Why would unions crap all over a “union man”???
The money is great but it comes at a cost to the workers. They just won the right to take an unpaid sick day without receiving a disciplinary punishment penalty. Taking an upaid day off to attend a family funeral will result in a penalty. The railroads are imposing such severe practices because they shed 25-30% of their labor force, including conductors and engineers, the past several years. This gave them great profits on Wall Street, but resulted in harsh attendance rules to keep trains running.
Still remaining is being on call 24/7 every day up to a month at a time with expectation to report 90 to 120 minutes after notification. As most freights are unscheduled until they finish making up the train, actual departure times are not known in advance. Add to that, one or more crews expected to man the train may lay off meaning your time is sooner. Likewise, due to delays in your train arriving late from its departure point, you are rested and ready to go but hours pass before it actually arrives for you to replace the expiring crew.
This uncertainty takes a toll on many individuals leading to no family life and dependence on alcohol or drugs. To continue this way in todays environment for 20 years or longer to retirement leads to severe depression, mental illness or worse. Again, if the work boards were properly staffed, schedules would provide for some relief with there being enough workers available to man the trains without the just-in-time calling of workers just off duty and having met the minimum Federal rest requirement time.