I know it is so much out in the open now but all of this in your face classwar reminded me of long ago and far away in Atlanta, Ga I quit a job over the injustice of what I was trying to be forced to do. It was not just the injustice but it was also pitting an old woman against a young woman. There was so much wrong in that environment. I see now how life has shaped my views and glad that I was on the right side of the issues most of the time and even if I gained little in the workforce, I know right from wrong and wouldn't compromise. I knew it at 25 and I know it now.
I was a single mother with no child support coming in. I had been laid off at Philco Ford and for those who read my Christmas diary, I worked several jobs to maintain.
Jobs were very hard to come by in this time frame, but I managed to get a couple at a time to help me support my child. Not this time. This job at Colonial Stores was the only job I held. I had to drive 45 miles one way to get to Sylvan Drive which was south of Atlanta. I lived west of Atlanta. I always had a piece of a vehicle and took a chance just driving the things much less trying to depend on it for dependability for jobs. I landed that job after six weeks of unemployability which I recall was 60.00 a week. The pay I received at Colonial Stores was not as good as Philco but it was fair.
I used to say I would work for the insurance. The pay I recall was enough to pay the bills but was not for any extras. It required tight budgeting. The hours and drive were not that great but it was dayshift. 8 to 5:30. I landed a job at the Store in the Credit union dept amd there where approximately 300 workers in the company. there were only about six in my dept. I was a teller and stenographer. Remember the dictaphone machines where letters were taken off the dictaphone and one transcribed the letters? This was my job. I thought.
Follow me below the squiggly to see how I handled this classwarfare and how it affected me.
I was not used to working with such stringent rules. I had it pretty hard in comparison to this place at Philco. There was a lady named Helen who was like a Nazi stormtrooper with rule enforcement. Don't dare be late to work. Don't dare take an extra 5 minutes in the bathroom during break. Don't dare ask for any time off. Funny part was that she was not my boss. She was just the one with senority and was the ass kisser of the place. This quality in a right to work state makes one almost invaluable. I, was not one to kiss up. I did my job and went by rules or did until the day I blew up. I was not on food stamps, received no assistance and by all standards
one would think I was a republican because I was not one to take charity or any type of government assistance. I don't even know if they had any back then. I was nothing politically back then. I was not a republican or democrat. I didn't vote. I was of the democratic persuasion but after Bobby Kennedy died I never engaged again until president Clinton ran for president.
I did not hate my job but It was just a paycheck to me. I hated jobs like that. I had no choice. I could not take time off to look for a job closer to home and I could not look on a Saturday or Sunday. This was a huge problem in that time era. One could submit a resume' but it always called for an interview and sometimes more than one. Snail mail was so slow and jobs were so scarce that you could literally lose the one you had trying to find one better. I just dug my heels in and decided I would learn to like the sitting all day with two breaks and long hours with a piece in my ear listening to goobly goop all day while someone on that tape holding a cigar dictated letters.
After about a month I finally got a break from the dictaphone. I was approached by someone, not Helen to tell me that I would have to start manning the credit window.
The employees had their money in the credit union and I was needed as someone to take in and distribute the monies when needed. I could transcribe up until lunch and then take over the window after lunch until quitting time. I had never been told about
putting money in the credit union but it was probably a six month on the job benefit. Who knows? I know the insurance was a 6 month waiting period. I know why now.
I was a full time employee but none of my benefits kicked in until the 6 month trial period was over. I am no quitter and I held some real crappy jobs but this one stands out in my mind probably more than any.
I really enjoyed the interaction of seeing the employees come to the window and talk a little ( something that was almost forbidden in the office) and get their money transaction taken care of. I was new to the window and Helen was always making cracks about me being rated X. I didn't wear provocative clothes. I didn't wear much makeup. I didn't wear real high, high heels but Helen never missed an opprotunity to
say the office had a rated X female in the office. See, I was divorced. She had no clue what caused my divorce , I was just divorced. I didn't drink or party, and I had no social life and not near as much a matchhead as I am today because I NEEDED that job and could tune people out. It was an office of ladies and one gay man who I was friends with and everyone else in the room ignored and tolerated. He told me at lunch one time that he had a friend but not to tell the others as they would give him a hard time. I could believe that. I was Helen's target for bad manners and rudeness. I know why Helen hated me. I would be willing to bet if the old hateful woman is still alive that she is holding tea parties and organizing them everywhere. She hated me for my youth. She was always making cracks about children should be seen and not heard if I tried to ask questions regarding policy or certain things about benefits. She also hated me for my looks. Back in that time I was not hard on the eyes. I was fit, and rather attractive. I wore a size 7 and she probably was in an 18. My hair hung to the middle of my back and was naturally almost black. My eyes are blue. They were brighter in those days and I had 20/20 vision. She had overpermed frizzy hair and a bad disposition. I never noticed the lady's physical appearance until I was forced to go toe to toe with her and my eyes were fixed on her every hair and pearl jewlery but she cut me down everyday of the week non stop. I never matched. My shoes were too out of style. My hair was too thick. I wore too much mascara. She would say things like, "I bet you got a hot date tonight Miss Priss when I would be anxious to get home on Fridays. The worst was , I obviously had something wrong with me since I had been divorced for over two years. I should be at home taking care of my child. I am giving the background of the relationship this woman and I had to explain why the blow up that fateful Friday afternoon took on a life of it's on. She would make catty remarks about not only my appearance but things she knew nothing about. She would say, if you are so single, maybe you and Jay, (my friend who was in still in the closet, ) have more in common than we know.
