Comment on Dearborn, Michigan: Ford Rouge worker collapses, dies on shop floor
ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
While I’m sure they’re overworked and underpaid, the guys at my factory with 30+ years are all heavy smokers and drinkers. Every year there’s at least 1 person that has a heart attack. Unions can fix work conditions but they can’t fix health conditions.
princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
See this other person’s comment: lemmy.world/comment/17139785
ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
I work the same exact job as my coworkers and don’t smoke and drink. If work conditions lead to smoking and drinking, then why is it only the old people outside at break time smoking?
They picked up bad habits in their youth, not because of job conditions, but a lack of education into their dangers. Where I live, 30 years ago restaurants asked customers “smoking or non-smoking?” It ain’t the work conditions that’s causing them to smoke a pack a day.
princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Not every person reacts to stress in the same ways. Good on you for not smoking or drinking! But why do you need to shame these people who, as you mentioned, grew up in a different time and without the knowledge of the dangers involved? Knowledge that was actively suppressed by the tobacco industry.
ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
I’m not shaming anyone! I’m just saying the working conditions at my plant aren’t the reason my coworkers smoke and drink.
The idea in the linked comment seems to be that poor working conditions, leads to poor life decisions, leads to poor health, leads to early death. Therefore, early deaths are caused by poor working conditions.
My point is that poor life decisions aren’t necessarily caused by poor working conditions. Poor life decisions can be caused by other things, for example, lack of education.
Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
Here Here Absolutely. Also see: expensive healthcare “insurance”. Being overworked can have a person too exhausted to work out, or do much of anything outside of thier labor hours. When healthcare is too expensive and you can’t get a day off to go anyway, when your whole body hurts from repetitive exhaustion, add in poor sleeping, and yeah, poor habits form.
Night shift folks have it the worst too. Most still have families, and sleep very little so they can spend time with them.
So many factors are at play. To ignore them, is to concede to smug ignorance. I know these people in these factories. I know these men. I’ve worked for years along side so many.
I can see how its broken them, especially the men. I had to beg my position in a male dominant position, because ten years prior a woman got degloved, and for a time, they didn’t let women into that department, because it’s fucking hard. I got in and did the job very well, but damn yeah, the work was hard. Even just ten years of that shit will change your entire body and habits to cope.
RIP to this man. He is one of but many, yet his impact is not lesser on my heart. Stay safe out there folks