inscribed in fibre-tipped pen on reverse u.r.: A. 1 / MARIA GIAMAKOS typed on accompanying paper label: MARIA GIAMAKOS / Women shift workers are found in two main areas: / (1) service areas, e.g. waitresses, barmaids, cooks, / cleaners, nurses, nursing aides; (2) industries such / as food processing, textiles, metal and electrical / trades, chemicals, rubber, plastics, tobacco. / Some of the most commonly reported dysfunctions are / chronic fatigue and insomnia, gastric upsets, anaemia, / weight loss, constipation, tension, nervousness and / increased irritability. These are common to all shift / workers but they are aggravated for women because of / domestic responsibilities which are shouldered by women. / Many women work at night so that their husbands who / work during the day can look after the children; most / women night workers prepare the evening meal before / they go to work so that their husbands only have to / heat it up for the family but they themselves are / unlikely to eat a proper main meal and this makes them / more susceptible to the dysfunctions mentioned above. / Tension builds up and leads to consumption of drugs / such as valium, and so a potential addiction is created. / The appointment of a union night organiser to handle / problems encountered on the night shift, provison of / child care facilities on a 24-hour basis, plus provision / of nutritious and appetising meals in factory canteens / to cater for workers on all shifts, would help to solve / some of the difficulties of shift workers. / Disruption of health, family and social life caused / by shift work should also be researched. / MARIA GIAMAKOS came from Greece in 1971 / and has worked as a cleaner since 1975.
