Act III: Working Harder, Not Getting Ahead AS MARTHA HOGUE SEES EVERY DAY, TEMPORARY AND PART-TIME
WORK -- AND, THUS, JOB INSECURITY -- IS AN INTEGRAL AND GROWING FEATURE OF AMERICA’S NEW ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE. USING TEMPS HAS BECOME SO PERSAVISE THAT IT’S SPREADING RAPIDLY EVEN AMONG MANAGERS AND PROFESSIONALS. THE
LABOR DEPARTMENT CONSERVATIVELY COUNTS MORE THAN SIX MILLION AMERICANS AS CONTINGENT WORKERS, AND A NATIONAL TEMP EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION PUTS THE FIGURE AT MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE MILLION. SURVEYS SHOW THAT MOST TEMPS FAR
PREFER STABLE AND STEADY FULL-TIME JOBS. INSTEAD, THEY MUST SETTLE FOR WORKING WITHOUT BENEFITS AND NOT KNOWING LITERALLY FROM DAY TO DAY WHEN THEIR JOBS WILL BE CUT OFF. SAN DIEGO IS A BOOM TOWN FOR TEMP AGENCIES. THE
CITY HAS MORE THAN A HUNDRED. AND, PARADOXICALLY, IT’S THE MAJOR CITADELS OF THE NEW ECONOMY -- SUCH AS QUALCOMM -- THAT HAVE RELIED MOST HEAVILY ON TEMPS.NARRATOR: QUALCOMM IS A SPECTACULAR HIGH-TECH SUCCESS STORY,
MAKING A NAME IN WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS WITH ITS PALM-SIZED CELL PHONES. newcast: “What stocks would you be interested in having in your portfolio right now?” “Qualcomm - uh
- based out of San Diego, is a very exciting - um - investment vehicle.” NARRATOR: IN TEN SHORT YEARS, QUALCOMM HAS BURST FROM A TWENTY-FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR START-UP TO A
TWO-BILLION-DOLLAR CORPORATION WITH GLOBAL AMBITIONS.IT BECAME CORPORATE CITIZEN NUMBER ONE BY HELPING TO FINANCE SAN DIEGO’S REBUILT SUPERBOWL STADIUM, NOW RENAMED FOR QUALCOMM. ALREADY THE CITY’S LARGEST PRIVATE
EMPLOYER, QUALCOMM IS BEING TOUTED AS SAN DIEGO’S NEW GENERAL DYNAMICS, THOUGH, WITH NINE THOUSAND EMPLOYEES, IT IS STILL ONLY ONE-FIFTH THE SIZE OF THE OLD AEROSPACE GIANT. A JOB AT QUALCOMM IS THE PRIZE FOR THE BEST
AND BRIGHTEST: YOUNG ENGINEERS, SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS AND MANAGERS-TO-BE. AND THE COMPANY GOES ALL-OUT TO KEEP THEM HAPPY HERE, AT QUALCOMM’S ANNUAL CORPORATE GAMES. Irwin
Jacobs: “Let the games begin!” (followed by applause)NARRATOR: THESE ARE THE GOLDEN YOUTH OF THE NEW ECONOMY. THEIR STARTING SALARIES CAN TOP SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. THEY MAKE THEIR OWN HOURS, ENJOY WELL-FUNDED
RETIREMENT PLANS, LAVISH MEDICAL BENEFITS AND FULL-TIME DAYCARE. STOCK OPTIONS HAVE MADE MANY OF THEM WEALTHY. BUT A CLOSER LOOK REVEALS THAT QUALCOMM IS REALLY TWO COMPANIES.
THERE’S ANOTHER QUALCOMM: SAN DIEGO PRODUCTION WORKERS WHO LIVE A FAR LESS CHARMED EXISTENCE. MOST OF THEM ARE FIRST RECRUITED AS TEMPORARIES.PERIODICALLY, TEMPS HAVE COMPRISED TWENTY PERCENT OF QUALCOMM’S WORKFORCE.
