August 29, 2004
By Alex J.Walling

OK, where has summer gone?

Can’t believe it is over but some things don’t change.

When summer started the Aliant workers were on strike, they still are.

I feel for them and their lost of paycheques, but, and it is a BIG but, they are the ones who went on strike.

I simply don’t and never will understand why?

They are making good money and have good jobs so why strike?

I asked a few picketers over the summer and they tell me it is about job security and they want it or want more of it.

Excuse me, but in what world do these people live in and maybe more important, what world are the union people who made the decisions to go on strike?

If someone has lifetime job security, or even just regular job security, please email me or put me in contact with him or her.

It doesn’t exist and I don’t think it has for years maybe decades.

This is a brand new world and what your dad had or his dad, is, as they say, a thing of the past.

With downsizing and mergers and acquisitions the world as we know it has changed.

Many years ago someone told me a line that has been part of my life and that is ‘the only security one has is the security in himself.”

I’ve never forgotten it.

In my world of media I figure I can be laid off or downsized or shifted any time. Now, mind you, in order to protect that I got into business for myself some 25 years ago and for the most part, I am self employed. That means there is NEVER a guarantee of a regular paycheck!

If you are a columnist and a paper decides to ‘shift focus’, there goes your column.

If you have a radio gig and the station changes format you may be gone with the next record, err, make that cd. Example John Biggs (CJCH).

If you are a TV personality and maybe the ratings go down or they want to try and hit another ‘demo’ your contract may not be renegotiated a la Ron Kronstein

Some of the strikers told me ‘but the company is making millions and millions.’ Yes they are and who is putting up the capital for the improvements? The complaining workers or the shareholders?

I don’t believe in strikes especially with a group that is well paid and I'm convinced that people don’t think it out.

Did the Aliant union bosses tell these guys that they may be on the picket line for five months? I doubt it.

Would these people be picketing had they known it would be this long? They were warned but probably didn’t believe it.

Some should be learning things as there was a long strike of over 70 days with another group last year. But as the Kingston Trio sang in one of their songs ‘When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?”

Regardless of what and how this strike ends there is no way the workers can nor will ever re-coup the wages they have lost. Not a chance.

As for their job security perhaps they should start remembering the Irving strike in Saint John a few years back. It lasted nearly two years and when it was over many of the jobs had been cancelled as Irving found a new way of doing without the workers. I expect this will be the case with Aliant.

Take the money you have been offered and forget this dream about ‘job security’ it doesn’t exist.

THE ROTARY:

Oh God what are they trying to do? I understand they want to change the Halifax (Armdale) Rotary.

No, no and again no.

Yes people get mad and swear and turn moody in trying to navigate this piece of traffic real-estate. But in over 30 years of driving in that circle I have never seen an accident. Never.

I’ve seen John Buchanan and Mavis waving placards of thanks after election wins and even was part of a remote at the Rotary with Don ‘Mabee in the Morning’ of CHNS in the early 70’s. But never an accident.

As it stands we ‘rotate’ to get into the circle and therefore a motorist only waits, at the most, for a few seconds. People are not patient and the thought of them waiting and waiting to get into the circle will cause road rage and accidents.

For the examples these city planners talk about Europe. Please show me or tell us about cities in North America that have this new system that Halifax planners want?

GOTTINGEN STREET:

Every city has some great highlights such as New York with the Empire State, Times Square etc but by the same token there are some ‘seedy’ spots in every town, such as Harlem in New York.

The same rule applies to Halifax and Gottingen Street is, at certain times in the day, a ‘not so nice place to be in’.

For that comment by the US Navy our city major and people of this street are crying fowl.

Wake up and smell the dope on this street at night. While a terrific and eclectic spot in the day time how many would take a leisurely stroll lets say around 11 pm? Not to many I believe.

Don’t tell us it is safe at that time for it isn’t and if you or I went into a city we would like to know the ‘places not to be in around midnight’. The US Navy did the right thing.

Gottingen is off Uniacke Square and how many shootings and murders have they had in the area over the years!

Heck, forget at night, slightly more than a week ago some person, driving a car, in the middle of the day got mugged and badly beaten on, you guessed it, Gottingen street. Any comments on that Mr. Mayor?

DAWN SLOANE:

Give the lady her due she is not afraid of fighting for her rights and that means her new house around the Gottingen street area.

It will be very interesting to see if the constituents see it her way and they get a chance to ‘have their say’ in the upcoming municipal elections.

Did she do the right thing? The answer coming soon to a ballot box near you.

OPEN LINE RICK:

Rick Howe starts his open line show this week and as a former bingo caller I would like to offer the man this piece of advice.

Don’t take a caller more than once a week, two at the most. Some really call to simply hear their own voice.

Have more guest and ‘call out’ interviews.

Have a time limit on the bitchers, moaners and complainers who permeate that show. Some actually think they own it and get mad at Howe if he interrupts.

And finally have those that always call to complain and they complain about the government, federal, municipal and provincial...have them if they are to complain voice a positive thing about the people that represent us. There is good in all things but sometimes in listening to this show I don’t get that impression.

Comment On This Alex J Walling Column:
Click Here