Open Door: The Story of Foreman Jim Baxter and His Family, The (1945)

[Music] [Applause] [Music] e [Music] hi Daddy hello [Music] son hi Daddy hello Dad hello hello dear tell the children to wash their hands [Music] right [Music] Dre [Music] Jamie [Music] look daddy it doesn't fall down this time I'll get it everybody hey look out oh it's un hello Jamie hey you thanks hello everybody hi Uncle mommy oh Mommy hard say what you Belling there Jimmy Bri a well looks mighty fine I uh I was just on my way to the movies and I thought I'd drop in to see how you were oh I'm all right I guess say if you and Ruthie wanted to go to the movies I'd be glad to stay and take care of the kids oh thanks Monty you go ahead I've got a little problem I've got to work out yeah I uh I at you might after well after what happened today hello M hi Ruby come on kids time for bed just a couple minutes I'll be through no no no I've heard all that before many times come on let's pick up these things good night Daddy good night Dad good night Uncle thanks for the candy good night Jamie good night Daddy good night D good night Uncle momm good night old man come on all right I am well that's that great pair of [Music] kids Jim is there anything I can do or no Mar I guess not I've got to make up my mind about something well it can't be as serious as all that anyway Jim maybe talking about it will help yeah why don't you think about it out loud well i' be all right it might help it then it begins well I guess it begins one day just about a year ago as far as I was concerned it was just another day at the plant at least it started out that way [Music] say Jim I wish you'd take a look at my machine thanks a lot Jim well Jim guess this is it the boss wants to see oh me that's right say what's up momy it looks like Jim's going to be made for no well how do you feel about it you've been doing a good job and we think you'll make a fine for me I'm certainly going to try to and thanks for the opportunity you've earned the job Jim and as I said we think you've got all the makings of a good form oh thank you Mr Vance naturally you'll be given some special training for the job you learn about the things you're supposed to do and also some things not to do we'll give you all the help we can but training can only do so much unless a guy's got it down inside the natural ability to handle and understand people all the training in the world's not going to make him an executive but if he's got the ability he'll keep on climbing up the ladder you keep on getting promotions no matter where he works it can be in the factory the army or anywhere else I think I see what you mean all right and this Foreman's job is your first big step up the ladder you see Jim the company always tries to pick its Foreman with an eye to that lad of course sometimes we make mistakes and pick the wrong man in other words we picked you Jim because you've got the stuff maybe you'll have my job someday right boss you never can tell in the meantime Jim here are some things that'll give you a lot of information about you and your new job covers a lot of subjects you'll be interested in knowing about you see Jim you're now on salary and there are a lot of advantages and responsibilities that go along with it they are all here it also tells about the open door policy that means whenever you have anything on your mind that's bothering you Jim come in and talk it over excuse me Charlie but iin got a question on this new print here all right we were just leaving Mark you know Jim Baxter here don't you he's a foreman now going to take over a crew very shortly yeah I know Baxter hope you'll do as good a job with your gang as John's been doing with his have to go some though look at this blueprint somebody must be nuts if I read this drawing right then we're going to have to change our whole setup again well congratulations Jim you going to work Jimmy you're going to be our boss the company finally got smart eh how feel thanks guys I look I'll buy y'all a beer in the way home [Music] right hi Jimmy how you [Music] there hi Jamie you play Happy Days of here again L look at daddy de we're proud of you Jim the children and I are awful proud of what happened today yeah I guess I'm a little bit proud of myself you see honey I well as the boss said today that big step up I know it is I wanted it for a a long time you know I've wanted it and worked for it too I mean like everybody else I I want to get ahead in the world make something of myself but you and the kids well no matter what happened you'll never make that son of yours any prouder of you than he was today you should have heard him telling the Smith boy all about it my father's a foreman he he said you should have been there yeah he's a great kid tell me Kim were you surprised when they told you you've been promoted no no I knew I was going to get that job then when it actually came I well I I guess I was a little bit surprised at that but I'm not going to stop there I'm going to be pln superintendent someday yeah maybe even higher than that you want a bet mm-m not me you know I never better get the sure [Music] thing yeah I was happy not only that day but for quite a while after that I had the best job in the world I figured sure I wasn't with my old gang anymore and I missed them but that didn't bother me too much yes I started