Us writers at IDEAL Magazine always sit around and type. All we do is type on our typewriters until our fingers get so fatigued to the extent that we need to rest them for a solid ten minutes before heading back to the machine. We always hear about these so-called factory workers and their complaints about their working condition, and pondered if it was worse than sitting at a desk for 18 hours a day with nothing to do besides typing. We decided to go on a little adventure to visit our friend who happened to work at a factory nearby.
Upon arrival our friend greets us with a big smile; he had gotten time off work so he could give us a tour. He did not have shoes and was wearing an old overall that seemed like it belonged to the trash. He told his managers that he would take us around the facility to show us the magnificent machines that we have which help produce goods, but down inside we figured he was not content with his position as a factory worker and wanted to show us the atrocities that has happened as a result of the industrial revolution.
First off, he took us to the assembly line, where he sat and worked 16 hours a day. There was barely any light; the only light was the sunlight that shined through the windows. The people at this section resembled our friend; bare feet, poorly dressed, and poorly fed. Bare feet people seem so common here, I thought. I decided to ask why, and my friend responded, “We don’t have enough money to buy ourselves shoes. We only get paid $10 a week, but hey, at least we get paid. Plus, when we have shoes on it does more harm than good because we are wearing them for 16 hours everyday.” 16 hours of working at an assembly line is horrible, I thought. I mean, at least I get to write about different topics everyday for the Magazine!
Next, he took us to the cafeteria where lunch was being served. On the way there, I noticed some very young children eating food there. I frankly assumed that they were here because their parents were here, and there was no one to watch them. Only moments later I found out that they actually work here. Those children looked like they were under 10 years, and some of them even had deformed bodies, most likely from the extensive amount of work and little sunlight they receive! How insane, I thought. This is worse than I thought!
On the way home from the factory, I started to think about ways that could be implemented to make the factory workers’ lives better. If the owners and the workers had equal say in making decisions for the factory, as well as the workers’ wages and benefits, then the quality of life of the people will be better as a whole! Or even better, they can form groups of workers among themselves, and then protest against the owners and the government! Perhaps that would fix this dehumanizing environment that is occurring at these factories.
THE LIFE OF A WORKER
jimmy k