Travel Tracks by Dave Heron ~ *NO BALLS-NO STRIKES*

Forgive me but I'm one of the 14 people in Western Canada caught up in World Series giddiness.
At least with the Rangers vs the Cardinals, when a strike is called, spectators don't sit around waiting for the Assistant to the Deputy Governor of Texas to phone in and recall it on the grounds that it's not in the public interest.
"Yah - call that strike ball back - it's causing serious grief to the bookies I work closely with."
Then again perhaps Canada's Minister of Labour Lisa Raitt isn't a baseball fan.
Labour strikes are for the most part, about as welcome as a root canal without anesthetic.
Seldom do any clear winners emerge once the dust settles and more often than not any gains realized are offset by lost wages incurred.
In far too many work stoppages over the years, the once legitimate grievances that forced opposing parties to the brink get caught up in the leadership representatives of management and unions each vying for the win.
Like many cases that go to trial, who's right and who's wrong takes a back seat to the contest between the legal gladiators each looking for the kill shot.
Far be it for me to suggest that I'm a union supporter.
That said - the recent intervention by the Government of Canada in quashing what under the current laws of the land constituted as being a legal strike position, is - or at the very least should be - viewed as borderline criminal.
Flight attendants feel that their compensation package has been eroded over the last few years as a direct result of Air Canada management doing less than a stellar job in managing the corporate cookie jar.
Management, forgetful of the blazing success of their previous attempts at creating a discount airline - Tango and Jazz - are once again trying to bring Cheap Charlie flights into play and are financing these ventures with what the flight attendants feel is one sided sweat equity.
I have no idea who's right and who's wrong in this spat.
Then again, neither I suspect does Minister Raitt.
Which is precisely why she, on behalf of our duly elected officials, had no business meddling in the labor tiff involving a shareholder held corporation.
To suggest that Air Canada is an essential service is just outright goofy.
Convenient at times perhaps, but about as essential as your neighborhood Blockbuster for the most part.
Other than perhaps for some remote regions of the country where in a pinch, one of Defense Minister Peter Mackay's private jets could conceivably be redeployed.
The jet that is- not the Defense Minister although that too is a thought.
Canada Post is considered by many as fitting the definition of an essential service.
And yet earlier this year, the gang in Ottawa allowed their very own Crown Corporation to drag things out for a month before the union and Canada Post management found their own middle ground of settlement.
Minister Raitt has gone on record as indicating her action was taken in the best interest of the health and safety of the nation.
Health and Safety?
That's right up there with Alberta Health's former CEO and his infamous “I'm eating my cookie” remark.
Sometime prior to his demise in the year 322 BC, Aristotle declared that “ Law is mind without reason”.
And while some will applaud our government's adherence to the teachings of the great Greek philosopher, others will justifiably suggest that what worked 2300 years ago, might just need a little re-evaluating these days.
We either have workable labour laws governing employer/employee dealings or we don't.
If we do – let them run their course until a point is reached where either an agreement is unreachable or health and safety are truly in jeopardy of being adversely affected.
If not – then spend your elected time as a party in power retooling the laws so that they are in fact workable.
But to prematurely intervene in the labour affairs of a shareholder controlled company simply opens a Pandora's Box that suggests Big Brother is immune to the laws of the land to which the rest of us are held.
No strike this time.
But no balls either.


Adios until next time
Dave Heron


Dave Heron is the owner and operator of: Pace Setter Travel & Tours (1995) Inc; P.O. Box 612, 70 McRae Street, Okotoks.
Tel: 403.938.5454
Toll Free: 1.800.206.7223.
Fax: 403.938.5568
Email: pacesetter@nucleus.com