b"no dope or stuff like that.So, I retired in '87 when I knew my daughter was going to graduate, I got out.I see and what did you like best about your job? I can't think of anything I enjoyed. It was a hard job because you're dealing with people. I think I enjoyed my pay. Itsounds terrible. I was supporting myself and I had good benefits and I was going to get out and do what I wanted. Whenyou don't have good staff but people like that secretary who was a holy terror, it's not my job, it's not my job, it makesyour job hard. And there are so many tenants in these building, many on welfare, built in problems. Were you responsible for maintenance?There was a maintenance guy, a superintendent who was responsible for the upkeep, but the superintendents, a lotof them, were caught doing the wrong thing and they were put in jail. I was responsible for the tenants; they were responsible for the upkeep. I think it's more difficult to deal with people than to deal with objects.What was most problematic? You were dealing with people, but what was the most problematic for you?Dealing with personalities. That secretary on the staff was really bad. Tenants could be difficult too. They could benice and then all of a sudden, something goes wrong, period. The Housing Authority was difficult too. They dumped youin the job and they didn't show you how to do it. You learned by hook or by crook. Was there training?Not that I can remember. I don't know what they do now but, maybe they learned a lesson. But this is my experience.Were there other experiences or jobs that helped prepare you? I worked at the Department of Welfare and I had to visit people who needed help. I once went to a house and therewas a picture of the woman's daughter on the table. I went to school with that girl and I was dumb enough to say: I knowDorothy. The next day the mother called up and said to forget the welfare. I embarrassed her and I realize now, I nevershould have said anything. I learned how to deal with people. But sometimes you have difficult people and youre notcalm. You do the wrong thing. It's difficult, everybody's different.Absolutely. What does it mean to you to be a union member?The benefits, that's the first thing you think of, period. In addition to the benefits when you retire, they have different programs for us. I also do some work for them because I live in the neighborhood.What kind of work do you do for the union?They have something called the pension counselor. The people at the desk make the appointments. I come in to callup the people to remind them to keep the appointment. Twice a year they have pre-retirees programs. They are in Mayand in the fall. They bring the pre-retirees in and they give them various talks: what to do about your pension, social security, how to plan your money and the doctor comes in. I make an announcement and take appointments for the pension counselor. So, I take their names and that's a big job. I serve something to eat as well.Its another way for me to get out of the house as a retiree.56 "