http://www.northjersey.com/news/officials-reveal-the-safety-problems-found-at-nj-transit-before-hoboken-crash-1.1687850
This used to be a class operation. Now, it's been financially starved into this condition.
The FRA has moved an office trailer into Hoboken, to facilitate their on-going review of NJTransit. There's rumors about possible criminal inditements of management. Coincidently, the day after the Hoboken train incident, Gov. Christie abruptly ended his stonewalling of an increase in the fuels tax that funds the Transportation Trust Fund.
Well, at least my Lionel New Jersey Transit trainset works perfectly.
"What did'ya buy that for?" a friend of mine asked me, knowing I'm a steam fan.
"Welllll, it was on sale!" Besides, it looks cool!
1. I'll believe it when it happens that both political parties stop using NJT as a dumping ground for political appointees.
2. 3 of the 4 problems specifically mentioned in the article are due to poor employee performance (and the one about the missing fire extinguishes, etc. may also fall in that catagory at least somewhat). Unless the NJT is willing and able to take significant action against employees who aren't following the rules and the unions don't fight them every step of the way when it comes to discipline for what are obvious violations, nothing much will change in these areas.
alphas1. I'll believe it when it happens that both political parties stop using NJT as a dumping ground for political appointees. 2. 3 of the 4 problems specifically mentioned in the article are due to poor employee performance (and the one about the missing fire extinguishes, etc. may also fall in that catagory at least somewhat). Unless the NJT is willing and able to take significant action against employees who aren't following the rules and the unions don't fight them every step of the way when it comes to discipline for what are obvious violations, nothing much will change in these areas.
To the extent the management and labor have a adversarial relationship, they will NEVER develop a safety culture.
Safety takes the cooperative buy in from both labor and management. Management gets held to a higher standard than 'Do as I say, not as I do'. That standard doesn't work for parents and it doesn't work in the workplace. Effective management leads by example, not just proclaimation.
Observation from afar, NJT and Metro-North both have ineffective managments that depend verbal abuse of the work force to implement their ideas - from my observation - with a notable lack of success.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
So what are you saying? That NJT & Metro-North don't obey their own safety rules and also verbally abuse their employees--but somehow lack the ability to make their work force obey the rules? You say "implement their ideas". Sinse when did things like following the speed limits, blowing the whistle for crossings, etc. become Management ideas rather than federal and common-sense rules. I'm not understanding your comment. You can have a less than a great labor/ management relation but disregarding safety rules should not be a by-product of that. Consider the airline industry over the years when management and labor at many of the airlines weren't getting along but the planes were still flying safely. Why should it be any different for for NJT & Metro-North?
i have not used Metro-North for 20 years and five months. I did use it some 20 trips a week May 1970 (OK PC and Conrail initially) - July 1996. I found nearly all employees deeply concerned about safety, regardless of their positive or negative opinion of management.
alphasSo what are you saying? That NJT & Metro-North don't obey their own safety rules and also verbally abuse their employees--but somehow lack the ability to make their work force obey the rules? You say "implement their ideas". Sinse when did things like following the speed limits, blowing the whistle for crossings, etc. become Management ideas rather than federal and common-sense rules. I'm not understanding your comment. You can have a less than a great labor/ management relation but disregarding safety rules should not be a by-product of that. Consider the airline industry over the years when management and labor at many of the airlines weren't getting along but the planes were still flying safely. Why should it be any different for for NJT & Metro-North?
Their demonstrated safety records - or the lack thereof speak for themselves.
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