The Barrett White Supremist Influence

As the “Lead Technician” for the I&E Department at the Valdez Marine Terminal, it was my duty to make sure the work-crew was never placed in harm’s way. Those that worked the “pipeline” more than likely had no idea the “complexity” of the “Terminal” in comparison to a typical “pumping station” and since I worked both the “Beginning & End” of the line, I know the difference. While in Valdez, for most of my honorable career that found “Letters of Commendation” from the “Owner Company”, it was under the wings of Lynn McArthur - need I say more this man the epitome and the Alyeska “legacy” of that “Best of the Best”. Until he was taken down for standing up for worker “rights”. There existed a whole lot of management dereliction in duty in Valdez for way too long not a one-off situation. At least so on the subject of “conviction” and it appeared there was a “Don’t give a shat” management style attitude that was promoted from the top, when George Mucous Nelson was at the helm - the 5^th Floor of Bragaw and his HR whores. But in Valdez, regardless of that executive Filth Floor Bragaw hand-me-down attitude “my shat don’t stink”, we had a very important job to do and we did it to the best of our ability. Our commitment, even when our efforts compromised, we helped the pipeline throughput meet the goals in excellence. And not to forget the weather attribute the workers in Valdez had to contend with, as unlike the pipeline and pump stations, a majority of the control system’s equipment was situated “outside” in the elements and it was not unusual in efforts to get to a pressure transmitter, it required a snow shovel. But the weather was something we could adjust to and manage our activities safely, just dress for the occasion as there came days wherein for that 12-hour shift it meant at least 10-hours out in the cold and wet. And work at the loading berths, always cold as there came the influence of the open water. That duffle-bag of winter gear given out at Basic Training when hired, always used in Valdez and on the pipeline, it remained in the locker. But what was a challenge we could not get used to and really not part of the job, day-in and day-out putting up with inebriated crewmen returning from the Pipeline Club after an all-night bender. Funny, that the “Yellow Cab” with a crew of un-able bodied seamen could get through the Dayville Road “Security Gate” easier then when Nelson showed up - it’s all about attitude! And we also had to contend with the Barrett “White Supremacy” nationalist movement - that was being shoved down our throats on-the-job and off-the-job, unabated it seemed. Look, under-the-influence was one thing and any confrontations at the berths with unruly crewmen quickly halted by the showing of a Rigid-18” pipe wrench, well that “White Supremist” movement in our face was not so easy to put aside and no matter how much friction this Barrett “White Supremist” movement disrupted our peace and quiet in tranquility we are not interested in “bigotry”, it appeared the local Valdez-Alyeska management was frightened away from stepping up to the plate and stopping it. So we got sick and tired of the Barrett literature that was handed out on-the-job like candy, sometimes at “plant wide safety meetings” with wording to the effect; “those who were once citizens to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Israel, the Orient, and Africa, non-whites especially blacks, were inferior. The Negro race... possess[es] no creativity of its own [and] pulls the vitality away from civilization. We advocate sterilization and abortions of the "unfit”(Barrett 1982). Stuff re-copied, stuff that reeked in Neo-Nazism copied on Alyeska “copy machines” on company time. For real, one time I was called to the Thermal Oxidizers because of “black smoke” coming out of the stacks, looked great against the serene snow-covered mountains surrounding the “Terminal”. Only to find the control room abandoned by the “white supremist” lead operator busy at the copy machine in the OMS office and try to convince this “bigot” his stuff was out-of-control? Best get used to the “N” word and “F” word - where’s the soap! And IMAGINE receiving a “Hot Work Permit” to work on the “Oxidizer” that was approved with a swastika stamp? The reason we finally went fed up and when McArthur said he gave it all he had to get management to fix these problems, it was then that we decided our only protection was to “Unionize”. And we understood the repercussion with that our own “movement” to fight the “bigotry” and drunks, but we were desperate for help, even if it meant interference from “outsiders”. And when we decided it time for a concerted effort to be represented on-the-job, it wasn’t about the pay and benefits but sick and tired of the “bigotry” and instead of Alyeska hearing out our cries and heeding a warning, they put up resources to fight our plight which meant the Barrett movement continued on as did the drunk tanker crews get more brazen. Then came the EXXON Valdez “wreck”, could have should have been avoided as the tanker crew drinking was well known about - as Valdez was a small town as was the Barrett “White Supremacy” never timely addressed, as it started in 1979 and was not “killed” until 1989. Yes, 10-years after! Alyeska was very generous to the Valdez community, especially with things like a kid “Halloween Party” open to Alyeska workers and anybody needing something to do with kids, but when the kid of the Alyeska manager thought a KKK hood was a costume for the occasion? And it was just more of the same sentiment “boys will be boys” and for me? “You can take this job and shove it”…I tried moving North, to get away from the “bigotry” only to find more problems, like “nepotism”and a cut-throat management style…so “I ain’t working here no more”! IMAGINE, Corporate Responsibility that sounded great when the Filth Floor Bragaw executives showed up at the Anchorage Rotary Club “luncheon” when for 10-years drunks roamed the “Terminal” harassing the dedicated workers as did the Barrett “Bigotry” survive a reign of terror in “harassment”. So much for a “Code of Conduct”, especially the Chapter on “Shoot the Messenger”!