UTU sues Union Pacific

[BigJim]

The UTU is sueing the Union Pacific because managers are running trains because there are not enough engineers because UP won't promote conductors and brakemen to those positions.

Read about it at; www.utu.org

[Anonymous]

Finally Some Good News!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some one sueing UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jeffhergert]

I don't understand why the UTU is so upset. They don't hold the contract for engineers and if they think that a UTU member promoted will stay with the UTU they may be in for a bad surprise.
There are a lot of UTU members upset with the union, me included. We had a good sized defection of young trainmen to the BLET. The 2 reasons I haven't changed to the BLET is 1. The UTU holds my contract and 2. I don't like the idea of railroaders being represented by a truck driver union, although the teamsters probably represent more non-truck drivers now. When I become an engineer I'll have to re-evaluate my positions.
We had a MOP (Road Foreman or Traveling Engineer on other RRs) who went out to California. He worked as a conductor. Until this suit I thought they were only working as trainmen. That too is a violation because the UTU has "'borrow out" agreements to allow temporary transfers of employees to areas that are short-handed. You have to have sufficient trainmen before you can start releasing the senior ones to engine service and for various reasons the UP has trouble hiring enough new trainmen, especially it seems in large metro areas. Seems you can make close to new-hire pay elsewhere without the railroad lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

i cant wait to work for U.P.!!

[philnrunt]

up9899- I'm guessing you live near Denver, keep checking the want ads, it seems that all RR's put hiring ads in papers about every three months nowdays.
NS tells you up front that you will make over 60,000$ the first year, and they STILL have trouble getting enough people. They also tell you you won't be home much at all, and that's when alot of people get out.
But if you're young and without a family, go for it! I worked for Dereco (Erie- Lackawanna) for about 8 months right out of highschool, and loved every minute of it.

[Anonymous]

No i dont live by Denver....i use to live in Colorado though. im thinking about asking them here for a job cleaning the Flag units though.

[BRAKIE]

Guys,I was raised in a railroad family..I supported my family while working on the C&O under the Chessie banner..Hard? Yes! Away from home alot? Yes..But,it was a dang good living. Yes..Is railroading for everybody? No! Not by any means.I now a forklift driver..Is my line of work for everybody? Nope.Same will apply to other lines of work..You either like what you do for a living or you going to hate it..
For those that would like to try railroading I say go for it..You just may like it... As for me and being from a railroading family I did not like it----I love it..[:D][tup]

[Anonymous]

Who would be in there right mind to work for UP in the first place????

[Anonymous]

No wounder why they want royalty fees from model train makers

[BigJim]

Jeff,
I don't know what kind of deal you have out there, but around here, the purpose of the UTU agreement is to take knowledgeable RAILROAD men from the trainmen's ranks (that's you), NOT SOMEONE OFF THE STREET!

Why the BLE would agree with UP to let RFE's and TM's run the engine is beside me. I hope someone is timesliping the hell out of UP because of this!

I guess the RR's idea of cutting the work force to a bare minimum to save money is starting to bite them in the butt.

I'm not going to get into a UTU vs. BLE battle with you because they both do some very stupid things.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jay1

Who would be in there right mind to work for UP in the first place????

I would...............Wait I'm not in my right mind[:D]

[Anonymous]

phil,
I belong to a Union in the construction industy here in Detroit and I'm an instructor. There have been several occasions where new apprentices have walked away from the trade after passing a challenging entry program because they don't like to do this kind of work. Construction is a physically demanding career BUT, it is a career with health benefits ,retirement ,job security and very good pay. People just walk away from it. What's U.P offering? Being a company whipping boy? Evenings away from home? Comfortable working enviroment? Safe working enviroment?Defacating in a plastic bag?I kinda get the feeling U.P is still thinking in 1980's dollars. IMHO $60,000/year as a single income for a family is barely above poverty level.Today consumers face $250,000.00 homes,$40,000 pickup trucks, $2.00/gallon gas and oppressive insurance rates.If anyone thinks the cost of stuff is high because of wages, don't even go there.After Enron and Imclone and "cooking the books" scandals, it's pretty obvious there is a severe shortage of honesty in the upper ranks of corporate executives.Their salaries AND compensation packages could pay the wages of MANY hourly employees.

[lupo]

wow ! [:(!][:(!] yet another one suing UP! [:(!][:(!]
Now this is interesting stuff for a foreigner interested in UP toy trains and model railroading!
and how does this affect the model people living on my lay-out?
at least my UP train crews can't walk out because I glued them on their seats in the locomotive.
maybe that is an idea?
I do not have to pay them money as well!

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TA462
[This gave me an idea for my layout. I'm going to add a lawyers office somewhere.[:D]

Ha!

Ben Dover and C. Howitt Fields
Attorneys-At-Law
[}:)]

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CBQ_Guy
Ben Dover and C. Howitt Fields
Attorneys-At-Law
[}:)]

[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

Guys,I was raised in a railroad family..I supported my family while working on the C&O under the Chessie banner..Hard? Yes! Away from home alot? Yes..But,it was a dang good living. Yes..Is railroading for everybody? No! Not by any means.I now a forklift driver..Is my line of work for everybody? Nope.Same will apply to other lines of work..You either like what you do for a living or you going to hate it..
For those that would like to try railroading I say go for it..You just may like it... As for me and being from a railroading family I did not like it----I love it..[:D][tup]

Just curious but how much time do you spend on the road? For me I'm gone upto 6 months a year on a 28 on /28off 12 hr day rotation

[Anonymous]

I work for cnic-- illinois cenral before the buyout-- the up in louisiana is a great rr to work for. i switch out at an exxon refinery next to up guys all the time and we all feel the same about working the rails. it is a hard job when you figure the hours involved, but the pay is great and you have to love the nature of the work. i cannot speak for ns, bnsf or kcs ( the ksc guys i never see though i know they must work a hell of list because their work is always clean ). i am a ble member and have no complaints so far. i think there a few guys i work with who always feel they are getting srewed, but those are the guys with senoirity. i am still on the board and end up cleaning up for the old heads which means weekends and holidays.