Circles Of Fear

by Brian Cain

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

  The union representatives had gathered in a hotel bar not one street from Brinkly main office. There were three reps from each plant, with the state secretary from each individual union involved, nine persons in all. The floor production, maintenance and transport areas had their own unions to represent them. All had separate awards which they worked under. A few drinks saw a unanimous vote to push ahead with the pay claim of forty percent. Discussion centred on dealing with Bob Brinkly’s son, a drugo guitar player who they decided would have no idea on how to handle them, and victory for their cause was a formality. After much laughter and with no concern for the pleas and warnings given to them on the problems facing the company as a whole, they entered the Brinkly board room and waited.

  Jason had a short meeting with Watson and both plant managers regarding some of the things he had read as to the last four years of operation. He had found evidence exposing bribery, bullying and the company being generally held to ransom on all issues with the unions. He also found cover-ups on poor management, costing the company dearly. Watson was amazed at his knowledge of goings on in such a small space of time. The plant managers said very little and side stepped any direct questioning from Jason. Although Jason was upset and shocked by what he had found, he entered the meeting with an open mind. He sat at the head of the table with Watson and the two plant managers beside him, Watson to his right. The union officials glared at him as soon as he entered the room, most had their arms folded with stark grins on their faces. “I am Jason Brinkly and would like to thank you for attending this meeting on such short notice. Are all the people required for this meeting present?”

  “Yes, Jason,” said Watson. Watson introduced the officials one by one. Jason made notes of all their names and positions. Debra, Jason’s secretary sat in one corner taking notes.

  A union official interjected. “What’s with the sheila in the corner with the pen?”

  “Mr Ron Marshall, state secretary of the floor workers union, could you clarify that statement for me please? That is, right after you have apologised to Debra for your impertinence.”

  Marshall went a bright shade of red and was taken back somewhat. “I... I’m sorry mam, I...”

  “Her name is Debra,” stressed Jason.

  “Sorry Debra, please forgive me.”

  Debra smiled at Marshall. Jason continued. “You seem to be concerned that Deb is here with a pen and paper Ron?”

  Watson leant over to Jason. “We don’t usually list the minutes of these meetings, an agreement with the unions.”

  Jason listened then turned to the table. “Whilst studying the company background, I could find few minutes of such meetings. From now, all meetings will have minutes taken for all employees to observe. I don’t know how we can remember what we have discussed if there is no record of it. We have some pressing problems with our two Adelaide plants, poor quality product, outdated machinery, wages and work practices far in excess of our most expensive competitors.”

  “These things you talk of! They are the result of stupid decisions by your bean counting mates sitting next to you! It’s nothing to do with us.”

  “Mr William Peterson, state secretary of the tradesman’s union.” said Jason. “No doubt you have plenty of facts to show me to back up your concerns.”

  “I can assure you that we have done our utmost to maximise productivity amongst our members. Your bean counters are cock heads I tell you, never know what they are doing.”

  “Can you please clarify bean counter for me?” asked Jason.

  “All the wankers that work in the office, there’s heaps of them, if you put half of them off we’d be right.”

  “I find it hard to believe that everyone we have working in our office fits that bill, but if we press on all will be revealed I feel. Please keep in mind that we have a lady present, some of your dialogue is a little offensive I feel,” replied Jason.

  Watson leant over to Jason. “These meetings sometimes get a little overheated and noisy that’s why we have them at the plants, we’ve never had one here; they probably feel a little off their ground.”

  Jason flicked his hair down his back with his thumbs. “The plants, this office, everything we own as our company is common ground. We should be able to meet anywhere to discuss our future. I choose here because it is central, comfortable and that is what this room is for. Meetings, now I have an agenda laid out here, with some very pressing issues to discuss, I also have print outs of some past issues that were brought up to you all regarding the problems at hand.”

  Marshall interrupted. “This meeting has been convened for you to tell us, when you’re going to pay us our forty percent wage claim. In fact we have a mandate from all union members on an indefinite strike after this meeting if you don’t. We didn’t come here to discuss any problems that your bean counters have.”

  “Ron, I...”

  “My name’s Mr Marshall, Brinkly.”

  “Okay Mr Marshall, there’s an abundance of information in the agenda I have passed around to you all. We are currently making around ten percent as you will see by the figures. A forty percent wage rise would put us thirty percent in the red. We need to rethink our whole operation. Mechanise our plants, integrate work practises. Multi skill our personnel and expand to be able to keep them in the work force. Some of our office staff are also duplicated at each plant. We need to bring them in here to our empty office space and expand their work criteria; some may even have to go.”

  “Some of those staff are in our union, lay them off or move them and we’ll be out, sounds like you want to work them to death,” said Marshall.

  “Only a few minutes previous Mr Marshall, your suggestion was that we do that, now I mention it and you oppose the move. This is exactly why we are in so much trouble. If you look through the information I have supplied you, you will see there are many questions to be answered especially by you Mr Marshall. You live in a half million dollar home in the Adelaide Hills, the documents supplied show where you got that money. Selling out your own members several times over the last few years.”

