial secretary was planning to leave. They were delighted to find Miss Williams' application on file. Her publication experi- 26