I just tuned her out. Jay would roll his eyes and go back to his bookkeeping. Those people in that office never talked to us and we were not allowed to talk.
I went to the window at COLONIAL STORES ON SLYVAN AVE.. one Friday afternoon and there was a laborer standing at the window. He was looking at his watch as I approached the window. He not only had to draw his money out but for some reason I noticed they all told why they were withdrawing. (Maybe a rule). He seemed kind of
excited and nervous. He was covered in perspiration and said, "Young lady, I know it is near three but I got to get twenty dollars out of my account because my little girl has a recital and she needs some shoes. She has no dress shoes. None. The rule was no one could withdraw money after three. It was ten till. He said, "If I don't get that money she can't be in the recital and she is just 7" My wife will kill me. I forgot about it. I handed him the twenty dollars right at 3PM. On the dot. He signed his paper for his withdrawal and I smiled and said, Tell her to knock em dead and good luck". The man had such a relief on his face. Helen stormed into my teller space and said , " You stupid ignorant fool". You know the rules. NOBODY GET MONEY ..BUT NOBOBDY after three. She gazed at her watch. I said. Helen, it was five till , it was not three." i then said, don''t call me ignorant. She fluffed her permed short hair and kept walking back to her desk. I looked for my supervisor but he was not in the office.
One of the ladies in the office said, " Helen that was unnecessary" She didn't budge.
I glared at her and job or no job I had just about had it. I went in and spoke to the supervisor about her behavior when he got back in his office and he told me , "Well Helen has been here a long time and she knows the rules. Just don't let the time get that close again. No matter what,,come three shut down the window. I assured him I would. Helen heard the conversation and was pleased she looked like she was the School Marm looking out for the company and it's rules. I went home.
The next week was uneventful right up till Friday. OMG. I had made it a whole week without insult and baggering. Jay was taking some flack and we both knew just to shut up and let this crazy woman rant. It was twenty minutes till 5 when I was gathering my things to go home when a man in a suit approached the teller window. I went to the window. I smiled and said, " Sorry Sir, the window is closed". " It is after three". He promptly informed me he had to withdraw 1000.00 from his account as he
had plans for the weekend. I said again, "I am sorry, sir, it is past 3. It was at this point Helen came flying out from her desk nearly tripping and said, "Oh Mr, Johnson, I am so sorry. She is new. She didn't know who you were. She pushed me to the side and opened up the money bag that was about to be depositied. Drawer was already emptied. I stood there in shock. I was mad. I was angry and Hell was about to break loose. She went to hand him the money when I dropped the blind and money flew everywhere. I said, 'OH HELL NO! I had never used profanity in a workplace until that day. The Mr, Johnson walked into the office for a full fledged off the chart rant IRL. I yelled, " It's after three Helen. THREE . That is the the rule. We don't give out money past three Helen. Only ignorant people give out money past three HELEN. She tried to say something and I at the top of my lungs said, SHUT UP. I have had it with you. Am I supposed to learn every individual in this company who puts money in the credit union. Do rules not apply to the upper smucks but only to the working man who needed shoes for his kid? Whose the fool now Helen? Who looks like a two faced, ill bred, wantabe ass kisser that you are HELEN? WHO? I turned to this man and said,
"She's nuts and you are nuts for keeping her here. My supervisor emerged. He said,
What's the problem. I said, "No problem. I quit. I don't need this sh.t. I don't need this kind of rule that applies to some but not all. I don't need COLONIAL STORES and I don't need a Helen in my life. She is damn lucky I don't slap her silly and kick her all the way to the cafeteria on my way out. Johnson and supervisor was saying, " Calm down". Helen is just eyes wide open and starting to cry. I really think now that she thought I was gonna slap her. I really don't know why I didn't. I grabbed purse in hand and left, slamming the door on my way out. I yelled, Jay, you need to walk outta here. I got to the car and broke down in tears. I had no job. I had not gotten my check and ready to scream again at all of the Helen's in the world. I get that same feeling when I see injustice in my face.
I cranked the old Malibu and drove it sputtering to my apt. I went in and had a good cry and then picked up my young son from my sister's and borrowed ten bucks from my brother in law and went to Dairy Queen and to the movies. I put the incident behind me. I knew I was right and somehow I would get another job. This rated X woman was living her normal social life when I had a few extra dollars. I spent it on my child. i could have went out and got drunk but I was not more than a glass of wine drinker once in a blue moon. I remember I got a job two weeks later at the local hospital working in reception at radiology. Someone was looking out for me, I am quite sure it was not COLONIAL STORES.
Yeah I have seen classwarfare..I just won't particiapte in it. Even if it means possible evicition and famine. I won't do it. I never was tea party material.
I wonder every now and then what happend to the only friend I had there, Jay.