out as a foreman in great [Music] shape [Music] but after a few months I was beginning to feel not as happy as well as happy as I thought I was going to be in my new job first of all there was this fellow Al slave the kind of a person who oh I suppose there are some in every plant the kind of a guy who does a lot of little things annoying things like constantly being careless about safety rules and stuff naturally I had to call this to his attention he didn't take too kindly to it once in his Sullen way I thought I heard Slade make some crack about me being a big shot and the job having gone to my head in addition to this there was the attitude of Taylor the assistant superintendent oh I know he was a busy man with a big job to do production to get out but on a couple of occasions he appeared to be just a little bit too a a little bit impatient anyway for real or imagin reasons I began to feel I was right smack in the middle of things as far as my Foreman's job was concerned and as the days passed I thought I felt a reflection of this attitude in the entire gang so in an attempt to counteract this I overlooked a couple of little incidents actually though maybe I didn't realize it it probably did more harm than good it cost me some of the respect to my men I didn't feel right about the way things were going I knew something was wrong and I was bothered inside [Music] plenty big shot Big Shot matter [Music] what hey let's [Music] go we've done a lot of thinking about it over our plant and some of the boys are convinced personally I've been in favor of the Foreman's Union for a long time I think we Foreman should have it as it is now we get nothing but grief well there sure are a lot of people interested in doing something for the poor lowly Foreman lowly Foreman is right the Foreman's Union would straighten out a lot of trouble that we have guy would know exactly where he stood then more H oh no thanks h d Jim mhm Jim what's been eating you these last few weeks you haven't been yourself nothing think I'm all right oh no you're not I can tell something's wrong is is it something that concerns me something I've done or don't you feel Weller what is it Jim oh it's nothing I'm all right I tell you everything's okay kid really it is what time is it you got 10 minutes here look Jim there's something wrong and you can't fool me I don't know what it is but if there's anything I can do to help well that's what I'm for is it is it something to do with your job well yes it is about the job but not about production I'm still all right there at least but otherwise I guess I'm just a flop how do you mean well I'm not sure exactly what I do mean I guess maybe I just wasn't C out to be a foreman I can't take this business of being in the middle all the time what do you mean in the middle it's just this sometimes it seems a foreman is neither fish nor foul he isn't one of the boys anymore he doesn't doesn't exactly seem to be the boss just a guy who gets the devil from both sides well are you sure that Jim if there is a fault anywhere whose fault would you say it was I mean what's the cause it's the system I guess I know it isn't just me Ruthie cuz I heard a couple of guys on the bus on the way home last night they were evidently feeling the same way and what's more they had an idea what to do about it really what was it a foran union as one guy said the foreman have had to stand in the sidelines and watch the rank and file get a union and bargain for pay rates grievance procedures seniority rights and all that but all we get is grief yes but a union performance according to these Fells on the bus the Union's what we need well I don't know anything about it of course but it just doesn't seem well I won't say anything about it it's up to you maybe it's the answer I don't know but I'm going to find out about it cuz I have to find the answer somewhere or else I'm going to quit being a foran go back and just be one of the boys oh how you talk quit being a foreman when you quit being a foreman it'll be because you've been promoted mommy yes here Daddy left mhm he just left oh I sleep too much would you like something to eat some okay but I was serious about looking to the forance Union as an answer to my problem I did a lot of thinking and a lot of investigating too I read some Union pamphlets and talk to some other Foreman one night I got hold of some magazine articles on the the subject and read till about 2:00 I read about such things as grievance procedures pay rates were foreman and seniority questions as well as the need for clearcut lines of responsibility Authority and proper training I tried to get the complete picture of the aims of the Foreman's Union you remember Ruth I talked to you about it one night we were in the kitchen look Rose cl to some of the stuff I've been reading lately the You' see to it that pay rates and things like that would be straightened around as far as for are concerned maybe they could get a more definite idea what our Authority is maybe so but there ought to be some way for men like you to to get things like that straightened out without having to join a union anyway if you did do that it seems to me you'd be more in the middle than ever with some outside Union official telling you what to do too didn't you say that some of those men don't even work in your plant mhm I kind of feel