Farrell: I suppose you got the boss all straightened out on those rejects, Bob. That Valenti has a lot of buddies, and we'll need to keep our eyes peeled to actually catch them fouling up the stampings.
Henschel: You can say that again! I've got a couple of Valenti's old buddies on my line, and ever since the burrs started showing up about 11:20, they've been extra careful. I've traced at least three rejects that I think I can attribute to him.
Polk: Keep a count on who makes the most rejects, and maybe we can pin this down to a few soreheads.
Adams: You fellas sound like you're on a manhunt. As for me, I think Engineering will come up with the answer. The press on my line has been making more noise than usual today, and I think there's something fishy there. Right now, Bob, I'd like your help in getting the night shift to cut down on the number of stacks of blanks they leave us for the morning runs. It'd help a lot if they'd keep it down to two stacks of 40 each. Again this morning I had four stacks cluttering up my area.
Polk: I'll see what we can do with Scheduling.
Henschel: I'm with you there, Adams. I've been loaded with four stacks for the last five days running. With my slow-speed old equipment, I could manage nicely with only one stack to start off. I noticed that Farrell had two stacks and Dawson had only one to start his line today, and why should they be getting favors?
Dawson: Now, Otto, you're just jealous of my new high-speed press. You got an old clunker, and you know it. What you need is to get off that diet of Panther panels and join me banging out those shallow-draw panels for the Cheetah. Also, it might help you to smile now and then when one of your men cracks a joke. Remember that old proverb, "He that despiseth small things shall fall by little and little."
Farrell: I can think of another proverb that you might consider, Dawson. "Spare the rod and spoil the child." Is it true that your crew is going to win a trip to Bermuda if they're all good boys and make nothing but good panels?
Adams: Aw, cut it, Farrell. We can't all be tough guys.
Farrell: Well anyway, I'm glad Dawson didn't have to cope with Valenti today. That boozer is finally out of my hair. I can't forget last year when he helped Patella spread the word that if the men would burr a lot of the stampings, they could pressure management into a better contract. I wouldn't be surprised if Valenti and Patella were in cahoots now, trying the same angle before negotiations start.
Adams: Relax, Farrell. You can't prove that's so. The men aren't as dumb as all that, as last year proved when they refused to believe Patella. What bugs me is those rejects this morning. Never saw so many bad burrs show up so fast.
Henschel: They sure surprised me, too, but you know I think Quality Control may be a little bit overexcited about the burrs. I figure all of them could be reamed and filed out with a little handwork. Put two extra men on the line, and it would be all taken care of.
Farrell: Maybe so, but you know how Burger would feel about the extra costs on top of the lower output. And don't forget, Henschel, our High-speed presses are banging out 30 more an hour than yours. Well, I gotta get back and see what's with Valenti's buddies on my line.
Coggin: What I want to know, Patella, is why did Valenti try to get back on the line this morning against Farell's orders?
Patella: Why not? Farrell was miles off base sending Joe home yesterday without telling me or you or anyone else. I was glad Joe came back and faced that s.o.b. Farrell's been getting jumpier and jumpier lately, and do you know what they say? They say he's cracking up over that poor kid of his the little teenager who's turned out to be such a tramp. I feel sorry for him, but that's no reason why he has to take his feelings out on his men. His crew won't take it much linger, and the other crews are sore, too. You know Valenti's brother this morning over on Line #3 began talking about a walkout?
Coggin: Yes, I heard he did. So why didn't they go out?
Patella: Oh, that crew of Dawson's is too company-minded, and there are some older men there who almost worship Dawson. But they'll go out if management doesn't wise up and respect their rights.
Coggin: What about that man who got hurt last night on overtime while unloading those sheets?
Patella: He's been on the job for a couple of months, but he tells me he wasn't familiar with the method of blocking that Zenith Metals uses. He's not hurt bad, but he'll get workmen's compensation OK.
Coggin: sure. Now how certain are you about Farrell not finding any bottle behind the tool crib after he suspended Valenti? And are you sure you're right that there were no witnesses? You know you've got to be positive of your evidence.
Patella: OK, Ralph. I'm certain, I'm sure, I'm positive!