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Tea Time at Telecoms



It was the best of times when I was in the Telecoms Department in Ipoh. The Department was flush with funds as it was a booming time for Telecommunication   companies. There was no shortage of funds for the engagement of staff and for the purchase of equipment. As there were so many of us in the office we used to go out in groups to have snacks and tea during coffee breaks. 


Our modus  operandi was to go down to the road fronting our building where buses used to stop to pick up passengers. The bus drivers

who were paid on commission basis or on piece rates would anticipate huge takings and were always happy to take on additional passengers even if the bus was overcrowded and had no seats for the additional passengers. My group would board the bus and would indicate our destination as the last stop on the route. The driver was familiar with our trips as we were regulars on his bus. He would take his own sweet time to do his duties as he knew we did not care for tickets which means he need not tear additional tickets and could pocket the additional money saved by the non issuance of bus tickets. Our return journey was also by bus - but sometimes we would have to wait for the right bus, as not all buses stopped in front of our office. But the delay did not pose any problems as we would not be missed by the Chief Clerk who was in no position to discipline us. 


One day we got a newly appointed clerk to join us for our breaks; when we returned after our tea break the Chief Clerk called up the junior clerk and scolded him for taking a long tea break. The senior ones called up the young man and told him that the next time the Chief Clerk admonished him, he should tell him to be fair and not just pick on him because he was junior. He should also talk to the seniors.That put an end to the Chief Clerk pulling up the junior staff for long tea breaks. 


At that time we did not appreciate that the Chief Clerk was only doing his duties  and trying to instil a sense of discipline among the new recruits. However the Seniors were beyond discipline and were not wanting to make his job any easier.

 


All contents (c) Ganapathy Ramasamy, mynameisgana@blogspot.com


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