There are both differences as well as commons between Vicky
Starr’s working experiences and today workers in America.
The differences are clearly seen that the Labor Union has
made good progress and the today working conditions are not as terrible as what
is revealed in the passage. Vicky Starr had to receive four dollars as the
weekly salary income for countless housework “I got a job doing housework again
and it was just horrible. Here I was taking care of this family with a little
spoiled brat and I had to pick up after them—only Thursday afternoon off and
every other Sunday—and all for four dollars a week of which I sent two dollars
home. I just couldn't stand it. I would rather go back and work in a factory,
any day or night.” Nowadays, the minimum wage that a person can receive is
eight dollars per hour, a rather acceptable income that help the worker survive
through their difficult time. Moreover, the Labor Union has got its stronger
voice that is powerful enough to interfere in the factories that have the
unsafe working conditions and protect the workers’ right if necessary. That is
a big step compared to the situation “one of the women, in putting the meat
into the chopper, got her fingers caught. There were no safety guards. Her
fingers got into the hotdogs and they were chopped off. It was just horrible.”
and the result of daring to react to the unsafe conditions is that “They found
out who was involved and we were all fired. I was blacklisted”. And finally,
the most bitter feeling is when Vicky permitted that she had to do the job that
is considered to be horrible but she had no choice “Those beautiful cows! They
can't kill those beautiful cows!" At home we just had cows for milking.
But here were all these cows and they were going to be killed and they were
crying, mooing, as they were going to be killed. But one had to get a job!”
However, it is sad to notice that the same bitter working
experiences still exist in today life. This is the problems that most of the
immigrants, especially the very new came immigrants, have to face day by day.
To make end meet in the more and more difficult life, the immigrants have to do
the jobs that offer cash pay. The advantages of these jobs are fast income, no
tax pay and avoid the limited working hours that the government restricts on
the immigrants. But there are terrible disadvantages that are suffered in
silence such as horrible working conditions, the unacceptable poor income and
the labor exploited policies. Just like Vicky Starr in the passage, they are miserable,
feel hopeless and life is the day by day struggles for surviving. How sad and
desperate it would be, they still accept all because of their family members.
