INC NEWS - something smells fishy

[Ken Gasch]

The field is called "lean thinking" or "continuous improvement" and hundreds 
of books have been written on the subject.  My personal favorite is titled 
"The Goal" by Goldratt and Cox.

Saving money, improving quality of service, and increasing efficiency is 
what this subject is all about.  At the same time, worker morale is one of 
the most important variables to consider.  Without worker buy-in, an idea is 
unlikely to save any money at all.  In fact, when workers are opposed to an 
idea, they will see to it that it doesn't work.

It looks like Mr. Jackson's experiment is a case of this happening.  I 
applaud Mr. Jackson for pushing the envelope, though.  It is a difficult 
balance.

I worked for a group that consulted privately to Coors Brewery for almost 
three years to do the very same thing.  The job perks were quite 
"intoxicating."

Ken Gasch


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "RW Pickle" <randy at 27beverly.com>
To: <inc-list at durhaminc.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 8:12 PM
Subject: INC NEWS - something smells fishy


> That was the way they started off the story on the 6pm newscast about the
> perceived problem that trash didn't get picked up for a day. I say
> received, because like some of you on the list, my trash sat at the curb
> for an extra day. I never heard it complain.
>
> But the issue here is that we have workers in a City Department that,
> according to the newspaper and conversations today with Solid Waste, work
> anywhere between 28-32 hours a week and get paid for working 40 hours. I
> don't know about you, but that's a pretty sweet deal no matter how you
> look at it.
>
> Let's just do a little math. Say an employee picking up the waste gets
> $8.00/hr. And lets assume there are 50 of these guys. In hours and dollars
> alone that amounts to (I'll average and say they work 30 hours) somewhere
> more than a quarter of a million dollars when you figure in benefits.
> That's money that is just given away because of a particular job. And they
> get vacation time as well that is paid. The City is not slack on benefits.
> I think there is even an educational opportunity they can get while
> working for them. So none of that is just peanuts.
>
> I don't see the guys cleaning out sewers, mowing the parks, or digging
> ditches getting the same break. Nor do I see the police and fire
> departments giving away money for time not having been worked. So what
> gives here? It seems that it is something that is typically done (and why
> I can not begin to understand) by Solid Waste Divisions across the
> country. Is it that the job is just so bad there has to be some sort of
> perk like this? I can't see it. It's a 4 day work week that really is a
> part time job (less than 32 hours is considered part time and employers do
> not have to offer benefits to those employees). Maybe if we make them all
> part-time employees, cut out the benefits, they'll change their tune. I'm
> sure their wages are on par with other similar tasked job throughout the
> City. That only makes sense.
>
> So what's the answer? I applaud our new Solid Waste Director James
> "Action" Jackson for coming through the door and trying to save his
> department (and us citizens) some money. If it means solid waste workers
> have to work 40 hours a week in order to get paid for 40 hours, then
> where's the rub? Certainly not on the taxpayer. And if they don't want to
> do it, I say replace them with workers who will. That seems easy enough to
> do. Last time I looked there were still folks looking for jobs around
> here.
>
> We don't really discuss much on this list. It seems more like an info
> conduit. I'm throwing this out there for discussion. I assume most of us
> work and get paid only for the time we do it. Doesn't it seem fair that
> others are treated the same way? Especially when the citizens are footing
> the bill.
>
> RWP
> 27 Beverly
>
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