A L E S S O N F O R G R A D E 7 S O C I A L S T U D I E S
G W G : P I E C E BY P I E C E—A Resource for Alberta Teachers
Let’s Make Blue JeansA FAC TO R Y L I N E S I M U L AT I O N
AcknowledgementsThe Aspen Foundation for Labour Education would like to acknowledge the contributions of the following people in the development of this publication.
Writer Barb Maheu
Contributor Charmaine Neth
Video Ballad Maria Dunn, Edmonton-based singer songwriter Don Bouzek, Edmonton’s Ground Zero Productions Catherine C. Cole, historian
Layout Kelly de Jong
Copy Editing Mary Dunnigan
Cover Picture Credit City of Edmonton Archives EA-275-1185
Other Image Credits Special thanks to the Provincial Archives of Alberta for the use of their still and moving images. Additional images from the City of Edmonton Archives, the Glenbow Archives and Library and Archives Canada.
For more information on AFLE visit our web site at www.afle.ca
Comments regarding this unit can be sent to [email protected]
Copyright © 2016 Aspen Foundation for Labour Education
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation2
The GWG: Piece by Piece—A Resource for Alberta Teachers
GWG: Piece by Piece—A Resource for Alberta Teachers includes projects, lessons, a video ballad and other
supporting materials that document and explore the personal and working lives of immigrant women who
worked in Edmonton’s Great Western Garment (GWG) factory.
Included in this Resource:
GWG: Piece by Piece—A Resource for Alberta Teachers www.afle.ca (go to Teaching Resources, Aspen Teaching
Units) includes individual projects and lessons for Grades 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12 based upon the Alberta Social
Studies curriculum. These projects and lessons identify Alberta Learning Outcomes, Learning Competencies,
Key Concepts and Inquiry Questions for each grade. Lessons at the lower grade levels are cross-curricular,
integrating drama, music, art, language arts and mathematics. Each project and lesson is based on a song or
songs in the video ballad titled GWG: Piece by Piece.
GWG: Piece By Piece is a 60 minute video ballad, musical performance, with songs written by Juno-nominated
songwriter Maria Dunn, audiovisual materials filmed and edited by Don Bouzek of Edmonton’s Ground Zero
Productions and research interviews and archival materials provided by historian Catherine C. Cole. The
performance features video footage of women who worked at GWG interwoven with songs inspired by their
stories. The eleven songs in the video ballad can also be accessed individually. Each individual segment is
about 10 minutes in length and features video clips of women being interviewed and one song that captures
the essence of their experiences, thoughts, feelings, challenges and aspirations. Themes include:
| the pain and joy of leaving a home country for a new life in Canada, including the women’s tireless efforts to establish their families in Edmonton and provide their children with opportunities that they themselves didn’t have
| working conditions highlighting challenges of the physical working environment and positive collaborative experiences among workers
| the advantages related to English language education
| the union’s role in securing a better working environment
| the impact of Levi-Strauss’ decision to close the plant in 2004
Song lyrics for the video ballad are provided in Appendix B. We also recommend Maria Dunn’s 2012 CD
recording of the songs from this project, titled Piece By Piece, available at: www.mariadunn.com.
Catherine C. Cole has provided the basic history of the GWG factory and its workers, which serves as a
comprehensive teacher backgrounder in Appendix A (see Edmonton’s Great Western Garment Factory).
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 3
The information helps teachers understand important historical events and economic factors that provide
the context for understanding related themes and concepts. Many additional supporting video clips,
archival photographs and teaching ideas can be found in the virtual exhibition Piece by Piece: The GWG Story
http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/exhibits/online/GWG/en/index.html on the Royal Alberta Museum
website. We also recommend Catherine C Cole’s book on this topic titled Piece by Piece [Cole, C. (2012). Piece
by Piece. New Brunswick: Goose Lane Editions].
GWG: Piece by Piece—A Resource for Alberta Teachers is freely available to teachers on the Aspen Foundation for
Labour Education website www.afle.ca under Teaching Resources.
Overview:
GWG: Piece by Piece—A Resource for Alberta Teachers
Grade 4 SS 4.2 The Stories, Histories and People of Alberta
Key ConceptsAlberta Social Studies Learning Outcomes
Project and/or Lessons
| Stories communicated through narratives, oral songs, music, autobiographies, archives
| Fairness (equity) | Strike | Labour union | Inflation
| Diversity of immigrants coming to Alberta
| Diverse groups affect urban life
The Chocolate Bar War: Story ApproachInterpreting the Stories of the Women of GWG: Readers Theatre
Grade 5 SS 5.2 Histories and Stories of Ways of Life in Canada
Key ConceptsAlberta Social Studies Learning Outcomes
Project and/or Lessons
| Immigration | Primary sources | Secondary sources | Video ballad | Narrative | Ethnicity | Working conditions | Sweatshop
| Stories of immigrants from India, Ukraine, Poland, Russia and Germany
| Effects of economic booms following world wars
A Snapshot of Immigrant Life in Western Canada: Project-based LearningInterpreting the Stories of the Women of GWG: Readers TheatreThe Chocolate Bar War: Story Approach
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation4
Grade 7 SS 7.2 Following Confederation: Canadian Expansions
Key ConceptsAlberta Social Studies Learning Outcomes
Project and/or Lessons
| Industrialization | Factory system | Cottage system | Assembly line | Piecework (specialization) | Mass production
| Identify the contributions of immigrants from Eastern Europe
| Examine the social and economic effects of the changing roles and images of women in Canadian society (i.e. working conditions)
| Examine the emergence and contributions of large factories in Canada
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line SimulationInterpreting the Stories of the Women of GWG: Readers Theatre
Grade 9 SS 9.1 Issues for Canadians: Governance and Rights
Key ConceptsAlberta Social Studies Learning Outcomes
Project and/or Lessons
| Collective bargaining/negotiation
| Labour legislation | Labour unions | Collective agreements
| Examine the emergence and impact of labour unions in market and mixed economies
Taking Collective Action: A Simulation Activity
Grade 10 SS 10.1 and 10.2 Living in a Globalizing World
Key ConceptsAlberta Social Studies Learning Outcomes
Project and/or Lessons
| Globalization | Labour unions | Women in the workplace | Sweatshops
| Explore political, economic, social globalization
| Analyze impacts of globalization on women (gender issues, labour issues)
| Analyze challenges and opportunities presented by globalization to identities and cultures
The Stories Behind Our Clothes: Project-based Learning
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 5
Grade 12 SS 30.1 and 30.2 Understandings of Liberalism
Key ConceptsAlberta Social Studies Learning Outcomes
Project and/or Lessons
| Collectivism | Collective action | Labour union | Feminism | Benefits | Seniority
| Explore factors that may influence individual and collective beliefs and values (gender, ideology)
| Examine historic and contemporary expressions of collectivism
| Explore themes of ideologies (progressivism, gender)
| Analyze collectivism as a foundation of ideology
| Explore opportunities to demonstrate active and responsible citizenship through individual and collective action
GWG: Collectivism in Action
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation6
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation
Overview:
This three part mini-unit will allow Alberta’s Grade 7 social studies students to participate in an interactive
factory line simulation. The activity will stimulate thinking about the emergence of the factory system in
Canada. In particular, it focuses on the Great Western Garment Factory (GWG) and shows how its workers
contributed to the development of our modern economy. The lessons feature songs and interviews from the
video ballad GWG: Piece By Piece. It documents the experiences of immigrant women who worked at the GWG
factory in Edmonton until it closed in 2004. The unit takes 3 to 4 class periods.
