“Multiply it out. It adds up.”
“Okay, so raise them ten cents an hour. That would demonstrate our goodwill and might give them enough incentive to stay with us. I lost two good carpenters last week because they could make more money working on that new sports arena that’s under construction.”
“The carpenters you lost were replaced.”
“But it took several days out of my work schedule to interview and hire them. I don’t like losing days. The building is scheduled for completion sometime next summe
r. I’d like to finish it by early spring.”
“Why?”
“Because Debra’s pregnant. Much as we love it here, I’d like my baby to be born at home.”
“Personal interests shouldn’t override the interests of the company.”
“Fuck you.”
Haskell had all but tsked him. “Resort to that kind of language if it makes you feel better. I assure you it’s not going to change my mind.”
Dillon resorted to that kind of language and a whole lot worse before the issue was settled. “I hate to jump the chain of command on him,” he told Debra that night over dinner. “But the man’s a penny-pinching prick who can’t see anything except the bottom line. What he doesn’t seem to understand is that the sooner we get the building up, the more money he’ll save Pilot Industries.”
“Maybe jumping the chain of command is warranted,” Debra said. “You can’t be effective if you’re constantly quarreling with a man who’s obviously jealous of you.”
“Jealous?”
Haskell and his wife had come to dinner one evening at Debra’s invitation, so she had had a chance to observe him. “Dillon, be realistic. You’re everything he would love to be. You’re handsome; he’s not. You’re tall and strong and manly, and he’s a pale, puny weakling. Despite the language barriers, you get along well with the men, but they ridicule him. Didn’t you tell me that they call him the French equivalent of ‘asshole’? I don’t even think his wife likes him.”
He made a moue of grudging assent. “You may be right, but there’s a big difference between determining the problem and solving it.”
“Call Pilot. Lay it on the line.”
“Issue an ultimatum—Haskell or me?” He shook his head. “I’m not ready to chance that. Haskell’s been with the company longer and Pilot puts a lot of stock in seniority. If he chose Haskell, I wouldn’t get to finish my building. Besides needing the job, I want to see my building finished for my own satisfaction.”
Dillon lost two ironworkers the following week. He blew his top when Haskell refused to give him a budget with which to bargain.
“They’re only trying to manipulate you.”
“Go to hell.” Dillon left quickly, so that he wouldn’t slam his fist into Haskell’s parsimonious puss. He decided he had no choice but to call Pilot.
Pilot wasn’t pleased. “I certainly didn’t think I’d have to worry about personality conflicts from two so-called professionals.”
“I’m sorry I have to bother you with this, but if Haskell keeps his fist closed around the company purse, I’m going to lose qualified builders. I’ll be forced to hire second-rate workers, and I don’t think either of us wants that, do we, Mr. Pilot?”
Static crackled through the long-distance connection during the ensuing silence. At last Pilot said, “Tell him that I personally authorized a ten-cent-an-hour raise across the board.”
“Fifteen?”
“Twelve, and that’s it, Burke. Don’t involve me in these squabbles again. I put you in charge of this project, so take charge.”
Pilot hung up before Dillon had a chance to say thank you. He reasoned it was a good thing. Otherwise, it might look like Pilot was playing favorites instead of exercising sound business sense.
Haskell Scanlan didn’t see it that way. “Did you go crying to Daddy?” he asked snidely when Dillon informed him of the conversation with Pilot.
“I told him what I thought was in the best interest of this project.”
“Oh, sure,” Haskell replied cattily. “Pilot looks at you and sees a younger reflection of himself. Beneath the gilt of his success, he’s as brash and uncouth as you. He prides himself on being a self-made man. So don’t make the mistake of believing that you won this quarrel on your own merit. You only won because you’re the boss’s ego trip.”
Since he had ultimately won, Dillon didn’t concern himself with Haskell’s opinion. Beyond a few days of cold, miserable rain, things at the construction site ran smoothly through the autumn months. Dillon lost no more workers, because they knew he was responsible for their raise.