Page 207 - Adobe Photoshop PDF

lab had an industrial union and several craft unions. I proposed that we
develop a training course for supervisors to provide them background
with U.S. labor laws, Chevron Research labor contracts and how super-
visors should be able to handle their labor relations in a way that would
produce constructive and positive results. Joe Fratis and Don Krotz, the
Vice President, supported the idea of the training program, but Krotz re-
quired that the program be cleared with the Labor Relations Department
in Chevron Corporation. Labor Relations grudgingly assented.

I developed the outline of the material to be covered in the four
training sessions. Labor relations required that they have a co-chair
present at each session, which was agreed to. We held a session each
week for four weeks at the Richmond lab. At the completion of the
fourth session we distributed a questionnaire to each participant (section
heads, managers and vice presidents participated). Our purpose was to
secure a detailed evaluation of the course – its content, applicability at
WKH ZRUNSODFH FRXUVH OHDGHUV HWF ,W ZDV D GHOLJKW WR ¿QG WKDW WKHUH ZDV
hearty acceptance of the program. Most participants signed their names
to the evaluation even though we had suggested anonymous replies.
My own participation as a group leader was strongly supported. Inter-
HVWLQJO\ HQRXJK LQVRIDU DV ZH FRXOG GHWHUPLQH WKLV ZDV WKH ¿UVW VXFK
labor relations training program for supervisors in SoCal history!

Some months later, I was transferred from San Francisco to work
at the Richmond lab. My responsibilities included all non-professional
hiring, employee and labor relations. %\ WKLV WLPH , ¿QDOO\ IHOW , ZDV

receiving a fair trial. The Head of the Personnel Division in the Corpo-
ration had told me before I had transferred to Chevron Research, “Dick,
several personnel people over the years have been transferred from
here to Chevron Research. Each one ‘broke his pick’ there and never
progressed in the company thereafter.” There is no point to employing
people in research work unless they are truly competent. I accepted the
SURIHVVLRQDOV LQ &KHYURQ 5HVHDUFK DV H[SHUWV LQ WKHLU ¿HOG WKH\ DS-
peared to accept me as an expert in mine.

203