Nocturnal Chain Saws

Nothing is finer than waking up to the sounds of early summer: a whole mess of birds chirping and calling, squirrels shouting at each other, the occasional cat howling, early morning dog walkers greeting each other. The lilt of the breeze through windows that are wide-open as the air-conditioner, which has been installed, is not yet required for a good night’s sleep as will be the case in a few short weeks when Montreal’s humidity sinks in. But there is also a nocturnal racket that is most puzzling, at least the first time it is experienced.

I slowly opened one myopic eye to check for the telltale intermittent blue and red lights flashing across my bedroom ceiling that would indicate an emergency vehicle down below.

I recall several years ago being awakened at about 2:00 AM by the sound of an idling vehicle outside. As I live at a corner with traffic lights it isn’t all that unusual to hear cars waiting for the light to turn green, even at that time. But this was different; it lasted much longer than a red light. I slowly opened one myopic eye to check for the telltale intermittent blue and red lights flashing across my bedroom ceiling that would indicate an emergency vehicle down below. Nope, no dance-floor strobe light, red, blue or otherwise. Satisfied that there was no emergency, I nodded off to a half-sleep once again.

But before you can say Rip Van Winkle I am once again roused by what sounds like a chain saw. Yep, 2:15 AM and there’s a chain saw screaming away outside my building, with the idling vehicle hum in the background. Wait! Is that the compressor for the Jaws-of-Life I’m hearing? No, it couldn’t be, surly I’d have been thrown from my bed by the sound of an accident the impact of which required that life-saving device. Besides, once again opening said myopic eye, I am reassured by a lack of flashing lights above my bed. Back to sleep with a mental note to canvass neighbours’ trees for fresh pruning marks come morning.

What in the name of thundering Jesus is that? Is it a huge serpent or snake that has been loosed on the city, an exotic pet lizard that has escaped ...

A few moments later the mystery deepens as the chain saw stops, the vehicle continues to idle, and now a rhythmic hissing sound joins the cacophony. SSSSSSS … SSSSSSS … SSSSSS. What in the name of thundering Jesus is that? Is it a huge serpent or snake that has been loosed on the city, an exotic pet lizard that has escaped, or perhaps a group of vandals flattening tires? Should I be concerned?

And then, after a few moments it’s all over and peace once again descends on my little corner of the world. Back into the arms of Morpheus I slip and stay within that grip until the radio comes on in the morning.

It is only at 6:30 the next morning when I emerge from my building for my daily attempt to stave-off, by running, the ravages on my waistline of a few daily cold beers, that it all fits. For there it is, right in front of me: a freshly painted, bright reflective yellow, cross walk – a zebra crossing. The annual repainting of road markings that have been eroded by a winter of rock salt and snowplows always sneaks up on me. They do this under cover of darkness so as not to cause more traffic havoc during the day. Although it all made sense but one aspect: who, in their right mind, would, at 2:00 AM use a leaf blower to clear an area they are going to paint? What’s wrong with a good old broom?

Outsourcing Rarely Provides The Same Outcome

Mario Beauregard/The Canadian Press

Once die-hard hard-copy readers pooh-poohed online versions stating, among other things, that they couldn’t fold a computer and put it in their pocket. Then along came tablets, and even mini-tablets that don’t need folding to fit snugly in most pockets.

My local newspaper, Montreal’s The Gazette, today made public plans to outsource the printing of the paper. I guess it’s a trend, but it seems like another nail in the coffin to me, and can't be very welcomed by the hundred or so workers who will lose their jobs.   

It was only a few years ago that the paper, like all print media, with one foot on a very slippery electronic slope, was bragging about building its own printing complex in the west end of the city. The building was erected on an empty site, the equipment was refurbished rather than new, yet after a period of technical hiccups and adjustments, the paper was rolling off the presses and arriving on doorsteps, usually on time.

But I suppose the writing was on the wall as well as on the newsprint. The shift to electronic versions of newspapers and magazines can’t be overlooked. Once die-hard hard-copy readers pooh-poohed online versions stating, among other things, that they couldn’t fold a computer and put it in their pocket. Then along came tablets, and even mini-tablets that don’t need folding to fit snugly in most pockets. 

Soon newspaper delivery methods changed from the traditional kids doing local routes on bicycle or foot to adults with cars zipping about under cover of the early-morning darkness, able to cover much more ground in a vehicle. Payment was made by credit card and carriers were never seen.

Next on the chopping block were some journalists themselves. Many through attrition, sadly others just let go. But strangely, as if by magic, many of the ex-Gazette writers continued to appear in the paper. The difference was that their contact information went from janedoe@thegazette.ca to janedoe@yahoo.ca . Yep, turf-out the employees then take some of them back as contractors. No benefits, no vacation pay, health insurance and pension contributions gone as well. The paper kind of looked the same, had much of the same content created by many of the same people, but those folks were now freelancers rather than employees. 

Yep, turf-out the employees then take some of them back as contractors. No benefits, no vacation pay, health insurance and pension contributions gone as well.

Now the latest tightening of the noose at The Gazette is the abandonment of that spanking new printing complex, which is up for sale, in favor of yet more contracting. No doubt come August when the switch is made a hard-copy version of the paper will be on my doorstep, but will it be there before I leave in the morning? Will it be clear and colorful; lined up and readable? 

I ask these questions because it has become apparent to me that while the contracting out of tasks that have long been done by “in house” employees may save a company or, more and more often, a municipality, money in the short run, the service rendered is rarely the same. For instance snow removal carried out by contractors may well be cheaper, but certainly isn’t done as thoroughly as when it was done by employees. Gardening, landscaping and garbage collection – don’t even ask! Contractors tend to do a job then move on to the next customer, regardless of quality. Employees aren't going anywhere and are able to get things right.

Is the hard-copy newspaper doomed, or is this a blip in its development?