Dirty, Dangerous and Demeaning

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For other meanings (e.g. "three-dimensional"), see 3D.
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Dirty, Dangerous and Demeaning (often Dirty, Dangerous and Demanding or Difficult), also known as the 3Ds, is a neologism derived originally from an Asian concept. When used in a slang form, this term generally refers to blue-collar unionized and nonunionized workforces. The term originated from the Japanese expression 3K: kitanai, kiken, and kitsui [1] [2] [3], and has subsequently gained widespread use, particularly regarding migrant Asian workers.

Any task, regardless of industry can qualify as a 3D Dirty, Dangerous and Demeaning job. These jobs can bring higher wages due to a shortage of willing qualified individuals and in many world regions are filled by migrant workers looking for higher wages.[4][5][6][7] For many, engaging in high risk, low status work can be the way to escape poverty.

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[edit] Economic status

Workers in 3D professions are often better paid,[8] due to the undesirability of the work, and resulting need to pay higher wages to attract workers.[9][10] [11] This has allowed those who for whatever reason find themselves uneducated and unskilled to still earn a living wage by foregoing comfort, personal safety and social status. In the United States, wages for 3D occupations can be over $ 70,000 US dollars annually, examples are: electrician [27], ironworker [28], electrician (powerhouse) [29], electrician (lineman) [30], laborer [31], and millwrights [32] For comparison these jobs are not 3D and pay much less: law clerk [33], chemical technician [34], forest and conservation technicians [35], sales and related occupations [36], and office and administrative support occupations [37]. This concept proves itself in economic theory of quantity supplied and quantity demanded (see Quantity adjustment), the wages paid to the 3D workers is always higher than other wages due to the works undesirability [12] .

However, where there are regions with an excess of available workers, i.e. high unemployment, the average wages paid will be lower until the number of available workers is reduced. Large scale international labor migration, from developing to developed countries since the late 19th century and early 20th century has provided a pool of migrants willing to undertake employment for lower wages than native residents. Higher wages in developed countries provide a strong 'pull' factor in international migration, and thus a comparatively low-wage in a developed country may mean a significant increase in wages compared to the source country.

Prominent current examples of such migration include Filipino entertainment and sex workers to Japan,[13] and of Indians and Pakistanis to the construction industry in the Middle East.[14] In the United States, 3D occupations once filled by Irish American and German American immigrants, are today often occupied by Latin Americans and East Asians. The highest paying work available to immigrants who often: lack the proper credentials, possess unrecognized degrees, are unskilled and/or are uneducated, is work that is of lower social status, has a higher risk of injury and is blue-collar.

These workers are susceptible to exploitation and without representation can have a difficult time maintaining fair working wages. Since the beginning of the labor movement, immigrant workers in 3D jobs have formed the backbone of many labor unions.[15] [16]

[edit] Risks

As the name indicates, dirty, dangerous and demanding work can impose severe physical and mental costs on workers. There is often a risk of early retirement due to injury, general joint depletion or mental fatigue. After experiencing or witnessing coworkers killed, injured, or suffering permanent mental changes, the stress can cause eventual mental fatigue and post-traumatic stress disorder.

[edit] Perception

As shown by the entertainment industry's depiction of workers in Dirty Jobs and The Worst Jobs in History many Americans today feel detached from this type of work.

Frederick Winslow Taylor laid the foundation of lean manufacturing of which 3Ds is a common term.[17] He perceived the worker as a component of a larger system and dictated a mechanical way of performing labor movements in an attempt to increase productivity. His theories resulted in a management mentality of disposable workers and entitlement. The stereotypical 3D job often is envisioned as demoralized workers functioning as mindless machine components in a dangerous environment. Today this management philosophy is replaced by power to the edge concepts developed by John Boyd, resulting in empowerment for non-management employees.[18]

[edit] Occupations considered to be 3D

The following occupations are listed by name in migrant worker literature to be 3D occupations. All of these occupations have the common correlation of being dirty, dangerous and demanding, though this correlation in itself is not sufficient to classify an occupation as 3D. If it is possible to classify any specific occupation as 3D and if possible what determines if an occupation is 3D, is a point of contention, so reliance on existing literature, devoid of what determines classification as 3D, is necessary. The first group of 3D occupations listed here also appear on the 2004 Bureau of Labor Statistics annual list of "United States Most Dangerous Jobs", organized in order of fatality rate:[19] Lumberjack , Fisherman [20], Ironworker or Steel erector [21], Sanitation engineer [22], Farmworker [23] andRanchers, Roofer [21], Electrician [21] [24], and Truck driver [21].

The following occupations are listed in literature as 3D occupations but do not have the added distinction of appearing on the Bureau of Labor Statistics "United States Most Dangerous Jobs" list: Assembly line worker [23], Construction worker[25][21] [26] [27] [28], Infantry [29], Miner [20] [30], Nursing [21] [31], Prostitution [32], Security guard, and Wildland fire suppression.