QUALCOMM CEO IRWIN JACOBS... IRWIN JACOBS: The business tends to - uh - have its ups and down as far as the number of people we need. When we introduce a new product, we need to
add a number of people until we get our - go down the learning cure, until we reduce the amount of labor per phone. Once that happens, then we need fewer people. NARRATOR: IT’S A
CYCLE REPEATED AS EACH NEW PRODUCT COMES ON LINE. FOR QUALCOMM, TEMPS BECOME A JUST-IN-TIME WORKFORCE. THE TEMPS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR COMPANY BENEFITS, AND THEY CAN BE LET GO AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE. COHEN: It’s become very easy and has become increasingly easy to shed workers - um - in line with - in - in march with - uh - the whims of the market. Insecurity is really the enemy of the American Dream.
NARRATOR: QUALCOMM MUST CHASE ITS CUSTOMERS ALL OVER THE WORLD. SO TEMPS MAY BE CALLED IN JUST LONG ENOUGH TO PERFECT A PROCESS, ONLY TO SEE THEIR POTENTIAL LONG-TERM JOBS
SHIPPED TO PRODUCTION FACILITIES OVERSEAS. JACOBS: We expect to be opening factories in other countries such as Russia, such as the Ukraine, such as China, such as India, Brazil.
NARRATOR: AND THE USE OF TEMPS IS FUELED BY THE FIERCELY COMPETITIVE PACE OF CHANGE IN HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES. PRODUCT CYCLES ARE SHORT. COMPETITION IS GLOBAL. AND WHAT’S HOT
TODAY CAN BE OBSOLETE TOMORROW. QUALCOMM, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS A LOT RIDING ON GETTING ITS SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY ADOPTED UNIVERSALLY. IN THAT SITUATION, FEW JOBS ARE SAFE. JACOBS: It’s
definitely volatile. It’s certainly uncertain, and it certainly, however, is open to new ideas. If you ever slow down, however, you know, people will
run right over you. FRITTS: “Hi my sweet pea, love. Hello.” NARRATOR: DIANE FRITTS IS ONE OF QUALCOMM’S TEMPORARY WORKERS. AS THE MOTHER
OF A FOUR-YEAR-OLD, SHE FINDS LIFE AS A TEMP LIKE WALKING A TIGHT-ROPE. FRITTS: “Mummy going to spin you around?” NARRATOR: FOR TEN
YEARS, DIANE WORKED AT GENERAL DYNAMICS RISING TO BE A WELL-PAID QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTOR. AFTER GD SHUT DOWN, SHE GOT A TEMP JOB AT QPE, A QUALCOMM SUBSIDIARY. EVEN WITH TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE, SHE TOOK NEARLY A
FORTY-PERCENT PAY CUT. DIANE FRITTS: They told me -- when they gave me the offer, they said that “you will roll over as a regular employee after your ninety days.” I said, “OK,
great: start collecting benefits, 401.” You know, you’re thinking, stability, secure, OK? My first paycheck on the job, there was a notice with my paycheck, and it stated that QPE and the temp agency had changed their
policy. Now it’s six months that you roll over regular, so I thought, well, OK, you know, what’s another three months. A month after that, that’s when they told me at 12:30, “Diane, all of the temps have to be in the
break area at ten minutes ‘til one.” And, in about two hours and a half, they processed us out. They laid everybody off, about six hundred of us.NEWS REPORTER: The company calls it a planned reduction in the
temporary workforce. QPE SPOKESWOMAN: They were notified yesterday, and they were given their - um - pay checks at that time. NEWS REPORTER: So they were just told with their last paycheck this is it. They were
given no other prior notification. QPE SPOKESWOMAN: Not prior to yesterday, that’s correct. NARRATOR: AFTER A SIX-WEEK LAYOFF, DIANE WAS CALLED BACK FOR A SECOND STINT AS A
QUALCOMM TEMPORARY. SHE WORKS A TWELVE HOUR SHIFT: SIX A.M. TO SIX PM. FRITTS: “My shining star.” NARRATOR: SHE’S HAPPY TO HAVE A JOB.
