Letter: Journeymen need strength, intelligence

Friday, Oct. 1, 1999 | 9:05 a.m.

Regarding letter writer Erik Madison's contention that "stock boys" -- the correct term is journeymen -- are not worth the money.

Their job is physically strenuous. They unload trucks, haul heavy boxes and have the back-breaking job of stocking shelves. In addition their job is basically the same as a college-educated buyer or planner for a Fortune 500 company. Both have to order sufficient quantities of materials and ensure that they are in-house on time.

I was a secretary for 14 years to a group of planners. My husband worked as a journeyman for more than 30 years and I know that he could have walked in and done the planning job at the company where I worked, since he does have a degree in history from the University of California at Santa Barbara, which is exactly what one of my supervisors had.

However, the same could not be said for some of the college-educated planners for whom I corrected spelling and grammar.

I don't think that some of them could have done my husband's job.

As for the "cashiers," they have the respect of the strongest journeymen because of the stamina necessary to stand in the check stand for the number of hours required. Also they have to have the intelligence to make change and deal with stupid and difficult customers.

The phrase "right to work" makes me want to throw up. Choosing not to work is not a right but a choice that few of us can make, and the implication that collective bargaining is somehow un-American is ridiculous.

I wonder if Mr. Madison thinks the concept of "united we stand, divided we fall" is un-American, or how about E Pluribus Unum?

NADIA ROMEO