that way about it too only if we form in a like that guy in the magazine said we are members of management then that's that we shouldn't have a union to bargain against ourselves that's just logical yeah so I can see that but if we're just the Forgotten men just a bunch of stoes for real management and that's something else again so we come out admit we're not part of management with any Authority and we join a union then what are you that's just it I don't know maybe we'd be nothing committe men would have more Authority than we would cuz we'd have to take ORD from our Union as well as from the company they would be just a bunch of unionized Aon boys I wish I knew the answer why are you trying to find out all these things why not go see your boss he was in your shoes once he should know the answer tell him tell him honestly that you have a problem the door's always open isn't it well tell them about the way you feel it just Dan reason Jim that the company doesn't want its Foreman to feel that way any more than you Foreman do here try that again him go to your boss I bet he'll straighten you out straighten me out huh he'll probably throw me out no sir that's just what that guy tayor would like for me to admit I didn't know my job or something I know that guy I have kind of a feeling he's riding me anyway what do you mean by that oh it's a lot of little things his attitude nothing you could put your finger on exactly but besides that I can't go over the general Foreman's head anyway there's no use talking to him he's probably in the same boat I am but if I did go over his head then I'd really get it oh well I'll work it out one way or another here that's still not dry yes Jim I remember the nights you talked about the Union business and the way he dried the dishes too only I thought that You' forgotten all about it since then it's been so long since you mentioned it gee I didn't know you were thinking about a union for Foreman you never said nothing to me about it I didn't say anything to anyone about it as you say Ruthie I did forget about it for a while well that was before today well what about today for a change everything seemed to be going along swell then Marshall a general Foreman came up to me stay back to see him minut we're putting you on another job for a while report to Bill Thompson right after lunch today he's General Foreman over in Department 62 another job what's the idea what's it all about orders from the front office got to get some stuff out well what about who's going to take over here in my place oh we' have another fell lined up anyway don't worry about it I'll take care of it what's up Jim I was just on my way to the canteen the general Foreman Raising Kane about something I don't know exactly what's up I'm being put in another job I guess they're not satisfied with the way I've been running this one I don't be you're doing all right everybody knows your crew is still tops in production I think gee Jim you don't think they're putting the skids on you do you trying to ease you out I thought they were trying something something like that boy I'd sound off plenty around here what gave you the idea they might be playing something like that ah forget it Jim I'm just talking through my head well it's just that lately you've been I forget it Jim I'll see you later but I didn't forget it in fact it seemed to me it added up to something to me this new job was apparently a demotion and just about the last straw as far as I was concerned I was plenty discouraged and more than a little bit sore too and as the day wore on I began to get even more griped I couldn't get the idea off my mind that somehow or other this trouble seemed to center around the assistant superintendent then suddenly I made up my mind I made up my mind to take this Foreman's job and throw it right into the teeth of the assistant superintendent come what made guess that's what I would do I decided to take a PLL by the horns and quit but first there were a few things that I had to say to the assistant superintendent a few things that I wanted to get off my chest yep that's what I wanted to do by this time I was in a fighting mood L first of all I'm going to admit that you've won so you don't have to pull any more fast moves to get me to Chuck my Foreman's job I'm ready to quit it right now and go back to being just one of the boys at least I knew where I stood then well what in the name of but before I do there are a few things I'd like to say to you I have a feeling that you personally have been gunning for me ever since I took over this Foreman's job why I don't know and what's more maybe I don't care the only thing that means is that I could never get anywhere with you riding me all the time but that's only part of the reason I'm quitting as a foreman whatever gave you the idea that I was riding you I've got more important now just a minute let me finish the main reason I'm throwing in the sponge is because I think the foreman and the plant around here are getting a lousy deal maybe the other guys will take it but I won't yeah don't back us up we don't know where we stand as far as Authority is concerned a the whole thing's a mess even the men realize that what's the matter with you have you've been drinking or something you sound like you're off your head sure that's just the attitude I'm talking about if