I went to a public hearing at the Board of Alderman's meeting tonight. The City of Derby is considering making the jobs at the dump Union jobs again. One of the guys I talk with daily when I am bringing loads of sand to the dump told me that they made it a private operation a year or so ago when he and a couple other guys were hired. He is very concerned that they are going to replace him and the other men with Union employees. For the last few days, he's been asking people when they come to the dump to show up for the public hearing to express their support for him and his co-workers.
As he pointed out, in the last year since they started working at the dump, they've made a lot of major improvements, none of which were required. Some of them are whimsical, like the artificial tree someone left in the dump which is now "planted" next to the entrance. Some have been substantial, like clearing out large areas that had be abandoned and overgrown, cleaning up the dump to the point where it almost looks like a park. They take great pride in their work and are angry that they may be replaced. Ironically, they have been strongly criticized for helping people. When an elderly person brings something unmanageable for them and they're having a problem lifting it or putting it in the dumpster, they come over and help them. That's against Union regulations. I told the guys that I would come to the public hearing tonight. I was the only one there to speak for them.

When the topic came up on the agenda, they asked if there was anyone who wanted to speak on the topic. I stood up, introduced myself by name and gave my street address. I told the Board that my wife and I had moved to Derby seven years ago and if they gave out frequent flier miles for each trip to the dump we would have earned a trip around the world long ago. I spoke of the improvements that I've seen since the men were hired, and how helpful they are to everyone who comes there. "Some people come to work and do the minimum they have to in order to get their paycheck, and no more, I said. Not these guys. They take pride in their work, they're conscientious and polite and do everything they can to help others." "I don't know any of their names, I said, looking over at the man who'd asked everyone to come." They're not personal friends or family members." I just wanted to publicly thank them for all they do." I thanked the members of the Board of Aldermen for the hard work that they do to serve the community, and sat down.

Tomorrow morning I'll be hauling my first load of sand over to the dump. Maybe I'll ask the guy his name. It seems like I should know it by now. He knows my name and address, and even has the identification number on my driver's license.