Some fire officials speculate that working-class and longtime local workers would have joined already if so inclined.

"He was the bridge," his son said, "helping the longtime workers get comfortable with the new technology."

To some longtime workers in social services, the new systems seem like a bad dream.

Meanwhile, Stanley's longtime workers were left high and dry.

According to the longtime worker, "The only time he ever went around that fountain was the night he died."

But the most important education comes from the experience of longtime workers.

Its longtime workers look back on the achievement fondly; here was an investment that worked.

In the 1993 buyout, the 3,000 longtime workers who accepted the offer received $125,000 each.

Other longtime workers are hearing the turnaround talk with trepidation.

So longtime workers who had signed up to work began threatening not to show up.