one of the Union men has a grievance you listen to him but if a foreman gripes about anything then you accuse them of being drunk well when the boys get their Foreman's Union and here we'll show you guys the foreman have got some rights too now you listen to me the reason I asked you if you were drunk is because you sound like you were completely off your nut now I don't know what caused you to blow your top in the first place but I'd like to straighten a couple of things out for you as I said before and I'll say it again I've got far too much work to do to spend time riding a punk like you even if I wanted to now if the Foreman's job is too much for you you don't have to come in here shouting like a wild bull if you can't do the job well we'll talk the matter over quietly a little later is this a private brawl or do you mind if I ask what it's all about oh it's nothing Charlie we just maybe got a little bit excited that's all we'll straighten it out all right right what's the trouble well I guess I was sounding off too much at that Mr Vance just something personal as a matter of fact I dropped in to tell Mr Taylor here that I want to give up my Foreman's job and go back in the production line give up your Foreman's job eh what's Marshall say about this he doesn't know about it I came directly here I guess I wasn't smart at that I guess I shouldn't have gone over the general Foreman's head why do you want to give up your Foreman's job bter what's the trouble I thought you were doing so well didn't we put bexter on that other job this morning as we decided yes we did but that's one of the things that bothered me Mr Vance personally I didn't feel I deserved it well we did we felt that you earned it we don't promote anyone around here unless we think they've earned it or we'll do a better job better job earned it well Baxter you seem to have the neck of getting things done with our new Rush contracts we had to increase production over in 62 so Marsh the general Foreman recommended that you help us out over there that's why we put you on that other job oh I I see I I didn't know damn Jam you and that impulsive nature of yours will you ever learn I did feel kind of silly at that when they told me it was a sort of a promotion instead of a demotion but then well I was in it so I decided to see it through what do you mean by that the boss decided he had some more things to say still haven't answered all of my question what is this talk about not wanting to continue as a foreman well it was just that I figured I wasn't doing very well as a foreman and thought for the benefit of all concerned I better step out that's a surprising statement to make Taylor asked Marshall to come in here for a minute sure sit down bter when I asked what you men were shouting about you both said it was something personal well if it is I won't try I respect that however there was something else that interested me and that was the remark you made to the effect that when the foreman get their Union in here things would be different yes I did say that but as you know there's been some discussion on the subject of the Foreman's unions in some of the plants during the past few months and it's something that should be considered carefully before any decision is made one way or the other don't you agree I've done a lot of thinking about it myself do you know what the present company policy is in regards to the Foreman's Union question yes I believe I do before you get away I want to be sure you understand oh here's Marshall Marshall what's the story Taylor tells me there's been a little misunderstanding I'm sorry to hear that because Baxter's record has been pretty good production schedules costs housekeeping relations with a men he was coming along in good shape you see Banker around here decisions are governed by a man's record that carries much more weight than any personal likes or dislikes not only that but no Foreman can be fired or demoted until his case has been completely reviewed by the general manager or his special representative appointed for that purpose boys Jim and I were just discussing the Foreman's Union question and company policy sit down I think you'll be interested you see Jim this is what I meant when I told you some time ago that we operate on what we call the open door policy a Taylor and Marshall here will tell you that the open door policy means just what it says as members of management you Foreman are not only invited but urged to come in and sit down and talk with any other member of management and discuss your personal problems or make suggestions on any part of our business this way we cut out the possibility of any misunderstanding and the trouble that always follows misunderstanding the trouble is however nobody at least nobody I know has the faculty of complete understanding of every situation well that's right because most of us are too busy to take time and find out all the facts that is all the fact behind every situation for sure take for example a political question and that stuff usually as far as I'm concerned I'm willing to let some magazine writer or newspaper guy or radio commentator figure it out for me then if his opinion makes sense why I usually string along with him I think we're all guilty of that Mandi however it seems to me when we come up against questions directly affecting