Wanted to share another lettter that was sent to the employees at World Airways many years ago, see if it sounds familiar:
Dear Fellow Employee,
I have taken the liberty of writing you at your home because of the extreme importance of my subject. For many months we have all had to endure the intrusion and annoyance of an outside third party. It has not been easy for anybody. But by now you have learned that the union can guarantee you nothing except that it will take money from you and perhaps take you out on strike. Your company is not perfect. No company is. We have made our share of mistakes in the past, and we may again in the future. But nothing can justify the damage that would be caused if we were infected by an outside agent. We will accomplish a lot more through a direct relationship than an arm's length one. And so I am asking you, from my heart: Please, give us a chance. Thank you for allowing me into your home with this most important message.
Yours truly, Ed Daly. World Airways
As his eyes marched down the page, Daly's habitual scowl grew more pronounced. When he reached the middle of the letter, his face reddened. His cheeks quivered. Then he began to grunt. Finally he exploded. He slammed his fist on the desk and pushed himself to his feet, leaning toward us with rage. "What the hell are you thinking, walking in here with this crap?" he howled, throwing the letter on the floor. "I'm not going to sign that f%**ng $h1t . Get the hell out of here."
Crosbie and I were ready. "I don't think you have much of a choice, Ed," I told him coolly. "This letter is our only hope. Your people are angry. If you don't want them voting for the union, you have to make them believe that you recognize your mistakes." Then the clincher, the threat I always delivered when executives balked at playing humble: "Without this letter, I can't guarantee you the election.”
Martin J Levitt
Confessions of a Union Buster
Copyright 1993
Dear Fellow Employee,
I have taken the liberty of writing you at your home because of the extreme importance of my subject. For many months we have all had to endure the intrusion and annoyance of an outside third party. It has not been easy for anybody. But by now you have learned that the union can guarantee you nothing except that it will take money from you and perhaps take you out on strike. Your company is not perfect. No company is. We have made our share of mistakes in the past, and we may again in the future. But nothing can justify the damage that would be caused if we were infected by an outside agent. We will accomplish a lot more through a direct relationship than an arm's length one. And so I am asking you, from my heart: Please, give us a chance. Thank you for allowing me into your home with this most important message.
Yours truly, Ed Daly. World Airways
As his eyes marched down the page, Daly's habitual scowl grew more pronounced. When he reached the middle of the letter, his face reddened. His cheeks quivered. Then he began to grunt. Finally he exploded. He slammed his fist on the desk and pushed himself to his feet, leaning toward us with rage. "What the hell are you thinking, walking in here with this crap?" he howled, throwing the letter on the floor. "I'm not going to sign that f%**ng $h1t . Get the hell out of here."
Crosbie and I were ready. "I don't think you have much of a choice, Ed," I told him coolly. "This letter is our only hope. Your people are angry. If you don't want them voting for the union, you have to make them believe that you recognize your mistakes." Then the clincher, the threat I always delivered when executives balked at playing humble: "Without this letter, I can't guarantee you the election.”
Martin J Levitt
Confessions of a Union Buster
Copyright 1993