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Burlington Commission on Human Rights, 1964-1965
At Work in Industry Today Page 5
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[photo to right] George Burke He rises from janitor to skilled repairman in radio component. George Burke has received five promotions in 14 years since he first joined the Radio Receiver Department as a janitor. He's now a well-paid repairman in the Utica, N.Y., department. "Get at least a high school education," he advises others seeking employment in industry. "Develop a skill for which there will be a continuing need in the future. Keep studying and developing your skills. It's necessary to produce and try to do a good job to keep that job. If I hadn't kept producing and trying, I would still be sweeping the floor." In between his initial janitor's job and his current position as repairman, Mr. Burke has been a leader-janitor, spray painter, material handler, and conveyor inspector. "With a high school education," he says, "It is possible to take advantage of special courses like those offered by General Electric to help you improve yourself." He believes that "parents should see to it that their kids stay in school--even if the kids don't care to themselves." He also thinks that parents should serve as models because "kids need an example to follow--a person they can try to imitate in order to improve themselves and have a better life." George Burke, himself, has one child, and he and his wife are trying to practice what they preach. Mr. Burke was born in 1923 in Augusta, Ga., and came to Utica and General Electric in 1950. [photo to right] Thomas Carter Using 'golden rule' to service GE appliance customers When Tom carter gets a call, that means a General Electric customer has a problem. Mr. Carter's job is to get the problem solved as efficiently and quickly as possible. Mr. Carter, a 17-year GE man, is an appliance serviceman working out of the Major Appliance Division's service operations in Philadelphia. His job is to service General Electric refrigerators, electric ranges, washers, dryers, room air conditioners, freezers, garbage disposers, and dishwashers at the homes of thousands of General Electric customers in the area. The job requires a high degree of tact and diplomacy--as well as the know-how to do the job right. Mr. Carter's formula is simple: "kindness and consideration for all people." And that goes even when Mr. Carter answers a rush-rush call on an "out-of-order" refrigerator-- and then finds that the customer simply forgot to plug it in. Mr. Carter has been a serviceman on General Electric appliances since March, 1964, but he's been with the General Electric appliance service organization since 1947. He started as a truck washer, washing the service trucks. Over the years he took courses in auto mechanics, electricity, and appliance servicing, and gradually progressed up through the ranks to a mechanic's position, and then to appliance servicing. It wasn't easy. When he first applied for an appliance serviceman's position he was turned down. His experience and training simply weren't up to the standards required. But Mr. Carter was determined. He kept studying and learning, and finally made the grade. The extracurricular study and learning was necessary, for Tom Carter dropped out of high school. Now married and the father of two children, Mr. Carter is convinced by experience that getting a good education is essential. That is his advice to every Negro youngster. [photo to left] Calvin H. Conliffe He aims straight up on present job and in career goals Business and civic contributions of significance are combined in the career of Calvin H. Conliffe, project engineer for the Direct Lift program at General Electric's Evendale Plant near Cincinnati, Ohio. In his work at Evendale, Mr. Conliffe is responsible for the pioneering work on a multi-million dollar program which will eventually lead to a new kind of jet plane. Mr. Conliffe and his team are developing a jet engine which will lift the plane straight up from the ground. In the community, Mr. Conliffe is a member of the seven-man Board of Education for the Cincinnati City School District, the first Negro to serve on this board; a director on the local boards of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the American Red Cross, and the Avondale Community 5
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[photo to right] George Burke He rises from janitor to skilled repairman in radio component. George Burke has received five promotions in 14 years since he first joined the Radio Receiver Department as a janitor. He's now a well-paid repairman in the Utica, N.Y., department. "Get at least a high school education," he advises others seeking employment in industry. "Develop a skill for which there will be a continuing need in the future. Keep studying and developing your skills. It's necessary to produce and try to do a good job to keep that job. If I hadn't kept producing and trying, I would still be sweeping the floor." In between his initial janitor's job and his current position as repairman, Mr. Burke has been a leader-janitor, spray painter, material handler, and conveyor inspector. "With a high school education," he says, "It is possible to take advantage of special courses like those offered by General Electric to help you improve yourself." He believes that "parents should see to it that their kids stay in school--even if the kids don't care to themselves." He also thinks that parents should serve as models because "kids need an example to follow--a person they can try to imitate in order to improve themselves and have a better life." George Burke, himself, has one child, and he and his wife are trying to practice what they preach. Mr. Burke was born in 1923 in Augusta, Ga., and came to Utica and General Electric in 1950. [photo to right] Thomas Carter Using 'golden rule' to service GE appliance customers When Tom carter gets a call, that means a General Electric customer has a problem. Mr. Carter's job is to get the problem solved as efficiently and quickly as possible. Mr. Carter, a 17-year GE man, is an appliance serviceman working out of the Major Appliance Division's service operations in Philadelphia. His job is to service General Electric refrigerators, electric ranges, washers, dryers, room air conditioners, freezers, garbage disposers, and dishwashers at the homes of thousands of General Electric customers in the area. The job requires a high degree of tact and diplomacy--as well as the know-how to do the job right. Mr. Carter's formula is simple: "kindness and consideration for all people." And that goes even when Mr. Carter answers a rush-rush call on an "out-of-order" refrigerator-- and then finds that the customer simply forgot to plug it in. Mr. Carter has been a serviceman on General Electric appliances since March, 1964, but he's been with the General Electric appliance service organization since 1947. He started as a truck washer, washing the service trucks. Over the years he took courses in auto mechanics, electricity, and appliance servicing, and gradually progressed up through the ranks to a mechanic's position, and then to appliance servicing. It wasn't easy. When he first applied for an appliance serviceman's position he was turned down. His experience and training simply weren't up to the standards required. But Mr. Carter was determined. He kept studying and learning, and finally made the grade. The extracurricular study and learning was necessary, for Tom Carter dropped out of high school. Now married and the father of two children, Mr. Carter is convinced by experience that getting a good education is essential. That is his advice to every Negro youngster. [photo to left] Calvin H. Conliffe He aims straight up on present job and in career goals Business and civic contributions of significance are combined in the career of Calvin H. Conliffe, project engineer for the Direct Lift program at General Electric's Evendale Plant near Cincinnati, Ohio. In his work at Evendale, Mr. Conliffe is responsible for the pioneering work on a multi-million dollar program which will eventually lead to a new kind of jet plane. Mr. Conliffe and his team are developing a jet engine which will lift the plane straight up from the ground. In the community, Mr. Conliffe is a member of the seven-man Board of Education for the Cincinnati City School District, the first Negro to serve on this board; a director on the local boards of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the American Red Cross, and the Avondale Community 5
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