Lesson One Opener — Blue Jean Day
You will ask students to wear their blue jeans to school for this opener lesson. An activity will be undertaken to
begin to think about blue jean manufacture, popularity and origins.
Lesson 2 — Howzit Made? — The Assembly Line Simulation
Inquiry Question—What is it like to work in a factory that makes blue jeans?
Assembly Line Simulation features a hands-on, interactive activity that will help students understand the
workings of the factory system, experience the challenges faced by factory workers and understand ways
factories operate to achieve efficiencies through mass production.
Lesson 3 — Working Conditions in the GWG Factory
Inquiry Question— How did working conditions affect the quality of life for GWG factory workers?
This section highlights working conditions of the women who worked in Edmonton’s GWG factory through
songs, stories and interviews. After hearing the words of the factory workers and participating in the factory
simulation, students will better understand working conditions faced by the women who worked there.
Lesson 4 — Stories of Immigrant Women’s Sacrifices
Inquiry Question— Immigrant women were willing to sacrifice their health and safety working at the GWG
factory; why did they do it?
Despite often challenging working conditions, the women of GWG persisted in their employment. This lesson
focuses on the various motivations for them continuing to work even when it meant giving up their own
comforts. Students will come to appreciate sacrifices they made to improve the lives of their families.
Supporting materials for this unit includes information about concepts related to industrialization
(specialization of labour, piece work and assembly line). Also included are role cards, instructions and the
pattern for making blue jeans for the simulated assembly line.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 7
Learning Outcomes: Social Studies 7:
7.2.6 Assess, critically, the impacts of social and political changes on individual and collective identities in Canada since 1918 by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues: What are the social and economic effects of the changing roles and images of women in Canadian society (i.e. working conditions, changing family structures)?
7.2.7 Assess, critically, the impact of urbanization and of technology on individual and collective identities in Canada by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues: How did the emergence of large factories in Canada contribute to the development of Canada’s economy?
Learning Competencies:
Key Concepts:
| Industrialization | Factory system
| Cottage system | Assembly line
| Piecework (specialization) | Mass production
Crea
te
oppo
rtun
ities
ManageInformation
Know how
to learn
Demonstrate goodcommunication skills
and the ability towork cooperatively
with others
Demonstrate
global and
cultural
understanding
Apply multi
plelit
eracie
s
Innovate
Liter
acy
Numeracy
Identify and
apply career
and life skills
Identify and solvecomplex problems
Think criticallyETHICAL CITIZENENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
ENGA
GED THINKER
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation8
Lesson 1 Opener
Blue Jean DayThe day before doing this lesson, ask students to wear blue jeans to class. Ask them to check the label at home
to determine where their blue jeans were made. Organize groups of 3 to 4 students and tell them that you are
going to ask them to think about how blue jeans are made and consider the system that allows for the mass
production of said jeans.
Time:
one class
Materials:
| Poster paper and felt pens
| Appendix A – Teacher Backgrounder
| Appendix B – Written lyrics for the five songs used in this unit: GWG 3 I Cannot Tell You (The Whole Story), GWG 4 Speed Up, GWG 5 Blue Lung, GWG 6 Lullaby and GWG 9 Immigrant Dreams
| GWG: Piece By Piece complete Video Ballad
Learning Activities:
1. Gallery Walk: Write the following prompts with key words on seven different poster sheets and post these
around the room. Break the class into seven groups (provide them with felt pens) and station them at
different posters. Ask them to record one answer on the poster and then, on a signal, circulate clockwise
around the room to respond to each question:
a. What do your jeans have in common? In other words, what makes blue jeans blue jeans (unique
qualities to these pants)? Keyword - COMMONALITIES
b. Why do you think jeans are so popular? POPULARITY
c. What materials were needed to make your jeans? MATERIALS
d. How much did you pay? What’s the range of prices? PRICE
e. Are they new or second hand? NEW OR SECOND HAND
f. Where were they made? PLACE OF MANUFACTURE
g. Do you think your jeans are scrubbies (or not)? SCRUBBIES
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 9
2. Ask students to notice points that all posters have in common and identify ideas that were different.
Facilitate a whole class discussion after the walk-around keeping in mind the purpose at this point is to
stimulate interest in jean production.
3. End by asking students to think about how their jeans were manufactured. What might the steps have
been in the manufacturing process from beginning to end? Write the sequence on the board based on the
order they suggest.
NOTE: At this point accuracy is not critical.
Lesson 2 Howzit Made?
The Assembly Line Simulation
Inquiry Question:
What is it like to work in a blue jean factory?
This activity engages students in a factory-like simulation, involving seven stations, designed to help them
experience life on the assembly line. You may want some students to make jeans from beginning to end to
simulate cottage industry (pre-industrial). These students will work individually and follow all the instructions
for all seven stations. This will allow you to compare the factory system to the cottage industry production
method where students will stay at one station and specialize in one operation. Eventually you may ask: Which
system produced jeans most efficiently and with the least amount of waste? What are the advantages and
disadvantages of both systems? Why did the factory system become the dominant model?
