The railroad workers don’t want to be subject to on call responsibility 24/7 and I don’t blame them.
If one is making good money one wants to be able to enjoy it.
I’m not sure how to resolve it, but hospitals and trucking companies have similar emergency staffing issues.
There are railroads in other countries. How do they manage it?
My career was in railroad labor relations. The biggest problem is in pool service-rotating calls at home and away terminals. The employees said they were often at home for the minimum wait time and away for the max, leaving little family time or ability to plan. Our railroad was working on these work-life issues before Precision Scheduled Railroading changed everything a few years ago. Railroad retirement benefits are great but the tax while you are working is much higher than social security.
I would be surprised if there is a much critical items moving on rail in other countries. Europe? The size makes it easy to switch to trucks. The US has a hugh and series geographical disadvantage in that regard.
whips and chains
a railroad engineer’s wife told me it was a staffing problem
those willing to work are getting run ragged
they are not adequately staffed because many young people have no work ethic
:: There are railroads in other countries. How do they manage it? ::
With onerous tax structures that encourages more workers to cover all shifts while forcing the worker to happy they have a job...and a no strike clause.