I started work at Barton's pharmaceuticals 10 years before my colleagues elected me to the role of trade union secretary.
Aged just 34 many thought I was too young for the role but I won the vote handsomely due to the feeling of mistrust that many had towards the man I was up against. I couldn't have taken the job at a worse time
Within a week of me taking the job a huge pay dispute erupted.
The people who worked with me in the manufacturing department discovered, through a leaked email, that over the past 5 years the lab workers had received an average of a 10% pay rise per year compared to their 2%.
They also discovered that the previous union guy had been complicit in this.
My boss summoned me to his office.
Christian Barton was now in his early 50s.
He founded Barton's pharmaceutical from scratch using a million pound government grant and had now turned it into a global force.
He stood 6'4" and was built like a rugby player. Well manicured grey hair and piercing blue eyes complimented his angular features and chiselled cheek bones and he had an almost permanent arrogant expression. All in all he was a very imposing figure.
He gestured for me to sit. "Good morning Mr Barton." I said with a cool confidence that hid my nerves.
"We have quite a predicament don't we Brian?" he said still standing.
"Its Ryan Sir, and yes we do, but it's nothing we cant solve if we work together." I knew he got my name wrong deliberately, oldest trick in the book. I started to think I overestimated him.
"I built and own 100% of this company, why should i Work with you?" he snarled.
My heart was nearly beating out of my chest. "Sir I have been elected to represent the best interests of the manufacturing workers. They are quite angry about what's happened and.....I'm not making a threat here Sir....but one or two are talking about sabotaging production."
He slammed his fist on the desk, his face twisted in rage. "Fine." He fumed and pulled out a chair and sat opposite me.
He scribbled something on a sheet of paper and slid it across the desk. I looked at it "5% pay rise effective immediately."
I looked up knowing full well not to take the first offer.
"My members want 8% Sir. Backdated 5 years."
"You and your jumped up little prick can go fuck themselves!!" He said quietly but with obvious rage.
"I think 8% backdated for 3 years with a guarantee to match the pay rises of lab workers in future would be good enough to keep everyone happy." I was struggling to keep calm now and he could see it.
"How about 6% for them not backdated, and 8% for you backdated for 10 years." A smirk crossed his lips.
"I couldn't do that Sir. It would be immoral."
In a flash he grabbed a coffee cup a threw it across the room smashing it against the wall.
"GET THE FUCK OUT!!" he raged his fist balled as he strode towards me.
Shaking I quickly leapt from the chair and left as he looked at me with an expression that told me he would kill me if he could have gotten away with it. He probably could have too judging by the fact he was 10" taller and 4 stone heavier than me.
I rushed through the open plan office that was outside his, all the office staff looked at me as I hurried along shaking and trying to fight back tears. I arrived at my new office and locked the door. Slumping in my chair i panted and puffed and a few tears ran down my cheeks. I sat in a trance for about 30 minutes before a knock at the door shook me out of it.
"Ryan..open up I have a new offer." My boss barked through the door.
"Oh yes Sir." I blurted in an obviously flustered way as I rushed to open the door.
"Congratulations." He said handing me the proposal.
I studied it as he looked around my office.
"8% backdated for 3 years Sir? Plus the guarantee I asked for??" I said in surprise looking at him.
He just nodded almost ignoring me and picked up the photo of my wife I kept on my desk.
"This your wife?" he said gruffly. Looking from her to me repeatedly.
"Y..yes Sir." I said trying to regain composure.
"I've thought about what you said. I suppose I do need us to work together going forward."
"Yes Sir. Staff morale is key to any business." I said smiling, slowly regaining composure.
"Why dont you and your wife come to dinner at my place on Saturday? We can toast our successful negotiations and talk about plans for the future."
"Yes Sir that would be fantastic." I said smiling and approving him for a hand shake.
"Good." He said looking down at me before patting me on the shoulder. "Now make sure that pay rise gets accepted and get back to work. I'll send a car for you at 7 o'clock Saturday." He shut the door and left me to go about my day.
I walked onto the manufacturing floor and held the deal aloft like a prize-fighter displaying his belt "8% backdated for 3 years boys!" I shouted.
The whole floor erupted...."wooo hooo!" "Nice one Ryan!" "We knew you'd show him!" all the workers said as they came to slap me on the back.
I looked up and saw my boss surveying the scene looking less than impressed.
"Excuse me lad I need to make a phone call." I said, the expression on Mr Bartons face deflating me a little.
"Hi honey" I said
"Hey babe. Everything ok at work?" my wife replied
I told the tale of the pay award I had won and she shrieked with excitement.
"Now we can get that new kitchen!!" she said excitedly.