Mystery Transmission - Part II

[junkyardjohn]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Second shift layout inspector - so would that be the "Jig and Fixture" shop? Did you work with Amos Ponder or Bill Mecum?

I haven't decided if it's a small world, or if it's just the circles we travel in..

K

I WORKED FOR MEACUM. THERE WERE ONLY TWO LAYOUT INSP.s ON 2ND SO BILL WAS MY "BOSS" UNDER JIG & FIXTURE.(I THINK HE RETIRED IN 86) IF I REMEBER RIGHT AMOS WAS ON 1ST. SHIFT. USUALLY.. IF THINGS WERE GOING GOOD... THE ONLY TIME I SAW HIM WAS ON PAYDAY. I'M A COUNTRY BOY SO IT WAS QUITE A BIT OF CULTURE SHOCK FOR ME TO BE THRUST INTO A PLANT OF THAT SIZE. IT AMAZED ME THAT THE ATTENDANCE WAS SO BAD THAT G.M. HAD TO HAVE AT LEAST 20% MORE EMPLOYEES THAN THEY NEEDED JUST TO MAKE THE LINES RUN. I LIVED N.E. OF HOWELL. WHEN THAT PLANT CLOSED, MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES WERE UNIMPLOYABLE. THERE WERE SEVERAL RIGHTUPS IN THE LOCAL PAPER AT THE TIME ABOUT FORMER EMPLOYEES NOT BEING ABLE TO HOLD DOWN A FAST FOOD OR STOCK PERSON POSITION. IMAGINE.... THE EMPLORERS EXPECTED THEM TO SHOW UP FOR WORK MORE THAN JUST 3 OR 4 DAYS A WEEK. AT THE TIME THAT WAS THE ONLY PLANT IN NORTH AMERICA THAT BUILT SUBURBANS. I GUESS THEY (EMPLOYEES) REALLY SHOWED G.M. WHO WAS BOSS. I FINALLY QUIT OUTRIGHT IN 1987 & STARTED MY OWN LITTLE GAGE SHOP IN BRIGHTON . THE WORK ETHIC IN THAT PLANT COULD RUIN A PERSONS ATTITUDE THAT WAS USED TO A "HARDER YOU WORK... THE MORE MONEY YOU MAKE WORK ETHIC. I HAD TO GET OUTA THERE BEFORE IT RUINED ME. JOHN