our personal lives that is our homes our families and our jobs then I think we should do our own thinking in deciding we just can't afford to let Outsiders do it for us we have to take time to get the facts make up our own minds that's true like the question of a Foreman's Union and that's just about what Vance said we've got to get the facts all of them but here's the point I want to make any decisions that are as close to us as that are decisions that should be made by those of us who are directly involved I mean as far as the Foreman jion is concerned that's something the foreman have got to decide for themselves and no company board of directors Outside Agency or government panel can take that right away from them do you agree with that Marshall I most certainly do but in all fairness before any decision is made every Foreman has got to know the facts on both sides of the question and when he has the facts all of them he should make up his mind and stand by his guns it's so so backton here are the facts as far as the company's concerned first in this company for all of us here there's a distinct line drawn between us and those who have no supervisory duties naturally a foreman by the very nature of his duties is a member of management and thus operates on the management side of the line then you really feel a foreman is head of his Department certainly he's personally responsible for its efficiency as well as its discipline as a manager he's supposed to take the necessary and proper steps to maintain both that makes good sense that's the only way it can be the foreman is in business he's assigned to a certain amount of floor space on which to conduct his business he's given the equipment tools materials and men to produce a certain product and he's responsible for the operation yeah but uh regardless of how carefully all the plans have been made they don't always provide for conditions and emergencies that often come up what I mean is regardless of the best engineering prints specifications don't always contain all the information necessary to make the products in addition to that regardless of the best tool designing tools don't always work perfectly the first time or keep on working as they should and regardless of the best organized materials control the stuff doesn't always come around on schedule you're right there I've had all those things happen to me at some time or other during the last year haven't we all and another thing regardless of the most carefully selected workmen people are all different from one another each Workman takes instructions differently responds differently so that no Foreman can handle his men by any mechanical formula or ready made set of plans do you agree with that if you mean that no two people are alike that's just what I mean personalities always have to be taken into consideration yet in spite of all these variables a good shop foreman does manage to produce and it's his ability to manage under the circumstances that we consider the biggest single factor in his personal success oh if that isn't Management in the truest sense of the word I don't know what is our foreman operate like a boss or the owner of a small business as far as handling the people is concerned yes I can see where we form and can certainly be considered manages from the production standpoint but well I for one was never too clear as far as well as far as the actual responsibilities in handling the men what I'm getting at is a guy's got to maintain the respect of his men and yet that's what I meant when I was talking about personalities I know that's one of my own problems I'm too darned impatient yes that's a big fault of yours mark But to get back to your question Jim of course the foreman has got to have the respect of his men and along with ability to get out production he must be a leader be able to lead people on top of that he must have the ability to act as the company's first line representative in collective bargaining matters as you know in this company the foreman is definitely established as the first step in any grievance procedure that's why when the Union contract came up for Renewal the foremen were asked to give their opinions and recommendations on what changes should be made to facilitate their contacts with a man how about when a foreman has a problem of his own and every now and then we do you know as I see it any Foreman should be able to stand on his own two feet talk frankly with his immediate boss and any other member of the Management Group if he can't do that if he feels he needs some spokesman to do it for him then as far as I'm concerned he's not management material that's exactly why we have the open door policy any Foreman who can't represent himself with his bosses isn't a foreman any more than he's a manager if he can't handle his responsibilities with the people under him so a foreman just has to decide whether he wants to be dealt with as an individual idual man or merely as an unidentified member of a group we believe that Union representation of any Management Group will definitely limit the opportunities of the individuals in that group the foreman just wouldn't be able to function as members of management then here's another one you say a Foreman's a manager but when you come right down to it actually he has no Freedom so Dar many rules in stuff