Mollie's Job: A Story of Life and Work on the Global Assembly Line

by William M. Adler

Following the flight of one woman's factory job from the United States to Mexico, this compelling work offers a revealing and unprecedented look at the flesh-and-blood consequences of globalization.

In this absorbing and affecting narrative history, investigative journalist William M. Adler traces the migration of one factory job as it passes from the cradle of American industry, Paterson, New Jersey, to rural Mississippi during the turmoil of the civil rights movement, to the burgeoning border city of Matamoros, Mexico. The story of Mollie James, Dorothy Carter, and Balbina Duque, their company, and their communities provides an ideal prism through which to explore the larger issues at the heart of the new the decline of unions and the middle class, the growing gap between rich and poor, public policies rewarding U.S. companies for transferring jobs abroad, and the ways in which "free trade" undermines stable businesses and communities.
Combining a deft historian's touch with first-rate reporting, Mollie's Job is a provocative and fresh perspective on the global economy -- at a time when downsizing is unraveling the American Dream for many working families.

Genres: Labor, History

368 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2000

Reviews

[Lcord · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMICS OF GLOBAL MANUFACTURING AND THE PRICE WE PAY

[Rhonda Fonicello · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a better understanding of the Global Manufacturing market and how it effected jobs in the United States, this is your book.

[charlieteuthis · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a book with a black woman's name in the title it sure does talk mostly about white men. Also, if this book cut down on the direct quotations to a more reasonable amount of them, it would be about 100 pages shorter.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following 1 job from the 1950s to the 1990s is interesting way to learn about industry, unionization, and globalization with their human costs. Now I understand why my grandpa loved unions, my parents demonized them, and today they seem to be making a necessary comeback. Very information dense.

[Tess Durrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good book, written like an informational history interview. Very interesting perspectives but a relatively bland storytelling style. It was a great class book, but a little too learn-y for me to read for fun.