Looking Back At Getting My Job With The FDA George Doggett and I had been working at Mountain Pass Canning Co, out in Anthony as Supervisors right out of UTEP. My youngest Chris had just been born and I needed a job right away. Our savings had been devoured by medical expenses. I was working 12 to 15 hour days six to seven days a week for a paltry salary. Because I worked the night shift I rarely saw Lynn and Chris. The Plant Superintendent was a pretty demanding loud gruff guy. I remember how the other Supervisors thought I was crazy to approach him for a raise despite having increased production numbers so dramatically in the short time I had been there but I figured simple logic would prevail. Besides I knew they loved the production numbers my crews were putting out. I told him Call me crazy but I think I am worth minimum wage. I explained I did not even make minimum wage when you calculated what I was getting per hour and how dramatically production numbers increased. He said bonuses would be coming after canning season but I held to the minimum wage argument. He eventually gave in with a slight raise though he acted as if it was a magnanimous gesture. I was proud of my accomplishment though in reality I was still not making the full minimum wage. George and I eventually both began to get offers to work at various locations for FDA. George took the offer from FDAs New Orleans office and I took the offer from San Francisco. I remember turning down the FDA office in Buffalo, NY flat despite my poor pay at Mountain Pass. There was no way I would subject my family and I to the brutal weather of Buffalo. With other offered locations I asked for time to consider which I used to see if a better offer might come along. I gave my two week notice and advised them I was willing to work up to the time I needed to travel. The boss said maybe I can make you an offer you cant refuse. I said unless that offer involved a 40 hour week with 8 hour days there was no offer he could make I could not refuse because money meant little if I had no time to actually see and spend time my family. I called an Army buddy of mine who had lived with us for several months while looking for work after graduating from DeVry University in Phoenix, AZ. He had moved on and landed a job in the Bay Area and was living in Oakland, CA. I told him I would be coming his way for my new job. I said I was driving out alone as I needed to work for awhile to earn enough money to bring Lynn and Chris out and move our belongings. He said why dont you stay with me and fly out. He said I could use his car because he had a company car he could use. How cool was that ? I was stoked. I bought my plane ticket. Imagine my shock when one of the first things he told me after picking me up at the airport was that after thinking about it he did not think it was a good idea for him to,let me use his car. Not being able to afford to fly home now to get my car I was bummed but bit my lip. My friend had almost no furniture so all I had was a mattress, a sheet and a pillow but hey I was happy I had a place to live and with a friend. I quickly learned getting to work in San Francisco would now mean a walk to the bus line, catching a bus then taking the BART train into the City. I did a test run just to make sure I would be on time that first day. My first day came quickly. I dressed in a suit and tie which I understood to be the uniform of the day. I was filled with anxious anticipation as the BART train speedily traveled in the tube under water in the bay. Civic Center stop here I come. Passing a few of the homeless regulars I entered the historic building at 50 UN Plaza, signed in with the Federal Security staff and waited for the escort to arrive. My first day was about to begin. I was entering uncharted waters. The adventure was about to begin for real.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 13:31:42 +0000
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