Milano, 11 Dicembre 1891.
Direttore delle Officine.
Se colla presente vengo a fare qualche osservazione e dare anche qualche disposizione, non intendo affatto disconoscere il savio ed utile operato che la Direzione ha fatto in questo frattempo. Ma dall’inchiesta fatta ora, risultano evidenti alcuni fatti, ai quali è necessario porre riparo.
Intanto, se io dovessi tener conto di tutte le circostanze dovrei procedere al licenziamento del
In via incidentale poi, osservo che si sono attribuiti troppi poteri al detto Sig.r Marini, e specialmente per ciò che concerne le edizioni, esso non ha né il gusto, né la istruzione necessaria, per utilmente ingerirsene.
Altro rimarco da me fatto più volte, è il modo con cui si ordina un prolungamento d’orario: questo non è un vero diritto del proprietario, ma un accordo fra esso ed i lavoranti, i quali in ogni caso devono essere avvertiti non all’ultimo momento, nè con disposizione [sic] improvvise, che rivestono il carattere di draconiane.
Trovo poi equa la richiesta di rimanere nelle Officine durante l’ora del riposo: ma siccome questo può generare abusi, sia per le provviste, sia per altro, è necessario intendersi bene e chiaramente coi Capi Sezione, i quali devono farsi garanti del buon ordine. La Direzione stessa vedrà il modo di organizzare ciò, perché non vi siano inconvenienti a lamentarsi, pei quali forzatamente si dovrebbe venire alla misura ora in vigore.
Al
Giulio Ricordi
Gerente la ditta G Ricordi e C.
133.
pp. 271-272
CLET002004
Milan, 11 December 1891.
Sig. Ing. Tito Ricordi
Director of the Workshops. City
If with the present letter I must make some observations and issue some directives, nevertheless I have no intention of ignoring the intelligent and useful work the Office of the Director has done in this period. But recent investigation has revealed several things that need to be corrected.
Briefly stated, if I were to consider all of the evidence I should proceed to dismiss Sig. Marini from service: in point of fact, he is responsible for the complaints that have been raised, and the impression of disgust the workers received from him every time they encountered him was something I felt myself as well whenever I was in his office. With discourtesy and arrogance one makes nothing but enemies, and discipline can be maintained even with civility. For that matter, not just once but several times I brought this up, but to my disappointment the Director took no notice. It is only because of Sig. Marini’s other good qualities that I am delaying the decision to let him go, also with an eye to keeping the prestige of the Office of the Director intact.
Furthermore, I should note incidentally that Sig. Marini has been given too much authority, and, especially with regard to the editions, he has neither the taste nor the necessary education to manage it usefully.
Another remark I have repeatedly made concerns the way in which orders are given for extended work hours: this is not actually the proprietor’s right, but rather an agreement between him and the workers, who in any case must be notified not at the last minute nor with unexpected instructions that might well seem draconian in nature.
I also find their request to remain in the Workshops during the hour of respose to be reasonable; but since this can give rise to abuse, whether for the workshop material or for other reasons, it is necessary that things be clearly and completely worked out with the Department Heads, who must guarantee that order is properly maintained. The Office of the Director itself will see to the organization of this so that there is no reason to complain of any inconvenience, in which case we would be forced to return to the rule as it is now.
Since I have already expressed my wishes personally to the Director, I believe it is superfluous to repeat them here in writing. Certainly, given such useful work that he has so far accomplished with devotion and intelligence, were he additionally able to fulfill these wishes he would be fully deserving of all possible praise and unconditional trust.
Giulio Ricordi
General manager, G. Ricordi e C.