I know what you mean you're not alone there you you see there are a lot of different management jobs and they all have their limitations that's true whether you're a foreman a chief engineer sales manager or manager of some other department naturally there has to be teamwork between the Departments and they all have to tie in with the business as a whole why even the general manager isn't always free to do as he thinks best in the final analysis he and all of us have to do what the customer wants boy you'll have to admit they laid it on the line didn't they yeah they were honest they didn't hold anything back well at least you got your answer yeah they left no doubt about that point a foreman is certainly a manager in all plans did the brass hats have anything else to say oh yes we talked for quite a while after that I bet you boys are hungry come on let's go into the kitchen and see what we can find to eat yeah that's not a bad idea I'm all for it uh what else did the big shots have to say Jim we spent quite a lot of time talking about the Foreman's responsibilities then the subject change to the company's responsibilities to the foreman this I got to hear how about some peanut butter root sure got plenty F said the idea was to uncover all the facts well I think that is important especially right now Jim here wanting to give up his forman's job okay the company's policy is based on the idea that if we all really believe and want each Foreman to believe that his opportunities for personal success l in his own individual Merit and achievement rather than in the hands of some organized group then the company must do its part you mean then that a man should be promoted on a basis of Merit and achievement rather than on seniority that's the only fair way isn't it now take Baxter here we promoted him to that job on 62 because of his ability and after all it's the company's responsibility to promote a man or make any other changes just from the standpoint of the welfare of the company at least that's the practical way of course naturally length of service is always considered given a certain amount of weight as far as promotions are concerned but it's not the sole reason for a step up oh sure I know that I agree that uh ability and potential the way a guy does his work should count first that's the way to encourage the better man for the better job only I just wanted to register with Jim here that length of service loyalty if you want to call it that is also considered you bet it is how about training Foreman every new Foreman should be given complete and proper training in All Phases of his job and he should be fully advised of the extent of his responsibilities and given the proper amount of authority to carry them out in other words it's his responsibility and authority to get a fair day's work from each person under his supervision and frankly that's one of the things that bothered me more than anything else I didn't know just how far I could go that perhaps was my fault for not giving you the complete picture as far as your definite Authority goes but I'll certainly take care of that and it's also the company policy isn't it Charlie to give every Foreman all possible backing in his authority yes that's true and the company also feels that part of its responsibility is to be sure that the foreman understands its objectives policy and procedures and that goes beyond just training because training and telling isn't enough as a definite member of the management staff the foreman through man-to-man contacts like we're having right here has got to know the whys and wherefores by that same token whenever possible the foremen are consulted before major changes are made in any policy affecting their work and Marshall we were wrong in not letting bter know why he was put on that other job might have saved a lot of grief that's true true yeah but maybe in this case it was a good thing it's given us a chance to straighten out a lot of questions here's a point I'd like to make too in dealing with any members of the management organization the company must see to it that as a man he receives a fair deal as an individual at is and that his contribution to the objective as a whole is recognized well that's our company policy we believe it's our responsibility to protect the Foreman's freedom of opportunity to get ahead on his own actually we guarantee free enterprise for the individual free enterprise it means that in this company ambition individual effort and hard work will not be overshadowed by any system of seniority or by the personal likes or dislikes of any individual in higher management do you have any questions Jim what did you say then Jim when the boss asked you if you had any question well I said yeah I did have some questions I said I was willing to admit that all he said all those points were good in fact it sounded like a Foreman's Heaven well ideals and intentions are one thing but actually putting them into practice of something else you said that to the boss sure and I said even more I said what I wanted to know was does the company actually mean those things wow I bet that stopped them well you didn't have to sound like a smart alec did you I mean I don't think I did at least I didn't mean to I just pointed out that in my experience I discovered that some companies were pretty darn selfish