  Link Wilson and Graham Potts were factory delegates for the floor workers. They studied the wad of papers supplied by Jason with great interest and amazement. Link Wilson from the northern plant spoke. “Jason, me and Graham here have never seen any of these documents before. We were told you were making huge profits.”

  “We are doing reasonably well Link, but that is considering our overseas plants as well. They are very efficient and have high quality product. They have in some cases subsidised the plants here.”

  Link looked puzzled. “We have overseas plants?”

  Jason nodded. “Yes in the Philippines and Taiwan. Did you not know that?”

  Link shook his head. “It looks like there is a lot we don’t know Jason. You seem to be very efficient sir; I think we should adjourn this meeting to re assess a few things. I don’t know about Graham, but I will need time to study this information.”

  Marshall stood up. “You idiots, he’s trying to break us up so he can do what he likes! We still have a mandate from the rank and file! Now do we get our raise, or do we bring things to a standstill till you do!?”

  “That’s your last word on it is it?” asked Jason.

  “The rank and file voted to take this line, but nor they, or us have been told any of this information I have in my hand. Leave it to us we were told. You would be in on this too Trevor. You were always at the meetings with Marshall and Peterson,” said Link.

  Jason looked across at a large muscle bound man with a square jaw and bent nose. “Trevor Capper, state secretary for the transport operators. Funny how you have been so quiet, when your name appears on all the negotiations forwarded to the company that somehow got lost between your hands and the rank and file. Three people put in trust of so many, but giving benefit for that, to so few. I have found that all you had something on our plant managers here, they in turn, cast a blind eye to your underhanded tact
ics. Poor Watson was held to ransom by you as well, for something very silly he had done years ago. You also had my father over a barrel, threatening to expose overseas deals that were only just legal. My father wore it, just to keep some information from my mother, which may have upset her. My father’s diaries tell me a lot; it all matches the information out of the computer. My answer to you concerning the pay rise is this. As your last word was to stop work until the forty percent be paid, I have to inform you that this would send the two Adelaide plants into the red by some thirty percent. It is therefore my decision to close those operations as of Friday next week. As you have a mandate to stop work if the pay rise is not paid, then I can only assume that no work will take place as the pay rise is denied. This being the case, all people will receive their full entitlements and final pay immediately.”

  There was a deadly silence for several seconds. Graham Potts spoke up, “Sir, isn’t this a little heavy considering the facts before us. If me and Link knew nothing of all this, think how the rank and file will feel.”

  Jason smiled at Link. “Take all the information I have handed to you and do what you can with it. These three fine leaders can go back and explain everything to our workers. It is possible that other operations they cover will look upon what has happened here today as a strike against evil in many situations like this. When all the cards are on the table, we’ll all be winners, except Messrs Marshall, Peterson and Capper. As regards my company’s dealings with these gentlemen over the last few years, I will be calling the police after the meeting. Any further developments with our staff, please keep me informed. Minutes of the meeting will be available to be read to all personnel. Debra will make them up immediately, the meeting is closed.” Wilson and Potts waited for the minutes of the meeting to be typed up for them. Jason noticed Marshall, Peterson and Capper yelling and pointing at each other on the sidewalk outside the office block. Jason sat back at the table with Watson and the plant managers.

  Watson raised his head from staring into his lap. “Even Bob knew of all this but could do nothing. It really needed someone like you to come along and sort things out. I don’t suppose you will be requiring our services anymore.”

  “For protecting my father and mother’s relationship and our own families, don’t be ridiculous Watson. All this will be out in the open now. You must put it behind you and never forget the lesson we have learnt. Any further problems will be talked immediately. As for Farmer and Nickson here… I briefly read your reports on expansion and mechanisation. You are both obviously very learned and experienced men in your field. I think we should endorse your proposals and strategies without delay.”

  Farmer and Nickson were engineers; they were impeccably dressed and groomed. Nickson spoke up. “Thank you Mr Brinkly, I...”

  Jason interrupted. “Surprising how quickly people forget my name is Jason.”

  “Sorry, Jason. I must compliment you on your handling of the situation. Good stern leadership is what we needed and that’s exactly what we have. Thank you for allowing me the honour of continuing to work with you.”

  Farmer nodded his head and smiled. “I can certainly stand by that statement. I think we have one slight problem, you just put off our entire workforce.”

  Jason laughed. “I don’t think so. This time tomorrow will see a very different outlook, if I’m not mistaken. Someone will come to us; he or she will be the workers’ new martyr.”

  Farmer looked round at Watson and Nickson. “I think he’s right, I haven’t felt this good for years. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”

  Jason got home late. Mary had picked Tammy up from school, she was sound asleep. Jason looked at her for a while, then made a diary entry before he retired.

  In some ways I am the luckiest man alive. If I only knew why.