Family Legends – Working the Union

We have a third-generation family story we tell of Frances William Schryer – my maternal grandfather. To the right, Frank and family.

Frank had 7 brothers and sisters. He married my grandmother when he was 23 and she 19. He was apprenticed as a tool and dye maker at the time, and earning a good living. They spent their wedding night in their own home – they had 20% saved between them at 23 and 19 to buy a house.

I rented until I was 34 and borrowed almost 90% on my mortgage. OK, but this isn’t about me.

Frank left Detroit with his family to become superintendent at a new tool and dye shop in Hillsdale, Michigan. After a bit he came up against a UAW line worker who wasn’t carrying his weight. Just couldn’t make the grade, but, y’know, union. Couldn’t fire the guy.

But, like all unions, there are lots of rules, and there was a pertinent union caveat. If you decked somebody on the job, you would lose it (at least in the 1950s). So, one day, Frank pulled him off the line, in front of everyone, and spoke quietly to him for less than a minute. Guy decked him. Knocked him to the ground. Frank picked himself up, said, “You’re gone.” Walked away. Mission accomplished.

Lingering family mystery: What could he say to the man in less than a minute that would work like that?