Rose Pesotta
Books
A Garment Worker's Diary
[unpublished by Rose Pesotta]
Monday, 7 A.M. The alarm clock rings. How nice and warm is my bed ... but I cannot stay in any longer - may fall asleep again... I simply must find a job ... I dress hurriedly ... no time for breakfast ... shall have a coffee down town ... On the way I shall buy a newspaper. Riding in the subway, there is enough time to look over the Want section. Am pushed out of the subway by a compact mass of humans ... all in a hurry ... either having jobs, or hurrying to be the early applicants.
In the proletarian Rits (The Automat cafeteria in the Garment Centre) I meet friends. Many are out of work … usually this is our busy season, but now it seems there will be no busy season for us … we must hurry .... time is short ... Sipping the hot coffee, we select an add to answer, to get there in time ... I hate to stand in line, begging for a job ...
A friend and I answer an advertisement. The employer without any questions gives us two machines – he seems to be rushed …We will work side by side, we hope to make good in this job... the place is nice and airy and the workers seem to be more human … We work the whole day. The employer is anxious that we stay to work overtime- everybody works overtime- we stay ...
Tuesday, 7 A.M. I do not wait for the alarm clock to wake me. Am up early to get to work on time. It is a lucky strike that we had yesterday. We landed a job and as it looked to us yesterday, we are there to stay, at least over the season... My friend is waiting at the Ritz; we are happy ... going to work ... not looking for work... We stroll along the Garment Avenue meeting friends still in search of work, some young girls, men too ... all are willing to work, able to work and anxious to work - but no work is to be found...
As we go with the elevator into our new place, the operator tells us confidentially that the shops are already slowing down ...Some he says were workingas late at 8 P. K. during the rush .... And we have had no season as yet.
In the newly found shop again ... The employer seems to be in a bad humor ... He does not even greet us. The workers throw hostile glances towards our section … a bad sign … we work till noon. My work finished, I take it over to the counter; there is nothing more for me- no more work! Must again go out to look for another job. I help my friend to finish her garments and at noon we are in the market among the unemployed again.
All over we hear bad news ...some places are over stocked with work, but the workers have formed a trust - not to let any one up - they work as late as 8 and 9 P. M. Others relate incidents in which they have actually been attached by workers of the shop when they answered an advertisement. They claim that the employer, anxious to deduct from the established prices, purposely takes up new workers to prove to his "hands" that he can at. any time replace his set -with others w ho will work for less. Such a scheme scares some of the workers and they actually reduce the prices. We decide to spend the rest of the afternoon at the library.
Wednesday, 7 A.M. Again the cursed alarm clock, the newspaper Help Wanted section, the “Ritz”- a new job. This time it is a dark and gloomy joint. Everybody seems· to have an idea that hers is the best voice - it is a Bedlam. I do not even consider remaining here- shall finish the garment begun in the morning. At noon in the market, shall inquire among friends if anyone has heard of a job. At lunch in the cafeteria I am told that someone has been asking for me - asking me to wait for her here. Gertrude comes soon. She has found a new job where another worker is needed. She has already spoken to the employer about me – we can go up this afternoon.
They are rushed in this new place, I am a godsend to them. We work overtime to finish the special order. I am asked to come on time the next day.
Thursday, Ditto A.M. Work, Work, Work, I must go to work. Early to rise and late to bed does not go Tery well together; I have a blooming headache, but the new job is a fact - I am going to work today.
At the "Ritz" someone tells me or a number or people who have previously worked in the same place where I am now. The employer has a tendency to take more help when he is rushed and let them go as soon as the order is shipped. This is not new to me, only how can I prevent that? It is an open shop, and the law does not hold any employer respon sible to the worker. It is too bad that I cannot remain on the job at 'least a few weeks - or long enough to help the workers organize the place.
As it was predicted at.the "Ritz" the rush is over in my new found factory. Nothing doing for the new worker. Those who have worked in the shop are getting the preference. My garment finished, about ten o’clock in the morning, I must leave …
It is raining, I shall seek shelter at the office of the union. At the office someone has a job for me, but he seems to be reluctant, telling me that it is a tough job. The employer is a lady and everyone seems to hesitate about going to work for a LADY-BOSS. Personally I am prejudiced against lady magistrates, lady managers and lady bosses. Somehow all three have given me a dirty deal - not to be forgotten in a long while.
This time I shall endeavor to forget my old prejudices - and make up with the lady. I answer the call. She seems to be favorably impressed with my humble appearance. (Arter walklng .in the rain for a few hours my hat remains sitting like a flat griddle-cake, the coat is drenched and the shoes full of water shine like a fiie cent shine).
My first garment is tested on the mannequin. She seems to like the workmanship. I get four more of the same kind - it will last me two days.
I work diligently. It is no joke making garments for the elite1 Now that times are bad, they seem to be particularly tussy. As if the whole world hangs ·on the white narrow piping around the waitline! Damn it! I shall make it as narrow as is humanly possible... I simply must hold the job...
Friday, 7 A. M. Luckily it is the last day of the week. The strain is nerve wrecking! The whole night I have dreamed about garment mannequins and white streamers of piping ...
I am early - the place is closed as yet. Will have time to read the paper. The lady comes in later. My garments are specials. They all work on them, draping, inspecting , finishing. I am called to the mannequin – something does not fit. I shall correct it if it is my error. Am called again and again. It seems whatever was good yesterday is extremely wrong today. My prejudice against the LADY is growing. She simply is determined to make life miserable for the rest of the day ... I equip myself with all the patience one would gather and follow all the instructions.
The day is coming to an end. I am exhausted … My work is still being examined. It is the end... I shall quit now, this very minute...
At five-thirty I tell my LADY BOSS that we seem not to like each other - so I quit. She is glad. So am I. Except that newt wee I shall be kept busy running from place to place collecting· my earnings - will have no time to look for work.
Kind permission:
Rose Pesotta Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division. The New York Public Library. Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations [NYPL/RPP/MSS2390]