Collective Bargaining
Dave and David
Joe went back out out to Arizona to visit his family, so this week it’s been me and Dave in the shop, slinging epoxy and trading stories. This one was especially amusing, especially since Dave’s been a small business owner since he was about 22:
In high school me and a bunch of guys were working for a local landscaping contractor. It was Spring and everyone wanted their houses ready for Memorial Day, so we were slammed.
Me and the rest of the guys figured we deserved a bigger piece of the pie, so we went to the guy, as a group and told him we wanted a raise. We also figured as long as we stood together, he wouldn’t have much of a choice.
“A raise? Well okay, if you guys think you deserve more money, then maybe you do. But I’m gonna have to ask you for something in return.”
We were all ready to work harder for the raise.
“If I’m going to pay you more, I’m going to need you guys to provide you’re own hand-tools; shovels, rakes, clippers.”
We were silent, all doing the mental calculation. We backed down.
“Okay, then boys. See you tomorrow morning, bright and early.”
Joe gets back this weekend. We’ll be a threesome again on Monday.
Happy New Year!
What kind of point was supposed to be made there? I *think* what you are trying to point out is that the capital costs of the business are the same as the pay-raise. How about this as the same point instead?
“If I’m going to pay you more, I’m going to need you guys to cover the monthly payment on my Mercedes 600SL”
How is it all that different from the previous point? The guy is probably expensing his car anyhow, (and if he isn’t he should have been), so, money being fungible, its effectively the same point. Just not as, er, “pointed”…Report
He who eats globefish soup is a fool; so is he who does not.Report
“So these guys, they come in, and they want a pay raise, right? And you know what I told ’em? I told ’em NO! Ha, haaaaa!”Report