1986+/- "You Need a Rest"



The details are vague now but this is roughly how it went .......


Our medical clinic in Shubenacadie had lost two doctors, one to death and one to retirement.

A replacement appeared, a young American. It was he that I visited one day, for some problem or other. In the course of our conversation I mentioned the various tensions at work, worst the endless 'being moved onto midnight shift,' and my chronic insomnia.

He must have taken me seriously because he recommended, and made, an appointment for me with a phychiatrist.

In due course I visited this gentleman. A perfect example of what people imagine when the word phychiatrist is mentioned. Hungarian I think with the required heavy accent and a couch and a rumpled carpet in an untidy office. He was getting on in years and was so very easy to talk with. He asked many questions and I responded.


"Any history of suicide in your family?" was one question I remember. In fact there was at least one suicide long ago.

After two or three (?) visits he amazed me by giving me a note for ten weeks of medical leave.


Ten weeks away from Air Canada's Halifax Maintenance Facility! Unbelievable! My joy was a measure of how grinding was the job at that place.


I duly drove to the hangar and presented the slip to my supervisor. His annoyance and near disbelief seemed to match my euphoria. ..................... Home I went.

Faced with this incredible and totally unexpected 'holiday' my thoughts turned, naturally enough, to a trip away from it all, a trip to England and my new found interest - preserved railways.

Tucked away, somewhere in a corner of my mind, was the knowledge that "free" travel on Air Canada, during illness, required permission from the company. So I drove again to 'work' and sought that permission from the same boss.

His anger was quite impressive. Here was one of his mechanics, who had already wangled ten weeks off for what he doubtlessly considered spurious reasons, seeking permission to fly off on a long, paid holiday!

*** Given the laws of libel and slander and the fact this blog is in many ways publicly accessable, I'm obliged to name no names. The maintenance staff at Halifax numbered about 40. An unhappy group. The most unhappy workplace I ever had the misfortune to endure. A story to be told later I suppose. ***

"If you're fit to fly, you're fit to work!" he exclaimed.

No doubt I dug my heels in and the conversation moved into 'hot and heavy.'

He played his trump card: "You'll have to see the company doctor."

What did I have to lose? I said, 'Fine.'

An appointment was duly made and I suppose a day or two elapsed before I drove into Halifax to see the said doctor.

In fact, Air Canada didn't have a company doctor per se; they used the Canadian National Railway's doctor.

The scene: an office above Halifax railway station.

The interview: He asked who I was and what my problem was. I explained the ten weeks off, courtesy the phychiatrist, the 'gettaway trip', my boss's reaction etc.

"Who's your boss?"

I told him.

"Oh him, that man's an idiot!"

I walked out with the required doctor's note and returned to my boss.

I took my trip and enjoyed the balance of my ten week's sick leave and perhaps regained/retained my sanity.

Yes it was a minor triumph of good over evil. But I think perhaps it shows that work at our little corner of Air Canada really was as miserable as I claim. It shows too that uncaring management was largely to blame.

History now I guess. What a pity 'we' and our union showed so little backbone in those now far off days.