Thanks to all who responded — it was more than could be hoped for and no less than what I expected from Mudcatters.

The problem eased tonight — one of the tandem was off — and apparently someone else did complain. The supervisor was asking around today to see if anybody else was feeling put upon by the nattering and was getting an emphatic and universal YES.

During our conversation Wednesday night, he told me he would have to deal with it if "everybody gets together and makes it an issue." Well, now he's got a pretty good idea it IS an issue, so I'll cool it for a little while to see what happens.

I did talk to several colleagues today and floated the idea of putting our concerns in writing, giving it to the supervisor and copying the next two editors up the line. Several of my co-workers said they would be willing to sign such a letter and, if that got no action, file a grievance through the union for management's lack of control of the work environment.

Of course, those are steps I'd rather not take because — as several people observed — it would just cause more bad blood all around.

As for talking to the women involved, I could talk to one of them, but there is a long history of bad blood between me and the other one (as there is between her and just about everybody else in the newsroom). But I contend it is not my place to do that. It's a management problem and they don't pay me enough to sort out those things

Anyway, thanks again, all.

Gotta do a little work now, then I can go home and forget about it for the weekend.

It's MUSIC time!

cheers,

david