Time:
one class
Materials:
| A pre-made exemplar of a finished blue jean product (see Appendix E – Pattern to pre-make one pair of jeans in advance for illustration)
| Student Learning Guide 1—Systems of Production: Factory versus Cottage
| Student Learning Guide 2—Exit Slips
| Appendix C – Role Cards (photocopy and cut out cards for distribution according to your class size)
| Appendix D – Materials and Instructions
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation10
| Appendix E – Pattern
| Appendix F – Inspection Quality Control Form
| YouTube Video: Process Design - Garment industry.wmv (3:55) https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=55&v=uVoQJrz0sH8
Preparing for the Assembly Line Simulation | Room set up – preferably a large space
Arrange long tables end-to-end and divide them into 7 sections. If your room is small or limited, organize 7
stations at tables and set up a system to rotate or pass on the products in a systematic manner.
Provide tables for each of the Quality Control Inspectors (one table), the Materials Mangers (one table) and
the Cottage Industry workers (one table for each worker).
| Assigning roles
Each student assigned to the assembly line will have a specific job. Provide a role card to each student
(adjust numbers according to your class size).
| 6 Workers at each of the 7 stations
| 6 Cottage Industry workers who will make jeans by themselves (start to finish)
| 1 Timer person to sound a bell to designate rotations (could be the teacher)
| 3 Inspection for Quality Control – a pre-made pair of perfect jeans will be provided as a model
| 2 Materials Managers
Provide each Inspector with the Inspection Quality Control Form (Appendix F). All jeans, whether made on
the assembly line or individually, will need to pass the quality control inspection or be rejected.
*Keep the rejects to later discuss the cost of mistakes and impact on efficiency.
| Materials and Instructions—see Appendix D. Provide each station with necessary materials and a copy of their instructions. Set up the individual cottage workers at separate tables where they will work by themselves.
| Pattern—see Appendix E. The pattern will need to be overlaid on the paper (simulated fabric) that will be used to construct the jeans.
| Inspection Quality Control Form—see Appendix F. Print one form for each pair of jeans likely to be produced and provide these to Inspectors.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 11
Learning Activity: Assembly Line Simulation1. Do the simulation for about 30 – 40 minutes. You may need to troubleshoot. Prior to starting, it is a
good idea to show an exemplar of the finished product and provide materials for each station to practice
their job (especially while they are waiting for the jean pieces to come to their station).
* The teacher should play the role of Timer. You can regulate the length of time for each interval of work.
As students become more adept, shorten the time (in other words, speed up the process) and observe the
effect on product quality and worker performance. You should take notes on what you are observing or
ask a student to assist in this. Collect and tabulate the Inspection Quality Control Forms. Determine how
many jeans were successfully completed and how many did not pass inspection. Compile the results and
have this information available for future debriefing. Make a running tab on the white board.
2. Debrief: Immediately after the simulation, ask for students’ initial responses and generate thoughts about
their experiences “working on the line.” | What did it feel like to work on an assembly line? | Would working in a factory be a good job? Why or why not? | How realistic do you think this simulation was?
For students who worked producing jeans the cottage industry method ask: | What was it like to make a pair of jeans start to finish by yourself? | Do you think you were efficient? | What did you like best? Least?
3. View YouTube video clip Process Design - Garment industry.wmv (3:55) which shows assembly line
production of jeans in a Mexican factory https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=55&v=uVoQJrz0sH8
After viewing, provide a few moments for reflection, then ask: | What was the most surprising fact to you? | What was the most interesting thing you learned? | What do you think about the jobs that people do in textile factories? | Does jean-making look like a good job?
4. Address terms/concepts associated with industrialization
Use Student Learning Guide 1 Howzit Made? – An Assembly Line Simulation to guide thinking about key
concepts from the simulation. Place students in groups of 4 (include in each group a variety of roles from
the simulation). Also try to include in each group one student who made jeans individually. After they have
completed the Student Learning Guide 1, lead them in a discussion around each term using the following
sample definitions and prompts. A key for this discussion is provided below.
Provide tabulated information from the Inspector’s Report and discuss the class’ efficiency and compare the
results to those who produced jeans using the cottage method.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation12
Assessment
Hand in an Exit Slip (run off Student Learning Guide 2). What is the most important thing you have learned
about the factory system from the activities undertaken so far?
You may compile class comments and categorize them. Sending the Exit Slips electronically makes this
faster. Share the compiled list of take-a-ways next class.
Student Learning Guide 1 — KEY
Assembly line – What is meant by the term assembly line? What is the advantage of making clothes using
an assembly line? What was Henry Ford’s role in using the assembly line to produce cars? Check out the
Henry Ford Organization at http://www.thehenryford.org/exhibits/hf/.
Piecework – The factory system requires that workers only do one job over and over. For example they
might be in charge of sewing leg seams or making belt loops. What are the advantages of this type of
production over having each worker make a whole pair of blue jeans one at a time? What does it mean to be
specialized?
Mass Production – This is a method of making objects on an assembly line to produce many standardized
pieces. The machines used in the process have been standardized and organized to build the goods step by
step. What things do you buy that have been mass-produced? Which have not?
Factory System – The factory system is a method of producing goods in an environment outside the home.
It utilizes machines, power sources, requires capital investment and workers. Why did the factory system
become more popular after World War I and fuel the economic boom (large growth in factories, services and
jobs) after World War II?
Cottage Industry – A method of making goods usually in a home situation. The worker makes the entire
product themselves and uses it mainly for personal consumption (i.e. makes the jeans and wears the jeans).
This was the main system for making goods prior to the Industrial Revolution.
Industrialization – This is a method of production that uses the factory system to mass-produce goods
using power, technology and capital investments (money). What are the benefits of living in an industrial
economy? Who benefits most in an industrial economy? Who benefits least? Are workers better off than
they would be under a cottage industry?
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 13
Lesson 3 Working Conditions in the GWG Factory
Inquiry Question:
How did working conditions affect the quality of life for GWG factory workers?
The learning activities and resources featured in this lesson highlight lives of the women who worked in
Edmonton’s Great Western Garment (GWG) factory. Songs and interviews from GWG: Piece by Piece and
the Royal Alberta Museum are used here. These songs and interviews feature working conditions prior to
changes demanded by the workers to improve these conditions. For more information refer to the section
in Appendix A - Teacher Backgrounder (section called All About Efficiency).
