Our new Assembly Center is starting to hum with the sounds of automotive technology, arguments about the best way to get things done and conversations concerning the future. One thing I hope that doesn’t change is the care and respect we have for each other while at work. Many news outlets, bloggers and journalists have made a lot of noise regarding diversity in the workplace with many of them giving it a negative feel where employees are suspicious or jealous of other employees because of the many diverse traits that we all possess. Now I am not naive enough to believe that life is perfect inside our plant but on a day to day basis, I believe that we do a pretty good job of sticking together in support of doing a good job. Why is it that we view each other with such respect and dignity? I believe that when you are in the same boat, everyone comes to the realization that they should all row in the same direction so all of us can all arrive at whatever the destination sooner and in good shape. What should it matter what gender, race or age I am? In the boat of life we are all rowers and at Orion Assembly and UAW Local 5960 we have a common destination, success for ourselves and our families through a successful car project. And more than that, the products that flow from our hands will contain a little of everyone’s personality who was involved. That is the real pay off from diversity. The outcome of what we do is a tapestry of who we are. When a customer buys a new Sonic or Verano they will purchase not only our labor but our ideas, hopes and aspirations. It’s as if when the customer takes that new car home somehow we are all riding with them guaranteeing a happy ride far into the future and when they arrive safely at their workplace, it was because of Bob, Janet, Marcus and Muhammad. So you see, diversity is important in a large auto plant like ours. Diversity makes our stew thicker and our pie sweeter. Good times are celebrated at a higher pitch and tough times can be absorbed by our multi-layered culture of helping and supporting each other. The automotive workplace is a workplace like non-other, a rich heritage of diversity that has served us well and will carry us into the future so keep your arms and minds open; there is a whole new future waiting for Orion Assembly.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE
Our new Assembly Center is starting to hum with the sounds of automotive technology, arguments about the best way to get things done and conversations concerning the future. One thing I hope that doesn’t change is the care and respect we have for each other while at work. Many news outlets, bloggers and journalists have made a lot of noise regarding diversity in the workplace with many of them giving it a negative feel where employees are suspicious or jealous of other employees because of the many diverse traits that we all possess. Now I am not naive enough to believe that life is perfect inside our plant but on a day to day basis, I believe that we do a pretty good job of sticking together in support of doing a good job. Why is it that we view each other with such respect and dignity? I believe that when you are in the same boat, everyone comes to the realization that they should all row in the same direction so all of us can all arrive at whatever the destination sooner and in good shape. What should it matter what gender, race or age I am? In the boat of life we are all rowers and at Orion Assembly and UAW Local 5960 we have a common destination, success for ourselves and our families through a successful car project. And more than that, the products that flow from our hands will contain a little of everyone’s personality who was involved. That is the real pay off from diversity. The outcome of what we do is a tapestry of who we are. When a customer buys a new Sonic or Verano they will purchase not only our labor but our ideas, hopes and aspirations. It’s as if when the customer takes that new car home somehow we are all riding with them guaranteeing a happy ride far into the future and when they arrive safely at their workplace, it was because of Bob, Janet, Marcus and Muhammad. So you see, diversity is important in a large auto plant like ours. Diversity makes our stew thicker and our pie sweeter. Good times are celebrated at a higher pitch and tough times can be absorbed by our multi-layered culture of helping and supporting each other. The automotive workplace is a workplace like non-other, a rich heritage of diversity that has served us well and will carry us into the future so keep your arms and minds open; there is a whole new future waiting for Orion Assembly.
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I love this article . . . thanks for writing it!
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