What is a pile driver (colloquially referred to as a “pilebutt”)?
They are “the first ones there” at what kinds of construction sites? Why is it important that pile drivers are very responsible in how well they do their job? Pile driving is hard, dangerous work. What aspects of the job looked risky and dangerous? What is the basic technology involved in pile driving? Drop hammer? Steam-driven rigger? What training is involved? What do the designations “apprentice” and “journeyman” indicate? Thirty-five workers’ lives were lost in the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Pilebutt old-timer Harry Brandt reminisces that if you got injured and couldn’t hold up your workload, you were out of a job. He says, “This is what organized labor is all about.” What kinds of benefits do modern trade unions offer their employees? What was the custom of ancient Roman bridge makers? What qualities does the folk hero pile driver Antoine Barrada embody? Why did San Francisco dock workers go on strike in 1934? What were the casualties? What factors do you believe lead