Time:
one class
Materials:
| Student Learning Guide 3— How did working conditions affect the quality of life for GWG factory workers?
| Video: Working Conditions in the Edmonton Plant (3:20) http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/virtualExhibit/GWG/en/history/edmonton.html#video2-1-1
| YouTube Video: I Love Lucy: The Candy Factory (1:46) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnbNcQlzV-4
| Video Ballad: GWG: Piece by Piece songs GWG 4 Speed Up and GWG 5 Blue Lung
| Appendix A —Teacher Backgrounder (section called All About Efficiency)
Learning Activities:
Provide students with the Student Learning Guide 3—How did working conditions affect the quality of life
for GWG factory workers? After viewing several interviews and listening to their songs, identify working
conditions, provide evidence of their effects and write a paragraph on what they feel about these conditions
from the perspective of a 13-year-old whose mother works at the GWG factory.
1. Play YouTube video — I Love Lucy: The Candy Factory (1:46)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnbNcQlzV-4
This classic video is a good way to introduce the very real issues of the assembly line when the conveyor
belt’s speed was increased in the interest of maximizing output. While the I Love Lucy clip is meant to be
humorous, there is some truth in what actually did occur in factories when increasing production was
a priority.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation14
2. Hand out Student Learning Guide 3 — How did working conditions affect quality of life for GWG factory
workers? Students can begin to fill it in as the videos are shown.
| Play GWG 4 Speed Up (5:30), a good follow-up to the I Love Lucy clip. Use this segment to discuss the working conditions and sacrifices seamstresses experienced while working on the factory line. See Appendix A for more information on factory speed-ups.
During the simulation, the Timer (teacher) increased the rate of production. Ask—what happened when
that occurred? Did quality improve? Were workers stressed?
The refrain in the song focuses on the idea of speeding up production.
| Why was this an occurrence in factories?
| Why might some workers want the line to speed up?
| Why did the women not just quit when they found the work too strenuous or demanding?
| Play this video from the Royal Alberta Museum’s — GWG Piece by Piece Edmonton’s Great Western Garment Company section, http://royalalbertamuseum.ca/exhibits/online/GWG/en/history/edmonton.html Scroll down to Working Conditions in the Edmonton Plant (3:20)
Merlin Beharry, Janet Cardinal, Anne Ozipko, Sadat Khan, Assunto Dotto, Susan Bui, Kulminder Bolina,
Lillian Wasylynchuk all discuss working conditions and the effects it had on their health.
| Play GWG 5 Blue Lung (5:00)
Working in the factory had many harmful effects on health. Discuss the following questions:
| What conditions existed that impacted workers’ health?
| What is the songwriter referring to by using the term blue lung?
| Why didn’t the workers complain or “make a fuss” when they had trouble breathing?
| Would you sacrifice your health to provide for your family?
Assessment
Hand in Student Learning Guide 3 — How did working conditions affect the quality of life for GWG factory
workers? Use this for formative assessment purposes.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 15
Lesson 4 Stories of Immigrant Women’s Sacrifices
Inquiry Question:
Immigrant women were willing to sacrifice their health and safety working at the GWG factory; why did they do it?
Despite very challenging working conditions, the women of GWG persisted in their employment mainly
to create better lives for their families. They also made strides improving their working conditions. In
doing so, their traditional roles changed as they influenced the workplace and contributed to Canada’s
modern economy.
Use Student Learning Guide 4 — Why did they do it? to help students understand the factory workers’
motivations for working in the GWG factory. Reinforce the main point that immigrant women persisted in
factory work, even when conditions were unhealthy or unsafe. They did this in order to help their families.
They also made changes to improve factory conditions such as lessening hours of work, wearing of safety
garments, having more breaks and access to natural light.
Time:
one class
Materials
| Student Learning Guide 4 — Why did they do it?
| Poster paper and felt pens
| Video Ballad GWG: Piece by Piece Songs: GWG 3 I Cannot Tell You (The Whole Story), GWG 6 Lullaby and GWG 9 Immigrant Dreams
Learning Activity
Cooperative Jigsaw
Divide the students into groups of three (Home Group). Each person in the group will be assigned a
different song segment (GWG 3 I Cannot Tell You the Whole Story, GWG 6 Lullaby and GWG 9 Immigrant
Dreams). They will become an expert on their song segment (Step 2) and will need to help others in their
Home Group understand it (Step 3).
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation16
1. Opener: Home Group – What Do We Think?
Pose the following scenario and provide question prompts to stimulate a discussion in the Home Groups.
“Think of yourself as about 13 years old. Imagine that you lived in a country experiencing extreme
economic hardship or war. Your family doesn’t feel safe and you are very poor. Your dream is to move to
another country to make a new life. Your family has been accepted to immigrate to Canada.”
| Think about how you would feel about moving away from your home country.
| What would be some of the challenges?
| Why would you do it?
| What worries would you have about making the move?
Have each group list their answers on poster paper.
2. Expert Group—Prepare to Learn and Teach
These song segments all focus on the idea of sacrifice. Divide the class into three large groups based on
one of the three song segments you have assigned. In different areas or separate rooms, ask each group to
listen to their assigned song segment. After doing so, ask them to partner up to answer the questions on
Student Learning Guide 4—Why did they do it? Tell them that later they will be sharing their thoughts and
ideas with their Home Group so it is important to get their part correct.
3. Home Groups – Share and Reflect
The main point here is to understand the motivations for women’s sacrifices working at the factory. When
students have returned to their Home Groups, replay each segment one at a time, pausing after each song
segment to allow the student expert in each Home Group to explain their thinking, lead a discussion and
complete the relevant section of Student Learning Guide 4.
4. Debrief with the whole class
Review the whole activity and draw generalizations from the activity focusing on the idea of sacrifice.
Students should have identified things such as: better lives for their families here and sometimes back
home, independence, better pay, sense of responsibility and so on.
Assessment
Collect Student Learning Guide 4 and provide feedback. A rubric for assessing the final paragraph is provided
and may be modified to suit the class or be translated into grades.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 17
Follow-up Activities
Guest Speaker
Invite a community member or parent who works in a factory to speak to the class. Generate questions that
students may have regarding manufacturing and work in the factory.
