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I've Not Been Workin' on the Railroad

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  • Member since
    September 2010
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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 1:08 PM

Yes, Working for the museum on Sunday. Overtime = double time (2 x 0) = 0

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 11:37 AM

Overmod

 

 
BaltACD
I have no idea of all the bridges and buildings the individual in the story was responsible for but if one considers his 'normal' pay being in the near vicinity of $100K, being compensated another $180K for penalty calls is not far out of the realm of possibility and reality.

 

Ah, doesn't the period in question cover some fairly extensive 'hurry-up' bridge improvement and replacement projects on parts of the LIRR -- we had at least one thread on some of them.  I can easily see 'competent' expert management getting severe workouts with calls 'to home' on overtime... we'd need to see the employee record to see exactly what 'all that overtime' was for, and who approved it, and I really don't think we're going to get that.

I'm inclined to think some part of this is newsworkers updating the old crow: "How do you like the Journal's war?"  How amusing to see Fox News using the Post as a source on this story...

 

Not taking any sides here, but New York State and New York City and their respective services are "owned" by the Democrats, and the New York Post is a Republican newspaper, so it's no surprise the Post would seize on an opportunity to embarass the ruling party, and that Republican-leaning Fox News would go along.

By the same token, Democratic-leaning news outlets alway look for ways to embarass Republicans.

It's a silly "stick-on-the-shoulder" game that's gone on as long as the existance of the American republic.  But what can you do, that's the price you pay for a free press.  Beats the alternative at any rate.  I'll take a sloppy free press over a "Pravda" or "Voelkischer Beobachter" any day!

Most people today don't realize were things said about George Washington and Abe Lincoln when they were alive that would make your hair stand on end!  

  • Member since
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  • From: Northern New York
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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 10:53 AM

My pay rate as a volunteer is zero, of course.

But, due to our dispatch service sometimes being closed by the time we finish our trips, I've had to call in the next morning to cancel our paper.  Technically, I need to be on duty to do so, and in Balt's examples, that would be three hours due me for a five minute job.

I agree - this is just pot stirring.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 9:49 AM

BaltACD
I have no idea of all the bridges and buildings the individual in the story was responsible for but if one considers his 'normal' pay being in the near vicinity of $100K, being compensated another $180K for penalty calls is not far out of the realm of possibility and reality.

Ah, doesn't the period in question cover some fairly extensive 'hurry-up' bridge improvement and replacement projects on parts of the LIRR -- we had at least one thread on some of them.  I can easily see 'competent' expert management getting severe workouts with calls 'to home' on overtime... we'd need to see the employee record to see exactly what 'all that overtime' was for, and who approved it, and I really don't think we're going to get that.

I'm inclined to think some part of this is newsworkers updating the old crow: "How do you like the Journal's war?"  How amusing to see Fox News using the Post as a source on this story...

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 9:03 AM

Victrola1
Long Island Rail Road worker who raked in more than $280,000 in pay last year — more than half from overtime — was busted hanging out at home while on the clock, according to a report obtained by The Post.

But he was allowed to retire before he could be punished — and collect his full pension on the public dime.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/lirr-worker-who-hung-out-at-home-on-the-clock-to-retire-without-punishment-collect-full-pension-report

Many labor agreements specify a payment is due to the employee if they are called for 'information or advice' while the employee is off duty.  In the contracts I have any information about this 'call' is compensated at 3 hours at the Overtime rate of pay.  The 3 hour payment does not require that the employee show up on the property, even though that may have been what was intended when the rule was written.

With the individual being protrayed as a Bridge & Building Supervisor, I can easily visualize where such a employee could be called multiple times daily for situations that involve his expertise about the bridges and buildings he is responsible for, with him supplying the requisite information, advice and/or expertise.

From my personal experience on the territory I worked, B&B personnel were notified at least 3 times a week for trucks striking various bridges on the territory I supervised, and I was only working one 8 hour trick a day.  I have no idea of all the bridges and buildings the individual in the story was responsible for but if one considers his 'normal' pay being in the near vicinity of $100K, being compensated another $180K for penalty calls is not far out of the realm of possibility and reality.

In Retirement, I am presuming the individual, as are most railroaders, is covered by the Railroad Retirement system - a system wherein the individual pays into to the system for both retirement and unemployment benefits, the payments exceed those that non-railroaders pay into Social Security.  The railroad company employing the railroaders also pay into the Railroad Retirement system for each employee.

Railroad employees, in all classes of service, are not compensated like minimum wage burger flippers.  This article is designed and slanted to enrage the minimum wage slaves.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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I've Not Been Workin' on the Railroad
Posted by Victrola1 on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 7:25 AM

Long Island Rail Road worker who raked in more than $280,000 in pay last year — more than half from overtime — was busted hanging out at home while on the clock, according to a report obtained by The Post.

But he was allowed to retire before he could be punished — and collect his full pension on the public dime.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/lirr-worker-who-hung-out-at-home-on-the-clock-to-retire-without-punishment-collect-full-pension-report

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