Meeting of the Board

Meeting of the Board

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4
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Meeting of the Board by Alan Edward Nourse

Published:

1963

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Meeting of the Board

By

4
(2 Reviews)
This etext was produced from The Counterfeit Man - More Science Fiction Stories by Alan E. Nourse published in 1963. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

Book Excerpt

EN LABOR ECONOMY ROBLING LOCK-IN CREATES PANDEMONIUM

There was a long, indignant statement from Daniel P. Torkleson, condemning Towne and his followers for "flagrant violation of management contracts and illegal fouling of managerial processes." Ben Starkey, President of the Board of American Steel, expressed "shock and regret"; the Amalgamated Buttonhole Makers held a mass meeting in protest, demanding that "the instigators of this unprecedented crime be permanently barred from positions in American Industry."

In Washington, the nation's economists were more cautious in their views. Yes, it was an unprecedented action. Yes, there would undoubtedly be repercussions--many industries were having managerial troubles; but as for long term effects, it was difficult to say just at present.

On the Robling production lines the workmen blinked at each other, and at their machines, and wondered vaguely what it was all about.

Yet in all the upheaval, there was very little expression

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Not a terribly interesting story. It basically pokes fun at the current white/blue collar setup by reversing the roles. I don\\\'t have prejudice against either side - I just didn\\\'t find any humor in it.

I only rated this a 3 because the writing itself is handled well enough. The story deserves only 2 starts.
Clever satire on labor relations and stockholders' meetings. The story presumes the trend of labor unions investing their various funds in industry stock continues until they become majority stockholders and dictate to management. Sort of a capitalist "workers control the means of production." There are two or three good characters, especially the hapless vice president.