Cheap labor ain’t dumb

I can assure you they were not fighting over me.(USPD/Commons.wikimedai.org)

Management crossed the lines. They called a strike without even a heads-up to the union rep.

While they love their work, enjoy getting a project from here to there with little more than maybe fish on Friday, promises of respect wasn’t enough this time.

The boss man had forgotten that most of them had known each other all their lives. They were a team: to yell at one, was to attack all.

OK. Maybe they shouldn’t have been settling personal issues on company time. Joey shouldn’t have jumped his buddy during a break, but in their rough and tumble world, there’s always bound to be a little snipping, shoving, and leg pulling once in a while as much as they are running together.

As unit, they called a strike: the sled dogs all sat down.

Refused to budge an inch.

Watched other teams pass them.

Lost their five-hour lead.

“Peeved pets: Iditarod lead lost as dogs quit.”

The musher, Petit said, “It’s just a head thing,” he said. “We’ll see if one of these dog teams coming by will wake them up at all.” He’s camped until the dogs think he’s been punished enough.

The Alaskan Iditarod race started March 2nd in Anchorage with the winning team expected to arrive in Nome possibly mid-week. (History of the race here.)

Petit had high hopes this year after getting off course during a blizzard last year and losing the lead to come in second – ironically, close to this spot. (Keep up with the Iditarod teams here) Petit scratched yesterday.

Molly insists her twin is the second dog on the lead dog’s left. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Anyone who knows husky/malamute/sled dogs knows this is so typical.

Not your typical trained to obedience dogs, they have a strong sense of self, a definite streak of independent thinking, and love a good joke. Yes, they make jokes. And laugh about it with and at you.

Molly was spotted sitting in solidarity in our backyard: nose to the north wind.

She’s been all ears about the yearly race with relatives, possibly family, doing what they love and live for…running – even better with plenty of snow, too.

She steps into front row position when race appears on tv.

A distant wistful look in her eyes…and we keep finding the computer open to pages with snowy mountains and dog sleds. (Alaskan cruise lines? No.)

RC Cat says, “That is so husky-malamute.”

(“But with the proper state rooms…I’ve got my winter coat still on….”)

Sometimes it’s better to quit when you’re ahead.

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

Vintage Alaska postcard. Hasn’t changed much. (TIchnor Bros. Pub.1930-1945/USDPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

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