When I read the article “The Most Dangerous Job” I saw different sub-topic like sharp knives, the worst, don’t get caught, the value of an arm and finally Kenny. The author ended his story with Kenny.
Kenny was a Monfort employee for almost sixteen years. He could not read, possessed few skills other than his strength, and the company had given him a job. So he felt a strong loyalty to Monfort. He did not think highly of labor union and go against company. He was an active and outspoken member of an anti- union group. Although he got several injuries and can’t work he joins the work and tries to do his best. He was loyal to his job and company. He doesn’t care about his life while working. Not just for the company, but Kenny was faithful toward workers too. Once he saved one of the workers lives by running across the room, grab him by the seat of his pants, and pull him away from the machine an instant before it would have pulverized that worker. He was one of the fellow workers. Although he was loyal to his work and spend most of the life in work, finally company tossed him into the trash can. Monfort used each and every body part of Kenny and finally leave him at the time of help. Although Kenny worked there for almost sixteen years, he didn’t get any pension from Monfort. Once he was strong and powerful, but now he is suffering and walks through difficulties, tires easily, and feels useless.
When I read the story of Kenny I feel so sad. I don’t even think that he would have suffered like that. When he got awarded then I think that the company has positive thinking about him. But this was just show up. Finally company kicks him up and breaks his loyalty.
I have also some experience similar as Kenny. I work with one guy who is same like Kenny. He was very loyalty toward his job and boss. He works there for almost 17 years. He was a hard worker and does extra work for the company. But one day somebody complains about him and boss fire him in small reason. What did he get being loyalty and working for 17 years? So I think we should never trust the work and fully devoted over there. We should take our work as easy way. If we do that then it will go smoothly without any difficulties and conflict.
Interesting reflections, Mahendra - do you think we have other options besides deciding not to work hard as a way to respond to these conditions? Interestingly, we see in the conclusion of Ehrenreich that sometimes *working hard* is how people try to avoid alienation.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that if Kenny worked "the easy way" it would make his work go smooth. It just proves, that in that particular business an employee is by far NOT a valuable company asset, that in the bloody flesh industry a human is a disposable and sometimes way less valuable (or expensive) meat than beef:(
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to think about why workers are so often loyal to companies that aren't loyal to them - is it naivite, idealism, or something else?
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