Let me tell this small story....sorry for its length.
Early in my career working electrical maintenance for a petroleum company I had the pleasure of working beside several IBEW guys through the years and they impressed me with their work habits and workmanship, not to mention they were a great bunch of guys...I alway admired them, they were my hero's. So this image of knowledge, character and workmanship was burnt into my brain for years.
So much later in my career , I went to work for a 100 year old refinery in another town that was much more remote or should I say just plain hillbilly. This was also a IBEW union shop but very very very different. The only difference these guys were "B" tickets instead of "A" ticket. There was no training, food on the floor, no proceedures, filthy shop, filthy language, and very antiquated in many ways, which was starchely different from my earlier experience.
So after a year, management called me in the office and set me down, and they wanted me to promote to supervisor. I was shocked, and the first question from my mouth was in reguard to seniority as I still had respect for these guys, and besides I was the last on the food chain. They said they had alot of problems in the shop, and they wanted me to change it and I was the guy they were looking for to do it. So I was younger and full of vigor and frankly agreed with them, and I was also too stupid to realize what was to come. So I said yes I'll do it, not realizing how difficult it would be to un-screw a 100 year old mindset. This bunch was the most lazy, untruthfull, back biting, code defiant, not to mention being management defiant, which now included me.
I tried everything, parties, total make over of the 1940's era shop, total make over of the instrument shop, analyzer shop, motor shop, PM crew, built a training room, bought training materials, computers, built a "out of town" training budget for the whole shop, new work benches, tools, you name it I did it. All they saw, was that I was a threat to them, because I was changing things, not that I was trying to help them at all. They cussed me, went behind my back, would not comply with proceedures and on and on it went. They made life for me miserable. I hated my job.
So in the end, I learned that you cant fix peoples attitude, but they will run over you if you let them, and its no fun. You either have to clean house, which I did not want to do, or leave. I was making good money, but that wasnt why I was there...I was there for the trade which I still love today. I also learned Im a happy go lucky guy not a person who wants to argue with someone everytime I turn around. So I later left, as I had come to point that it just wasnt worth it.
So here I am, and when someone lights me up, I have this opinion that I dont have to take it, nor do I have to stick around If I dont want to. But there are givers and takers in life and this forum is the same way, givers and takers. So pardon me for my being "over sensitive" about attitudes, as its just my hang up I guess, but I will defend myself.....But life is way too short for arguing, and its barely long enough for good fellowship and good times. And it doesnt matter if its a brother in the trade or a customer, they are both human beings. Every one deserves respect and a fair shake in business dealings, wages, and everyday trade. And thats just what I tend on doing in my new business.....
