Posted on 05/03/2018 2:29:54 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
What would it take to get you to work on the railroad?
A little extra cash? How about a sign-on bonus of up to $25,000?
That's what two major railroad companies are offering in an effort to recruit more workers in what The Wall Street Journal called "a historically tight labor market."
The Journal said BNSF Railway, based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Union Pacific Corp. in Omaha, Nebraska, are filling jobs as the demand rises to ship more products across the western side of the country....
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
That’s what it’s been like around here, don’t know if still true but due to the generous bennies and retirement, you couldn’t get a RR job unless you were legacy.
One RR retiree that I know must have more money than he knows what to do with; he’s always churning cars every year or so and bought a McMansion just for him and his wife.
I have an older friend who gets $2500 a mo. from his railroad pension. He’s had about 3 careers, so he gets pensions from them and some SS. Cha-ching!
I’ve heard some great stories from his railroad days.
Now, I’m steamed!!!
Sounds like you’d be perfect for optimizing train loads and routes — or at least running the programs that do that. That sort of operations research for railroads was the hottest field of its day 130 years ago. “Efficient frontier” and all related things.
So they fire you after 2 years and you have to pay it all back.
Nice scam.
Where will new hires be stationed?
Not sure if they would hire me. I have a lot of baggage.
Somehow, I am reminded of Kelly’s Heroes.
It is hard to find skilled labor. Mechanics, electricians, CDL drivers, pump operators.
“I suspect the same of any job requiring a drug test nowadays.”
Recently a commercial driver in his late seventies was involved in an accident. I asked the former VP of a steel company why he thought this guy was driving at such an advanced age. He said, (approximately) “Look at every truck that passes you and you’ll notice that most of the guys driving are very old. To have a CDL you can’t test positive or have a drug history. That’s the problem. Kids today who could have highly paid jobs can’t meet the drug requirements.”
I’d also have to buy some shoes and long pants.
I’ve kind of gone native with the island lifestyle thing.
The labor market failed to tighten for 8 years, now it has tightend. Amazing.
I guess it won’t be fun to be railroaded out of that job.
Railroad retirement beats social security by a long shot. I think you have to work 30 years to qualify, so I’m too old for it to be an option for me.
That's what unions are for.
“...you couldn’t get a RR job unless you were legacy....”
That is how it was.
That kind of signing bonus would amount to a 20% downpayment on the nicest house in many of the locations they have openings in. And chances are you’d get nice blue skies, clean air, low crime, good schools, and conservative neighbors in the deal.
Apparently you haven’t been paying attention
Lowest unemployed liyment numbers in scores of years. That and not everyone is cut out to be a diesel mechanic
.
>> “That and not everyone is cut out to be a diesel mechanic” <<
Particllarly for locomotives!
Just a connecting rod for one of those monsters weighs about 60 Lbs.
.
They don’t want sleepers on the job.
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