when it came to giving anything away or doing something for anybody he's right there Ruthie I never knew a company yet that would do nothing for nobody unless there was a selfish motive back of it that's the word they used when they answered me you mean selfish that was the word yeah practically thanks for bringing that up Jim that's exactly what I meant by standing on your own too feet and asking for the answer to anything that's on your mind or not clearly understood you said that your experience had shown you that some companies are selfish well it should have shown you that all companies are selfish the only reason anybody goes into business is to make a profit but that doesn't mean that they're miserly or niggly selfish to the point of having no regard for the rights of others you're in the business of being a foreman naturally you want to sell your services and talents for as much money and as many benefits as you can get and that's as it should be yeah I guess that's right at that certainly it's right and you hope to advance on up the ladder and earn still more money and enjoy more and more benefits your prime interest is in yourself and your family there's nothing wrong with that kind of selfishness is there not for my D there isn't right and the company too is out for number one and that means that it will fight against anything that will injure the company and it will promote everything that will improve it now we think for instance that the representation of Foreman by a third party will not benefit us from the standpoint of the managing job instead such representation will actually nullify the Foreman's value as a manager on the other hand anything we do to improve the efficiency of the foreman to raise their standards make them better in any way is serving the best interests of the company the better Foreman we have the better company we have the better company the better products and naturally more sales and that means better jobs and more security for all of us on the company payroll and there isn't one of those points that the boss mentioned the ones you referred to as a foreman Heaven JY that doesn't serve the selfish interest of the company that's because they will help to make you and me and every other Foreman a better manager as an example take the benefits you get through the sick leaves and retirement plans our policy on Foreman's compensation the additional Insurance all these things benefit everyone because they help to make the foreman a better and happier man that's right and the company wants the best men in the business and that's what the policy is designed to give us except that every now and then some of us let ourselves get all worked up over something without getting all the facts that's right I I did come in here to quit then what did happen I'll bet I know I can just see that guy Taylor saying it too right Baxter you came in here to quit so we accept your resignation with with pleasure am I right Jim no you're not you see what I mean huh as a matter of fact Taylor isn't a bad guy at all when you get to know him you mean they didn't let you quit you're still a foreman no right now I'm not a foreman oh Jim I'm sorry for a minute there they had me fooled I guess all brass hats and big shots are alike I know what happened I'll bet they gave you the air the minute you began thinking twice about the foran J no the union had nothing to do with it they made that clear besides I didn't say they gave me the air but you said you weren't a foran anymore I said I wasn't a foreman right now and that's true right now I'm not anything but whatever I am tomorrow morning is up to me well of course well now that you have all the facts you mean now that I have all the facts it should be easy to decide yes that's what I was was going to say I thought so too but Mr Vance told me not to make up my mind until I'd taken plenty of time to think it over he didn't try to sell me one way or another they tried to give me a complete picture of all the advantages of being a foreman plus all the disadvantages all the grief and headaches that go along with the responsibilities of management but they just didn't say the whole thing was your fault no they admitted a Foreman's job is no bit of roses I told you that they also said the job got tougher and tougher as the responsibilities increased in other words the higher a guy goes up the ladder the more grief he's exposed to yeah but the additional dough helps ease the pain you'd be surprised how much grief I could stand if it would show up in my paycheck yes Monty money does mean a lot especially if you have plans plans for your home and your children and oh a lot of things yeah that's what I mean Ruthie it's all takes money but it takes more than just money to bring happiness there's there's such a thing as as enjoying your work of of being happy in the job you do a feeling that that you're accomplishing something for yourself and for us too nothing can take the place of the satisfaction you get from doing a job well and I mean a job that that makes you want to work and which will lead to something in the future and I know so many things that's exactly the way I feel about it honey and well anyway I've already made up my mind I know now exactly what I'm going to do and I can't miss you want to p m not me you know I never against a sure thing