Art
Create an artistic rendition of factory life then and now.
Drama
Dramatize or create tableaux (still pictures using people and focus objects) of scenes of factory life. An
object (such as a sewing machine, pair of scissors, etc.) can help to focus a scene. If you have an old
fashioned overhead transparency machine use it for spotlighting. Cut a hole in a piece of paper and put it
on the glass. Turn the lights out in the room and the effect is dramatic as students hold their poses.
Rap
For inspiration, use any of the songs used so far to create a rap that conveys a similar sentiment.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation18
STUDENT LEARNING GUIDE 1
Howzit Made? — An Assembly Line Simulation
Inquiry Question: Immigrant women were willing to sacrifice their health and safety working at the GWG factory; why did they do it?
Systems of Production: Factory versus Cottage Industry
You have just completed an assembly line simulation and it is time to think about what you learned about how
a factory operates to mass-produce goods for consumers.
1. In your group, come up with definitions for terms associated with industrialization.
Assembly line -
Piecework -
Specialization -
Mass Production -
Factory System -
Cottage Industry (think about the students who made jeans individually from beginning to end) -
Industrialization -
2. Comparing Systems of Production—Industrial versus Cottage Industry.
Which system produced jeans more efficiently and with the least amount of waste? What are the
advantages and disadvantages of both systems? Why did the factory system become the dominant
model? Discuss.
3. Why do you think the factory system has become the main method for producing goods?
List your reasons on the back of this page.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 19
STUDENT LEARNING GUIDE 2
Exit Slips
Photocopy (one per student) and cut these in advance to pass out after students do Student Learning Guide 1.
Compile and group responses. Show complete class feedback to the whole class.
What is the most important thing you have learned about the factory system?
What is the most important thing you have learned about the factory system?
What is the most important thing you have learned about the factory system?
What is the most important thing you have learned about the factory system?
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation20
STUDENT LEARNING GUIDE 3
Inquiry Question: How did working conditions affect the quality of life for GWG factory workers?
Now that you are familiar with how a factory operates, it is time to consider the working conditions of the
GWG plant workers. After listening to the women’s stories and songs, write your thoughts about what you
have observed.
1. You have seen video clips called Working Conditions in the Edmonton Plant, GWG 4 Speed Up and GWG 5
Blue Lung (lyrics may be provided by your teacher).
What are the various conditions that existed in the factories that led to poor health or unsafe working
conditions?
Condition Effects on Health - Evidence
Under what circumstances would you make these kinds of sacrifices?
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 21
STUDENT LEARNING GUIDE 4
Inquiry Question: Immigrant women were willing to sacrifice their health and safety working at the GWG factory; why did they do it?
Name Home Group
Use this chart to analyze the songs and interviews. Be prepared to share your ideas with your Home Group later.
Song/Story Segment Why did the woman make the sacrifice?
Evidence from the song or interviews
3 I Cannot Tell You
(The Whole Story)
6 Lullaby
9 Immigrant Dreams
My Mom’s Job
Individually, write a paragraph from the point of view of a 13 year-old girl or boy whose mother is working in
a factory. Use these prompts to get you started thinking—What sacrifices do you see mom making? What do
you appreciate? How will this affect you? What can you do to help your mom? Use the back of this page to
write your paragraph.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation22
My Mom’s Job — Rubric
Name
Criteria Green Light Yellow Light Red Light13 year-old point of
view is evident
Identifies mother’s
sacrifices
Describes how her
work helps you and
your family?
Ideas for helping
your mom
Comments
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 23
APPENDIX A
Teacher Backgrounder
Edmonton’s Great Western Garment Factory
Established in Edmonton in 1911, by World War II GWG was the largest workwear manufacturing company in Canada and, reputedly, in the British Empire. The company bought or built plants in Winnipeg, Brantford and Saskatoon. Levi Strauss & Co. purchased a majority interest in 1961 and the remaining shares in 1972, and closed the last plant in 2004.
1911 was a boom year for Edmonton. Real estate values were high and many new shops, businesses and houses were built. Alberta’s first Premier, Alexander C. Rutherford, City Councillor and owner of the Alberta Hotel, Alfred E. Jackson, and Charles A. Graham, a former buyer and salesman with Revillon Dry Goods, established the Great Western Garment Company (GWG) on January 30, 1911, with
a strong belief in the future of the young city. They also recognized the need for a supply of functional, hard-wearing clothing for the province’s growing workforce.
The company’s seven employees formed Local 120 United Garment Workers of America (UGWA) a few months later. The company quickly became a significant employer of women. There were few jobs available to women at the time; many employers would not retain married women, and single women had few legitimate employment opportunities.
Great Western Garment grew quickly, to more than 100 workers in its first year of operation. In 1914, the plant moved to 10438 Namayo Street (97th Street), Edmonton, to accommodate its growing workforce of 150 operators.
Early Expansion
From 1917 to 1953, the factory was located at the corner of 97th Street and 103rd Avenue. Originally constructed as a department store in 1911, the building was converted for use as a factory. By 1919, GWG employed 375 workers. Graham became president in 1920, and the following year Jackson and Rutherford ceased to be shareholders. Investors
provided the capital necessary to build a two-storey addition to the north side of the factory in 1925, and a fourth storey addition with a metal mansard roof to the main building in 1927. Then, in the late 1920s, GWG moved its mackinaw and leather departments to “Factory #2” in a nearby print shop. Sales throughout western Canada grew to $1.4 million.
The Great Depression
Much of GWG’s success can be attributed to Clarence D. Jacox, general manager from 1931 to 1941 and president from 1941 to 1958. Jacox instituted the line system and piecework incentives. The company survived the Depression through diversification, receiving City contracts to manufacture uniforms for city workers and clothing for people on relief. At the time, GWG produced more than 700 individual
lines of garments, including women’s wear and youth wear.
By 1935, GWG was optimistic that the worst of the Depression was over and introduced a prosperity program, increasing the number of workers from 250 to 300. After years of layoffs during slow periods, GWG celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1936 by committing to full-time employment for its staff.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation24
World War II
With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, two-thirds of the plant’s production was dedicated to government contracts. C.D. Jacox became president following C.A. Graham’s death in December 1940, and ownership of the company was consolidated in the Graham and Jacox families. In 1941, the
accumulated value of GWG’s government contracts reached $1 million. The workforce grew to 500 people, manufacturing 12,500 uniforms per week, almost as many garments as it produced each year 15 years earlier. In 1942, a $125,000 two-storey addition was built to the east of the plant.
