"Swingman" wrote in message
news


First you must imagine a workplace attitude and culture where "tools of
the
trade" are not to be used by anyone who has not gone through the
appropriate
apprenticeship, and you can then begin to understand why the instructor's
comments may not have been "totally wrong, as you stated.

I understand those cultural nuances Swingman, and I've experienced
environments different from what we enjoy here at home, as well. There is a
difference though between what was allowed as a part of the job, on the work
floor, even back then, and what really existed in people's lives. Even back
then, kids worked with tools outside of the workplace, albeit they hadn't
completed any apprenticship. The whole conversation has not been about the
rules of closed shops and shop rules, it's been about kids learning and
doing. I agree with Duane that the instructor was wrong in what he said,
regarless of the cultural environment at the time. Beyond that, this is
2004 and not some other time in history when things were different.


Different "classes" of workers back in those days ... and woe betide me if
I
had attempted to pick up a hacksaw out on the factory floor.


Not so different from union shops today.

--

-Mike-