BUT THE UNCERTAINTY HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON HER LIFE. FRITTS: This is the way everything is now. You’re hired as a temp. When they’re through with you, they let you go. They need you
again, they’ll call you back -- again, never having the opportunity for benefits, never having that sense of security. NARRATOR: WHEN I SAW HER AROUND LABOR DAY, DIANE WAS
CONVINCED THAT QUALCOMM WOULD FINALLY HIRE HER AS A REGULAR EMPLOYEE WITHIN A FEW WEEKS.THREE MONTHS LATER, I SAW HER OUTSIDE REMEDY, HER TEMP AGENCY, AND SHE WAS STILL DANGLING. FRITTS: You have no idea how depressing, how frustrating it was when Remedy made the announcement and told us that there is a freeze on becoming a regular employee. And, again, we’re in the dark. Again, I
feel like they pulled the rug out from under my feet because I was so close. I was even told by a - a person on the management staff that I was on the list to roll as a regular employee, to become regular in November.
And now it’s -- God, it’s frustrating. NARRATOR: JOHN MITCHELL IS A CLOSE FRIEND OF DIANE FRITTS. THEY WORKED TOGETHER AT GENERAL DYNAMICS. AFTER HIS LAYOFF THERE, HE BOUNCED
FROM ONE SHORT-TERM JOB TO ANOTHER UNTIL HE FINALLY LATCHED ON WITH QUALCOMM AS A TEMP. UNLIKE DIANE, JOHN MITCHELL SURVIVED QUALCOMM’S LAYOFF OF SIX HUNDRED TEMPS LAST SPRING. BUT THAT CUTBACK SHOOK HIS CONFIDENCE.
JOHN MITCHELL: I was fortunate that I was not laid off, very fortunate. But, I’m telling you, I was very, very nervous about it because I would having to say, “Well, here we go
again.” And why is it so hard to have - just have a stable job? NARRATOR: AND, THOUGH JOHN HAS NOW BEEN
HIRED-ON AS A REGULAR EMPLOYEE, HE AND HIS WIFE KAREN PAY AN ENORMOUS EMOTIONAL TOLL FOR HIS CONTINUING JOB INSECURITY.LIKE MILLIONS OF OTHER AMERICANS, THE MITCHELLS DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF CHOOSING BETWEEN WORK
AND FAMILY. THEY HAVE TO ACCOMODATE BOTH. SO EVEN WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN AT HOME, KAREN MUST PUT IN LONG HOURS AS A CONVENTION MANAGER AT THE MARRIOTT HOTEL TO INSURE THE FAMILY A STEADY INCOME, HEALTH COVERAGE AND
OTHER BENEFITS. KAREN MITCHELL: Unfortunately, with our situation in the last couple years, with - um - you know, being out of job or - um - being in this tentative situation
right now, it really hasn’t been an option. I couldn’t even think about not going to work. NARRATOR: AND SO THE MITCHELLS ARE CAUGHT IN WHAT ONE SOCIOLOGIST CALLS ‘THE TIME
BIND,’ THE COMPETING PULLS OF HOME AND TWO CAREERS. AND IT IS FAMILY LIFE THAT PAYS THE PRICE. KAREN MITCHELL: I will typically get up about 4, 4:15. I’ll get in the shower. I’ll
get dressed, and I’ll leave.JOHN MITCHELL: I’ll get the children up -- let’s say 6:30 -- and - uh - give them something to eat. JOHN MITCHELL: Put ‘em in the car. KAREN MITCHELL: This hotel is extremely busy. It
never slows down. KAREN MITCHELL: Hotels are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. There’s nobody else in our department that actually is female bringing up two children. JOHN MITCHELL: I’m looking at my
watch. It’s about twenty ‘til eight, and it’s really backed up today. I don’t like doing this, but maybe I’ll go up a ways and cut in. JOHN MITCHELL: Most of the time, when I punch in, it’s 7:58 or 7:59. KAREN
MITCHELL: I work always a fifty-hour week. That’s the minimum number, fifty hours. And then it fluctuates from there to -- I can work ninety hours in a week.