Postwar
In the early 1950s, GWG began to look for a new location near the 97th Street plant to accommodate operators who were juggling work and domestic duties. On December 18, 1953 the firm celebrated the completion of a new factory—a one-storey, 100,000-sq. ft. plant with a 70,000-sq. ft. sewing room—situated just a few blocks away. The reinforced concrete and masonry structure, designed by architect Ralph Brownlee, was arguably the largest garment factory on the continent. The number of employees increased from 500 to 750.
In 1957, GWG built a 125,000 sq. ft. addition to the new factory, further expanding its workforce. In 1958, C.D. Jacox died and was succeeded by J. Gerald Godsoe of Toronto. Jacox’s death precipitated not only a change in management but, within a few years, a change in ownership.
The company began to produce casual clothing for the entire family, and its marketing and distribution network spread across the country; by 1961, 5,500 merchants carried GWG products. GWG continued to sell such popular brands as Cowboy Kings (1929), Red Strap (1933), Iron Man (1932), Snobak (1935), and Texas Ranger (1937). Custom GWG fabrics were developed in collaboration with textile mills: Buckskin (1932), Snobak denim (1935), and Nev’R Press (1965), for example. New brands introduced included: Driller’s Drill (1948), High Rigger (1951), and Bum Bums (1978). To reflect an interest in expanding their market to all Canadians, in 1965 GWG changed the name of Cowboy Kings to GWG Kings. Also that year, GWG updated its corporate identity, introducing a new streamlined logo with two straight lines, rather than wings, over the initials. To counter restrictions against wearing blue jeans to school, GWG introduced coloured denim pants.
Speed-up
Beginning in the 1940s, GWG used efficiency engineers to ‘speed-up’ the manufacturing process. Under Jacox, GWG had become one of the most highly engineered companies in the world, adopting new machinery and processes as soon as it could. By the 1960s GWG had full-time engineers who timed the operators and showed them how to expend less energy working in a circular motion, how to pick
the pieces up, which fingers to use, and how to feed fabric into the machine. Where possible, operations were fully automated and the operators simply placed the fabric pieces in the correct position. By the time the plant closed in 2004, the amount of time it took to manufacture a pair of jeans was reduced to seven and a half minutes.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 25
Levi’s Ownership
Levi Strauss and Co. bought 75% of GWG in 1961. New owners Peter and Walter Haas joined the board, but GWG retained independent management until after the company’s 75th anniversary in 1986. It was one of Alberta’s largest industrial enterprises, with 950 operators working day and night shifts, increasing production capacity by ten percent. Production jumped from 8,000 units a day in 1958 to
13,000 five years later.
GWG became the first company to partner with the provincial government and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) to train unemployed and underemployed people in 1965. Trainees were paid minimum wage, half of which came from the government.
Integration of GWG Plants within Levi Strauss
In 1968, GWG opened a $1 million 2-storey, 106,000-sq. ft. warehouse in the Strathcona Industrial Park in Edmonton, consolidating the storage and distribution of GWG garments produced at the Brantford, Winnipeg, and Edmonton plants.
In 1971, the Great Western Garment Company changed its name to GWG Limited. The following year, Levi Strauss bought the remaining shares of GWG Limited. Levi Strauss and Co. (Canada) Inc. was incorporated, and GWG became a wholly-owned subsidiary while continuing to retain its Canadian directorship with Russell Gormley as president and the head office in Edmonton.
In 1973, GWG established a cutting centre and storage facility, and a two-storey, 106,000 square warehouse in the Strathcona Industrial Park. GWG continued its efforts to modernize the company’s
image by introducing a new logo, with stylized “GWG” letters in a broken circle, and by running the first national television campaign for jeans.
In 1978, GWG Limited and GWG (Eastern) Limited amalgamated under GWG Limited. Erwin Mertens became president of GWG.
In 1982, Great Northern Apparel Inc. (GNA) was established as a holding company for GWG Inc. and Levi Strauss and Co. (Canada) Inc. Fifty Edmonton-based office workers were laid off as GWG began to transfer management to Toronto. In 1984, 85 people were laid off at the Edmonton plant, and finishing for all clothing manufactured at Levi Strauss and GWG plants in Edmonton, Stoney Creek, and Cornwall was consolidated in Brantford. Some of the finishing workers from Edmonton chose to re-locate, along with the work, to Brantford.
Levi Strauss Management
By 1984, GWG’s workforce in Edmonton had declined from 1600 at its peak to 600 employees. The GWG name continued to be used until after the company’s 75th anniversary in 1986 when it introduced the marketing campaign “History in the Making,” capitalizing on GWG’s long history. Levi Strauss showed little interest in the GWG brand and, from 1998 to 2001, licensed it to Montreal manufacturer Jack Spratt. When this contract expired, Levi Strauss resumed production of GWGs in Edmonton and at the plant in Stony Creek, Ontario. Levi Strauss also introduced a new logo that featured the name “Great
Western Garment Company” in a circle with the letters “GWG” in the centre.
Levi Strauss considered shutting down the Edmonton plant in 1999, when it closed 11 plants in North America, but in the end the plant was spared. Workers would remain anxious for their jobs when later that year 77 workers were laid off at the Edmonton plant, shifting production to Mexico.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation26
Closure
When the Edmonton plant finally closed in March 2004 and 488 workers lost their jobs, Levi Strauss announced a severance package, career counselling, and retraining, as well as donations to local charities. Working with Economic Development Edmonton,
they initiated the “Levi’s 488 Project” to help workers find new jobs. Unfortunately, many workers did not have the English language skills necessary to qualify for other jobs with comparable salary and benefits.
Conclusion
The closure of GWG was a significant loss to the city of Edmonton. Throughout its history, GWG was a very innovative company. In terms of management for example, before 1917, Local 120 was reputed to be the first garment manufacturing union in North America to gain the 8-hour day and 40-hour week; in the 1960s, GWG developed a unique inventory control system, working closely with retailers; and in 1965, GWG was the first Alberta company to partner
with the government to provide training.
