Posted on 04/01/2010 7:06:33 AM PDT by Willie Green
Unions for engineers and conductors threaten a boycott of the tests that the agency and Amtrak, which takes over operation of the regional rail system July 1, plan to require.
Engineers and conductors on Southern California's commuter rail service are threatening an en masse boycott of new personality-profiling tests required as a result of the 2008 Chatsworth disaster.
The dispute sets up a potentially major labor-management clash just as the five-county Metrolink system is shifting to a new contractor to provide crews for trains that have nearly 1 million boardings a month.
The screening tests, frequently used by corporate managers to gauge the suitability of job applicants, are already required by Amtrak, the incoming operating contractor, when it hires engineers and conductors.
But two powerful railroad unions are strongly objecting to a Metrolink-Amtrak agreement finalized last week. It requires experienced crew members on the regional rail service to take and pass the tests to continue working on the system. Some have worked on Metrolink trains for years.
"We are not going to be taking these tests," said Tim Smith, California legislative chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. "That's it. We'll see where it ends."
"We're all going to stand together," said Ray Garcia of the United Transportation Union, which represents the conductors.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I’d like to see the tests. If they are like the ones I’ve seen then they are meaningless. All they do is allow some managers with the intelligence of snails to imagine they have you pegged.
Although when I read the description of an INTJ, it fits me pretty darn good. But they probably aren’t using Myers-Briggs or whatever it is. Probably that stupid “Are you a dolphin, a fox, a beaver, or an owl?” thing.
Makes you wonder what they have to fear in taking the test? Hmmmmm
I’ll take their tests. Hire me!
And/or the windowpane thing.
I once was talking to a neighbor is a psychologist and began telling him of the tests at the company I worked for. I didn't get to finish as he told me there are several theories of personality and that what people do is package some theory to sell to organizations like corporations. IOW, it's a farce.
Isn't it also clear that he had a history of texting? It is likely that the same union hacks protected him from disclipinary action which should have resulted from his earlier escapades. These type of problems aren't going to be solved by some crock personality test.
Do you have a union card and the right political connections? If not, forget it!
Ah, nuts.
Do the Reagan air traffic controller number on the union thugs!
And I say enforce the contract. I'd love to use Metrolink but won't go near it until management takes a firmer role in safety issues. The lax operation that resulted in the terrible Chatsworth tragedy was the result of kowtowing to the unions IMO.
This sounds like they have created a mish-mash of the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) and the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Neither of those instruments are designed for job fit or placement and a reputable organizational psychologist will clearly tell you that. As one other poster noted, theories and tests are packaged to sell to companies to give them some cover about doing "something" about appearing to be scientific in their hiring in order to reduce liability.
I worked for a place that gave the MMPI. They stopped when it turned out I’d was the most “normal” employee.
I'd put more faith in the testing regime offered by The London Phrenological Institute. (Yeah, that's the ticket!)
≤}B^)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.