Saturday, December 29, 2012

Before 1980:
When I worked at Lock and Dam 50, the towboat crews would have to split their tows in two so as to fit through the 600 foot lock. Most Mates (Crew Leaders) treated their deckhands very well and when they came through the lock they were quick and efficient, the crews were a team that worked well with each other because they were taught well by their Mate. The steel company mates kept their new employees by their side day and night for their first month at work on the towboat so when the month ended the new employee would know and work as well as the Mate.  The steel company boats were well organized.
I once saw a mate from another company treating his men rather harshly and I asked him why he did so and his answer was, "The barge company was the boss and their cargo was the most important object on the job and if the employee did not want to work he could go down to main street and pick up another man that needed a job anytime he wanted to."
The difference was very distinct as the steel boat locked very quickly and safely and the other towboat company you would never know how they locked through, sometimes good and sometimes very dangerously.

2012 
In today's work place it is more like the second example where you do not know what is going to happen, some work fine and others are very bad.

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The Federal military and the Federal government are very consistent in their work environment and treat their employees very well (Congress is not a good example of an average federal employee so please do not use them as an example).
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1995 at Smithland Locks and Dam:
I once met a Port Captain, (you know the old towboat captain who had been through hell and knew all the answers and who go out and handle any situation at a moments notice) and asked on what boats he had worked on, you know maybe I had locked him through the lock and he said to me, " I have never worked on a towboat I am an accountant."
 



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