In terms of products, in the 1920s GWG was the first company in Canada to use pre-shrunk denim; in 1965 GWG introduced Nev’R Press, the first permanent press pants in Canada; and in 1972 Scrubbies, the original pre-washed jeans, were invented in Edmonton by then Vice-President of Merchandizing Don Freeland.
Cole, Catherine C. (2010). “Edmonton’s Great Western Garment Factory.” Piece by Piece: the GWG Story, Edmonton: Royal Alberta Museum. Retrieved from: http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/exhibits/online/GWG/en/history/index.html
Also of interest is Catherine’s book: Cole, Catherine C. (2012). GWG: Piece by Piece. New Brunswick: Goose Lane Editions.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 27
APPENDIX B
Lyrics to songs in the GWG: Piece by Piece video ballad
GWG: Piece by Piececomplete video ballad
GWG 3 I Cannot Tell You (The Whole Story)© Maria Dunn, 2012 A poignant description of one refugee’s loneliness in her new country
I cannot tell you the whole story But if you knew me, you’d understand Though I was young, I’d seen a lifetime Of war and hardship in my own land
When I escaped, I left my family I took their blessing, their hopes and pride Pray for my safety on the journey And I’ll send word from the other side
Oh daughter please, don’t hold to me Though it’s so hard to let you go You’ve more to give, you’ve more to be Than this country will allow
I could cross the oceans, brave open water Come to a place so wintry, bleak But all my courage, my looking forward Could not prepare me for my grief
Granddaughter please, don’t mourn for me Though it’s so hard to let you go You’ve more to give, you’ve more to be Than this country will allow
There’s little time for feeling lonely There’s little time for looking back You do your duty, you make ends meet Roll up your sleeves, pick up the slack
Maria Dunn vocal, acoustic guitar Shannon Johnson violin Ojas Joshi tabla, chandaMichael Lent upright bassSharmila Mathur sitar
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation28
GWG 4 Speed Up© Maria Dunn, 2007 An exuberant call-and-response work song
I’ll tell you how the work went – Speed up, speed up, speed up Not one second was misspent – Speed up, speed up, speed up My fingers nimble, face intent – Speed up, speed up, speed up I’d like to see you try it friend – Speed up, speed up, speed up
Now that I’ve gotten good and fast – Speed up, speed up, speed up They’ve upped the ante for my task– Speed up, speed up, speed up Each time I get ahead, they’re back– Speed up, speed up, speed up To raise the bar and stretch the slack– Speed up, speed up, speed up
Each extra inch seems like a mile– Speed up, speed up, speed up So bundles take a bit of guile– Speed up, speed up, speed up You snatch the small size with a smile– Speed up, speed up, speed up It’s “head down” for another while – Speed up, speed up, speed up
Come weekend, it’s another race – Keep up, keep up, keep up Another job, another pace – Keep up, keep up, keep up Each dollar more a saving grace – Keep up, keep up, keep up To bring my family to this place – Keep up, keep up, keep up
My husband, I—we’re healthy, young – Keep up, keep up, keep up Still who knows what we’re running on – Keep up, keep up, keep up We pass each other the baton – Keep up, keep up, keep up When one comes home, the other’s gone – Keep up, keep up, keep up
Sometimes I need a little cry – Keep up, keep up, keep up All I do’s just scraping by – Keep up, keep up, keep up For making friends, there’s little time – Keep up, keep up, keep up It’s ‘head down’ for another while – Keep up, keep up, keep up
Each pocket, seam and bottom hem I’ve sewn for my children I watch them grow, I know for them It’s worth it all in the end It’s worth it all in the end It’s worth it all in the end
Maria Dunn vocal Shannon Johnson harmony vocal Ojas Joshi tabla, udu, chanda, percussion Jeremiah McDade harmony vocal Chorus: Dawn Cross, Shannon Johnson, Jeremiah McDade, Terry Morrison
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 29
GWG 5 Blue Lung© Maria Dunn, 2007 Hauntingly commemorates a worker who died of lung disease Inspired by the experience of Lillian Wasylynchuk who passed away in March 2009 at 71 years of age after a seven year battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. Lillian worked for several years at the GWG clothing factory (1956 – 1963) and believed that her lung disease was caused by exposure there to the dust from the denim fabric.
Where I come from, we work hard, we don’t make a fuss So I can’t be afraid of a bit of blue dust When my family needs me to pay the bills Maybe I’m not so ill
I see now from the photos, some women wear masks And I can’t help but wish that I’d done more than ask But ours were the days when you did what you’re told You could only be so bold
If I could speak to my younger self I’d say: “never risk your precious health” Don’t assume that they’ve thought of you In your air of denim blue
Now if I had toiled in a coal mine Where the earth itself compresses your time Then maybe I’d think of lung disease But a clothing factory?
