Occupational narratives of pulp and paper mill workers in Corner Brook, Newfoundland : a study in occupational folklife

• Main Author: Small, Contessa
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1999
• Subjects: Corner Brook; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/1025/; https://research.library.mun.ca/1025/1/Small_Contessa.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/1025/3/Small_Contessa.pdf

In this study I present and address the occupational narratives collected from the workers of the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Mill. Through an analysis of these narratives, I discuss the physical and social issues and challenges which arise in mill work. Through the narration of accident, prank and conflict stories, mill workers not only address issues and vocalize their fears, frustrations, opinions and social expectations, but through the narrative process they also deal with, and sometimes resolve the physical and social problems they encounter on the job. I claim that occupational narratives not only illustrate work techniques, but do so as a means of providing workers with solutions to their occupational problems, such as danger in the workplace and conflict between coworkers and management. In this study, I present occupational narratives as a tool that mill workers use for survival in their work environment. Using occupational folklife concepts and research methods, I provide an extensive representation of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Mill worker narratives and present a unique look into the occupational lives of industrial workers in an attempt to understand industrial work, its consequences, implications and relationships.