[edit] Trade Unions Representing 3D Workers

Internationally there are many trade unions representing the various occupations considered to be 3D. The Industrial Workers of the World is an example of one such trade union, an expanded list is available at the List of trade unions article. A short list of organizations representing International and North American workers follows: International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Laborers' International Union of North America, Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Farm Workers, and United Mine Workers. Without representation the working conditions for 3D workers often becomes brutal, harsh, and deadly. For this reason trade unions have remained strong within these occupation demographics while the labor movement has lost ground in less demanding workplaces.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Stone, W. C. "NIST Construction Automation Program, Report No. 2. NIST Construction Automation Workshop. Proceedings." March 20-31, 1995. NISTIR 5856; 156 p. May 1996.National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Construction Automation Program, Report No. 2. NIST Construction Automation Workshop. Proceedings. March 20-31, 1995, 1996. pg 13. [1]
  2. ^ The Economist Pocket Asia, 1998. Andrews, John. The Economist, 1998. Copyright The Economist, 1999 [2]
  3. ^ J Connell, 1993, Kitanai, Kitsui and Kiken: The Rise of Labour Migration to Japan, Economic & Regional Restructuring Research Unit, University of Sydney
  4. ^ Phillip Martin, 1996 Migrants on the move in Asia, Asia-Pacific Issues, East West Centre, Washington
  5. ^ M. M. Haque and Ahmad F. Ismail, "Automation in Foundry Kasting Industry", IEEE ICIT’02, Bangkok, THAILAND, 2002 pp 815 -820
  6. ^ Roberts K. D., "The determinants of job choice by rural labor migrants in Shanghai" China Economic Review, Volume 12, Issue 1, Spring 2001, Pages 15-39
  7. ^ Korea WorkVisa Guide - Defines Exact Term "3Ds" [3]
  8. ^ United States National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates [4]
  9. ^ PIELAMI Project Report 2006 [5]
  10. ^ Joohee Lee "Income Assistance and Employment Creation through Public Works in Korea: Labor Market Reforms in Korea: Policy Options for the Future" Korea Labor Institute 2001. [6]
  11. ^ “MIGRATION: IS IT FOR DEVELOPMENT?” South Centre Analytical Note, Geneva, Switzerland, 2006 [7]
  12. ^ Stone, W. C. "NIST Construction Automation Program, Report No. 2. NIST Construction Automation Workshop. Proceedings." March 20-31, 1995. NISTIR 5856; 156 p. May 1996.National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Construction Automation Program, Report No. 2. NIST Construction Automation Workshop. Proceedings. March 20-31, 1995, 1996. pg 13. [8]
  13. ^ Mrajua M.B.Asis, Recent trends in Population Migration in Asia and the Pacific, Asia Pacific Population Journal, v3 n20, December 2005, United Nations Econimic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
  14. ^ Daniel Attas, The Case of Guest Workers: Exploitation, Citizenship and Economic Rights, v6 n1, January 2000, Springer
  15. ^ Christian Karl "Migrant Worker Union and Immigration Officers Face Off" International Sec. ETU-MB, 08/01/04 [9]
  16. ^ SELECTED HISTORICAL DATES IN THE U.S. TRADE UNION MOVEMENT [10]
  17. ^ Lean Manufacturing Vocabulary and Terms [11]
  18. ^ W. Richard Scott "THE STATE OF THE ART AND THE STATE OF THE PRACTICE" CCRTS Organizing on the Edge: Appreciation and Critique, Department of Sociology, Stanford University 2006. [12]
  19. ^ Les Christie, CNN/Money staff writer "America's most dangerous jobs, Survey: Loggers and fisherman still take the most risk; roofers record sharp increase in fatalities." CNN/Money 9/23/2005. website last visited 2/19/2008 [13]
  20. ^ a b JIM HWANG "Returning to the Mountains", Taiwan Review, 08/01/2007 [14]
  21. ^ a b c d e f European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Agency press releases: Interview with Jukka Takala [15]
  22. ^ M. Bakri Musa “Get Rid Of The 3-D Jobs” Seeing It My Way Editorial, Malaysiakini.Com (May 4, 2005) last visited 2/20/2008 [16]
  23. ^ a b Marc R. Rosenblum "U.S. Immigration Policy: Unilateral and Cooperative Responses to Undocumented Immigration", International Studies Association, 41st Annual Convention, March 14-18, 2000 [17]
  24. ^ K. S. USHA DEVI "Dicing with death" CIDB Malaysia, 2006. [18]
  25. ^ Stone, W. C. "NIST Construction Automation Program, Report No. 2. NIST Construction Automation Workshop. Proceedings." March 20-31, 1995. NISTIR 5856; 156 p. May 1996.National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Construction Automation Program, Report No. 2. NIST Construction Automation Workshop. Proceedings. March 20-31, 1995, 1996. pg 13. [19]
  26. ^ M. Bakri Musa “Get Rid Of The 3-D Jobs” Seeing It My Way Editorial, Malaysiakini.Com (May 4, 2005) last visited 2/20/2008 [20]
  27. ^ M. Ortiz “US demand for seasonal workers remains high” Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 19:25:00 01/23/2008, accessed 2/20/08 [21]
  28. ^ “Moisture Problems in Manufactured Homes: Understanding Their Causes and Finding Solutions Excellence in Design, Manufacturing and Installation Series” Manufactured Housing Research Alliance last accessed 2/2/2008 [22]
  29. ^ SFTT Special Report: Roger Charles, "A Campaign for Fairness for the Troops", 01-24-2005 [23]
  30. ^ Ed Hulse"North Country a.k.a. Class Action" , Barnes & Noble Editorial Reviews, Barnes & Noble, 2006, web page visited 2/19/2008. [24]
  31. ^ John Connell, Pascal Zurn, Barbara Stilwell, Magda Awases and Jean-Marc Braichet, Sub-Saharan Africa: Beyond the health worker migration crisis?, Social Science & MedicineVolume 64, Issue 9, , May 2007, Pages 1876-1891. [25]
  32. ^ Ivan Wolffers "Research for Sex Work" VU University Medical Center, Section Health Care and Culture, The Netherlands 2002 [26]
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