WAREHOUSE FOREMAN

The warehouse foreman was an employee at a Warehouse, nominated by the board to accounts for - even legally - for all goods that entered, left or was stored in a warehouse, so that none could be moved into or out of the warehouse without his permission. He also signed the warrants, documents that are the guarantee that the coffee is deposited there and the warehouse is the client’s trustee, especially used to fund producers.

While some foreman worked in office, others followed the work in the warehouse closely, since they were also accountable for the quality of several services offered by the warehouses.

“The warehouse foreman, he signs the warrant, he is responsible for all the coffee within the warehouse, plus the quality of service. Because any claim from the grader, always rests upon the foreman.

We ran all the work, because each sector - for example, the warehouse, it has all the sectors. It has the ‘boys’ working as stitchers, who have someone above them. The terno has a captain. When he comes, he is from the union, which usually has the staff, has the supervisor. The machine always has someone responsible, the machinist, the machine works 24 hours, the machine operator. They work 24 hours. And you are on their terno, you follow each one, who accounts for the sector. Because you are responsible for them.” (sic)
Alexandre Rodrigues has worked as warehouse foreman since the late 1950s. Testimonial given to Museu do Café in 2013.