I predict that within 60 days after implementation of the new contract, supply chain issues will become worse. Why, the employees got generous pay raises retroactive to the end of the last contract? Because the underlying quality of life issues weren’t addressed. Railroads have eliminated about 30% of their work force and to keep the trains running, the remainder are on call 24/7, time off for a doctor’s appointment requires 30 days notice and only Tuesday-Thursday. Missing work for sickness, family emergency, or family events results in penalties with suspension or even dismissal. A recent example was with a co-worker a couple of weeks ago. His son was getting married on a Saturday and his brother, a railroad freight conductor, had to mark off work to attend. He received penalty points that will require him to work non-stop for two months to make up for that single non-sick day off.
There are many employees who have worked ten, fifteen or even twenty years who will wait until the financial benefits of the new contract are in effect and they will put in their papers for discharge or retirement leaving the already understaffed railroads in still worse condition. New hires? Very few will join an organization where six-months of training will bring you into a system where the only time off you can have are the Federal Hours of Service laws. The old song is certainly true for the men and women employed by the US Class 1 railroads: “I’ve been working on the railroad, All the live-long day…”
Thanks for the update. An acquaintance of ours (big uber lib/Trump hater) just retired from union pacific. He was always on the clock but seldom on the job if you know what I mean. I have seen ads in Reno advertising for RR workers recently.
I'd die from fatigue after about 48 hours straight!
It’s not my job to run the train,
The whistle I don’t blow.
It’s not my job to say how far
The train’s supposed to go.
I’m not allowed to pull the brake,
Or even ring the bell.
But let the damn thing leave the track
And see who catches hell!