Yo gang


Since we’re on a work theme, it seems such a long time ago but I started working on the survey crew for CN Rail, Sep 18, 1981. It was my first real job and I was a young go-getter. That winter the biggest railway job was a grade separation around mile 17 of the Oakville Subdivision and Trafalgar Road. Later on I helped with other bridges further east at Clarkson and Mimico stations. The best thing about a job in any construction field is its very gratifying to see the end result of a project you were involved with for years later. Every time I drive under that railway bridge at the Oakville Go Station I think wow, I helped build that, very cool. Sorry I’m rambling, its 1981 I’m working outdoors freezing my ass off trying to stay warm. After providing a line with my plumb bob the grunts, standing along the length of the skeleton track, with their steel lining bar or shovel or whatever would, on the yo command, lift and move the track towards the centreline in unison. They were called the yo gang. It looked like a lot of fun. Standing there freezing waiting for my next hand signal to provide line again and being a young brown-noser, um go-getter, I grabbed a lining bar and joined the yo gang. I felt the warmth and camaraderie of being part of the team. The old European men, that worked there forever, would call me boss man. I was only employed a few months and would jokingly laugh it off, until a labour grievance was submitted regarding my participation in the yo gang. A few days later I was formally notified of my dismissal from the yo gang. From that point forward, I stood with the rest of the white hardhat wearing employees, around the welders, to stay warm.