By Herb Mills

Page 4

Because of the varying cargoes and operational circumstances, there was a great Fluctuation in the difficulty of the work performed, particularly in the hold of the vessel.

This was another source of considerable satisfaction. Within the limits of the usual variety, pace, and cycle of longshore work, the dirtiest, hardest, and most demanding of such work was for the most part "gobbled up" by those who were not severely "taxed."

The common posture was, "I don't give a damn what the cargo is." This reflected a general social definition of longshoring as "man's work."

Mobility. The variety of work options available to the men was also very greatly extended by quite exceptional opportunities  for mobility within the industry and the final (if temporary) "safety valve" of not working as a longshoreman at all.

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