SMITH: It’s just the balance the thing that’s so hard? KAREN: I’ll be completely honest with you. At this point right now, there - it - it probably isn’t the correct balance. I
know it’s not the correct balance because of the nature of my job. The customer has to come first - um - when I’m here at work - um - that’s my job. SMITH: And what hurts is then
the family feels as though it’s coming second? KAREN MITCHELL: Correct. SMITH: Right?
KAREN MITCHELL: I’m sure they do.JOHN MITCHELL: My work day is - is finished - um - at 5:00. I punch out. Back in the car. Then I get on the freeway, and I’ll pick up the first girl right at 5:30... JOHN MITCHELL:
…and over to the next girl’s place of pick-up at quarter to six. JOHN MITCHELL: And then, there’s a market right over there, and usually I’ll stop in and buy something for dinner. John: “I just need - um - some ground beef please…” “How much?” “…and probably some of this will be fine. - uh -” “A pound a half?” “- uh - let’s go two.” “Two?” “Mmhmmm.”
Brittany: “Daddy?”John: “Yes, Brittany” Brittany: “I want an apple muffin” John: “Yes, darling. Brittany, Dad’s gonna get dinner going.” Savannah: “Daddy?”
John: “Yes, Savannah. Savannah: “Daddy?” John: “Yes, Savannah, What is it, honey?” JOHN MITCHELL: I have to constantly tell myself that they’re three and a half and one and a half and be patient and not lose one’s
temper. SMITH: And what does that entail? I mean read a book? Read the paper? Play a game of golf? JOHN MITCHELL: Golf? No - uh - no way.
I would never - I wouldn’t even have time to go hit a bucket of balls. Brittany: “You know what?” John: “What, honey?” SMITH: Karen said she got an opportunity, she thinks
maybe, to work part time. JOHN MITCHELL: Boy, I really have my doubts. I really have my doubts. SMITH: Why? JOHN MITCHELL: Money -- I - I really wonder if we could afford it. SMITH: So, when it comes to the choice of doing double duty with the kids or doing without Karen’s
full-time job... JOHN MITCHELL: It has to be -- (to Brittany) No, you may not have those -- SMITH: It has to be… JOHN MITCHELL: - um - uh - well - double duty is not that -- I mean it’s not that bad. NARRATOR: FIFTEEN HOURS AFTER SHE LEFT HOME, KAREN RETURNS. IT’S AFTER EIGHT
P.M., AND THE KIDS ARE ALMOST READY FOR BED. Karen: “Hi. Hi.”John: “Hi, honey.” Karen: “Hi, how are you?” John: “Fine, how about you, darling?” Karen: “Tired.”
John: “Yeah, I’ll bet you are.” SMITH: Do you feel a little bit left out? Do you feel you’re as close to them as you want to be? KAREN
MITCHELL: No. There’s comments that especially Brittany makes where she says, “Oh, Daddy’s my best friend.” And one time I said, “Well, Mommy’s your best friend.” And she said, “No ’cause you’re never here.” It’s just -
it’s like somebody is, you know, putting a dagger in your heart. Brittany yelling at Karen: “I can’t see.” KAREN MITCHELL: Every day, I - I worry about the type of mother I am, that I’m away from my children so
much and that I’m missing them growing up. They’re two little girls growing up awfully quickly, and they have a mother there half the time, maybe sometimes an hour a day. And that’s what they see of me. That’s not
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