arsenal
July 21st, 2013, 21:26
An overheard meeting between the Police Union Official (PUO) and the Minister for Home Affairs (MHA). Throughout the meeeting both gentlemen were smiling as though their lives depended on it.
MHA "Hello again Mr Sukbidquid, nice to see you. I can hardly believe it's been almost a year since we last met.
PUO "Yes, the time goes so quickly, you know, protecting the public from all the criminals."
MHA "Mmm"
PUO "Yes, my officers risk their lives every day to ensure no crooks can get away with their crookednesses."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "Some of my officers are working up to almost nearly about roughly 30 something hours every week."
MHA "Mmm"
PUO "You know that the cost of living is going up."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "Many of the officers of the world class and internationally esteemed Royal Thai Police Force are finding making ends meet very difficult."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "And we haven't had a pay rise in almost for ever."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "We are proposing a pay rise of 15% a year for the next three years and a one off gratuity payment of 100'000 Baht, as a goodwill gesture."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "This will bring us in line with similar professionals."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "I've put our proposals here in writing for you." Handing the minister a sheaf of neatly bundled papers.
MHA "Mmm." Looking at the papers with a mixture of amusement and contempt. "Here's what I propose."
PUO "I'm listening."
MHA "I propose a pay rise of nothing."
PUO "But Minister, if you'll just read this you see that.........."
MHA Raising hand in gesture of concilliation. "Mr Sukbidquid, no one has more respect for the Royal Thai Police Force than I do. Internationally only Somalia and Equatorial Gunea score higher, or is it lower? I can't remember but anyway the score is very good. But we have no more money to pay you.
PUO "My members will be very disappointed and this might affect the pride thay have in the honourable work they do."
MHA "I have another suggestion for you."
PUO "What's that."
MHA "Gogo bars."
PUO "I'm listening."
MHA "Gogo bars are damaging the reputation of the country in the eyes of the international community."
PUO "They are Minister, they are."
MHA "This reputation could be restored if all gogo bars were told to close at 12.00am."
PUO "Nothing must be allowed to damage the countrys' reputation."
MHA "Mmm. Anyway, any gogo bars still open after 12.00am would be subject to a generous, I mean hefty fine. Say 5000 Baht."
PUO "That is generous, I mean hefty. When do you propose that these new regulations should come into force.
MHA "Well these things take time but I would hope to have the new rules finalised by about 6.00pm this afternoon and then come into force tomorrow morning."
PUO "Let me assure you Minister that my officers will not shirk from ensuring that all lawbreakers are suitably fined. It is our civic duty after all."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "Well I shall take up no more of your valuable time."
MHA "Eh." Raising an eyebrow.
PUO "Oh yes, one other thing before I go. I was looking at the new Mercedes Benz and it's beautiful but then so is the new BMW. Which one would you choose, given the choice?"
MHA "Neither."
PUO "Eh." Raising both eyebrows.
MHA "No, I would choose the new Bentley."
MHA "Hello again Mr Sukbidquid, nice to see you. I can hardly believe it's been almost a year since we last met.
PUO "Yes, the time goes so quickly, you know, protecting the public from all the criminals."
MHA "Mmm"
PUO "Yes, my officers risk their lives every day to ensure no crooks can get away with their crookednesses."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "Some of my officers are working up to almost nearly about roughly 30 something hours every week."
MHA "Mmm"
PUO "You know that the cost of living is going up."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "Many of the officers of the world class and internationally esteemed Royal Thai Police Force are finding making ends meet very difficult."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "And we haven't had a pay rise in almost for ever."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "We are proposing a pay rise of 15% a year for the next three years and a one off gratuity payment of 100'000 Baht, as a goodwill gesture."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "This will bring us in line with similar professionals."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "I've put our proposals here in writing for you." Handing the minister a sheaf of neatly bundled papers.
MHA "Mmm." Looking at the papers with a mixture of amusement and contempt. "Here's what I propose."
PUO "I'm listening."
MHA "I propose a pay rise of nothing."
PUO "But Minister, if you'll just read this you see that.........."
MHA Raising hand in gesture of concilliation. "Mr Sukbidquid, no one has more respect for the Royal Thai Police Force than I do. Internationally only Somalia and Equatorial Gunea score higher, or is it lower? I can't remember but anyway the score is very good. But we have no more money to pay you.
PUO "My members will be very disappointed and this might affect the pride thay have in the honourable work they do."
MHA "I have another suggestion for you."
PUO "What's that."
MHA "Gogo bars."
PUO "I'm listening."
MHA "Gogo bars are damaging the reputation of the country in the eyes of the international community."
PUO "They are Minister, they are."
MHA "This reputation could be restored if all gogo bars were told to close at 12.00am."
PUO "Nothing must be allowed to damage the countrys' reputation."
MHA "Mmm. Anyway, any gogo bars still open after 12.00am would be subject to a generous, I mean hefty fine. Say 5000 Baht."
PUO "That is generous, I mean hefty. When do you propose that these new regulations should come into force.
MHA "Well these things take time but I would hope to have the new rules finalised by about 6.00pm this afternoon and then come into force tomorrow morning."
PUO "Let me assure you Minister that my officers will not shirk from ensuring that all lawbreakers are suitably fined. It is our civic duty after all."
MHA "Mmm."
PUO "Well I shall take up no more of your valuable time."
MHA "Eh." Raising an eyebrow.
PUO "Oh yes, one other thing before I go. I was looking at the new Mercedes Benz and it's beautiful but then so is the new BMW. Which one would you choose, given the choice?"
MHA "Neither."
PUO "Eh." Raising both eyebrows.
MHA "No, I would choose the new Bentley."