Our fingers, our air, tainted blue And someone joked that our blood must be too But when the dust settled, I’m sad to say It took my breath away
Maria Dunn vocal, acoustic guitarShannon Johnson violin
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation30
GWG 6 Lullaby© Maria Dunn, 2008
My little child, my little one May you grow to be so strong Always know how loved you are That’s why mommy works so hard
Grandma, grandpa, daddy too All sing lullabies for you And I know you love them, yes But your mommy you love best
Chorus:
Now I sing this song for you As you’ll sing one day for me Now I give my hands to you As you’ll give them back to me
We crossed the open seas For prosperity and peace And the life of which we dream Now, will lull you, child, to sleep
Rolling English off your tongue With the ease of the young You’ll have schooling and a home A destiny your own
Chorus
Someday I hope you’ll come to know The place I call home And I hope you will see Why we had to leave
We have travelled shore to shore Like all pilgrims have before Though we found no streets of gold You are the treasure that I hold
Chorus
Maria Dunn vocal, acoustic guitar Michael Lent upright bass Jeremiah McDade whistle
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 31
GWG 9 Immigrant Dreams© Maria Dunn, 2012 This song discusses the working options for immigrant women
Some say it’s a sweatshop and why would you stay? If you spoke better English, you’d be on your way Too smart to be here, too poor to go So you just stick it out for a month or so
Too smart to be here, too busy to leave Weathering change in a tongue you don’t speak And the pay here is decent, benefits too So you just roll along for a year or two
And while you’ve been keeping your family afloat The years have slipped by and you’re still in the boat Rowing a sea of sewing machines For your bread and your roses, your immigrant dreams
Some say it’s a sweatshop, relentless it was But times have changed, so have the laws From piece work to better than minimum wage No more killing yourself for the money you make
From piece work to better than minimum pay There’s more to your work than a quota each day Encouraged to lead, your confidence grows So rich meeting women from all round the globe
And while you’ve been keeping your family afloat Years slipped by and you’re still in the boat Rowing a sea of sewing machines For your bread and your roses, your immigrant dreams
If it’s a sweatshop, where else would you go? To a rest’rant? No pension, pay that’s too low You’re better off home than part time in a store All that effort, you get there, you’re back out the door
You’re better off home some husbands agree Long ago when you went to GWG You could write your own book with all that you learned Put your children through school with the money you earned
And while you’ve been keeping your family afloat Years slipped by and you’re still in the boat Rowing a sea of sewing machines For your bread and your roses, your immigrant dreams For your bread and your roses, your immigrant dreams For your bread and your roses, your immigrant dreams
Maria Dunn vocal, acoustic guitar, accordion Shannon Johnson violin Michael Lent upright bass Jeremiah McDade bansuri
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation32
APPENDIX C
Role Cards
Station 1 Cutter Cutter Cutter
Station 2 Belt Loops / Button Hole Belt Loops / Button Hole Belt Loop/ Button Hole
Station 3 GWG Labeler GWG Labeler GWG Labeler
Station 4 Zipper and Front Legs Zipper and Front Legs Zipper and Front Legs
Station 5 Side Seams Gluer Side Seams Gluer Side Seams Gluer
Station 6 Waistband Waistband Waistband
Station 7 Riveter Riveter Riveter
Station 8 Roving Inspector Roving Inspector Final Inspector
Individuals Material Manager Material Manager Material Manager
Individuals Cottage Craft Worker Cottage Craft Worker Cottage Craft Worker
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 33
APPENDIX D
Materials and Station Instructions
Materials | Heavier grade paper that has the pattern photocopied onto each sheet.
| Scissors (one pair per cutter)
| Single hole punch (for button hole)
| Glue sticks
| Dot stickers (larger ones for buttons and smaller dots for the rivets—8 per pair of jeans) You will need a lot of dot stickers
| Yellow and black sharpies for colouring the GWG logos and an orange sharpie for drawing the top-stitching.
| Print instructions for each station.
| Inspection Quality Control forms (see Appendix F)
Station Instructions
STATION 1
Carefully cut out pattern along the heavy black lines.
STATION 2
Draw the belt loops onto the waistband (piece 1) where they are marked.
Use a hole-punch for the button-hole.
Attach the button (sticky dot)
Button Hole
Button
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation34
STATION 3
Colour the GWG logo and glue it onto the marked back pocket (piece 2)
Glue the GWG pocket onto the right back leg panel (piece 4)
Glue the other back pocket (piece 3) onto the left leg panel (piece 5)
Glue the front pockets (pieces 6 & 7) onto the front leg panels (pieces 8 & 9)
3
4
2
5
76
89
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 35
STATION 4
Carefully draw in the zipper onto the left leg panel (piece 8). You will need to have drawn in the precise
number of teeth. Then glue or tape the two front panels together below the zipper so that the fly covers the
zipper.
Glue the two front leg panels (pieces 8 & 9) together below the zipper. The zipper should now be covered by
the “fly” on piece 9.
STATION 5
Place the back pants panels (pieces 4 & 5) face down onto the table.
Glue the front panels (pieces 8 & 9) onto the back pieces along the side seams and inseams.
Button
Button Hole
inseams
Side seam Side seam
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation36
STATION 6
Carefully glue the waistband onto the pants. Be sure to glue the button-end under the zipper-fly. The button-
hole end will cover the button.
STATION 7
Attach the rivets over the small circles on the front and back pockets. There are 8 rivets.
Draw orange lines for top-stitching. This should be on the pockets, inseams, belt loops, zipper-fly and
waistband center seam.
“Top-stitch” the hem of the bottom of the pants by drawing an orange stitching-line.
Button
Button Hole
Rivets
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 37
APPENDIX E Patterns
7
7
6
9
8
FRONT POCKET6 FRONT POCKET
GWG PATCH
9RI
GH
T FR
ON
T
GLUE
8LE
FT F
RON
T
GLUE
GLUE
GLUE
GLUE
Ensure that the pant sizes on the patterns match in size.
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation38
1W
AIS
TBA
ND
4
5
3
1
2
4RI
GH
T BA
CK
GLUE
5LE
FT B
ACK
GLUE
GLUE
GLUE
GLUE
3 BACK POCKET
2 BACK POCKET
GLUE LABEL
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation 39
APPENDIX F
Inspection Quality Control Form
Use this sheet to examine the quality of the product at each stage of manufacture. Ensure that the jeans being
produced are at a high standard.
Number Pass (yes/no) Comments
1. Cutting is clean and accurate
2. Belt loops, button and button-hole accurately attached
3. GWG logo creatively coloured; front and back pockets accurately glued on
4. Front leg panels, zipper and fly accurately glued and drawn
5. Glued front and side seams together
6. Glued waistband accurately
7. Attached rivets, drew topstitching on seams and hem.
Inspector’s signature Date
Let’s Make Blue Jeans—A Factory Line Simulation40
Sponsors:
This project was developed for the Aspen Foundation for Labour Education www.afle.ca as part of a teaching
resource that features Maria Dunn’s video ballad Piece by Piece: Stories of the Women Who Worked at GWG
(2012), a collaboration between songwriter Maria Dunn www.mariadunn.com, videographer Don Bouzek of
Ground Zero Productions www.gzpedmonton.org, and historian Catherine C. Cole. Financial assistance for this
project was provided by the following organizations:
| Alberta Council of Carpenters & Allied Workers
| Alberta Historical Resources Foundation
| Alberta Teachers’ Association
| Blair Chahley Seveny Lawyers
| Chivers Carpenter Lawyers
| Civic Service Union 52 Benevolent Society
| Edmonton Community Foundation
| Servus Credit Union
| Steelworkers Humanity Fund
| Teamsters Local 362
| Teamsters Local 987
| United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401
| Unifor Social Justice Fund