Like I said, it all depends on the shop, the Union,workers and so on. You’ll find examples of all to support whatever case you want to make.
I never found factory work humiliating. I looked forward to my shift and loved the smell of the plant. At the end of shift I would look back in amazement at all we had produced and thanked the sales staff for finding a home for it.
Some years ago I read a book on how the teamsters got a foot hold in the St. Paul transportation business. Complete with attempted murder. I have no illusions and understand why the guy was cremated never to be found again, even though still looking for his body. It can be rough but not my experience and only once did a Union guy remind me of his permit to carry, but we got along.