Euclid Convicted One Euclid What I am talking about is saving the supply chain and economy. Increasing railroad worker quality of life will have its cost, but it is an investment that will make both the supply chain and the economy more prosperous. It will also make Ma and Pa Kettle more prosperous as well. It’s a win-win. You can’t wreck the railroads by allowing them to be plundered by PSR for the benefit of short sighted traders. But as a consumer ultimately paying the bill, or an employee just trying to do the best job they can...how can one distinguish between a "sainted" retiree stockholder, vs an opportunist institutional investor? I don't get the priority some here seem to have defining one as "good" vs the other as "bad"...unless you just hate them all and expect god to sort them out. I mean it appears as "tomayto" vs "tomahto" to me, in both instances you have entities expecting an income while not contributing ACTUAL PHYSICAL GOAL-ORIENTED PRODUCTIVE work...and it is that expectation that is driving the reductions in the actual workforce, in accomodation of both. Doesn't appear sustainable at prices consumers can support I am not suggesting anything that requires a need to distinguish between good stockholders and bad stockholders. It would be impractical and there is no need for it. Both parties are beneficial to the companies. The party that needs to be disciplined and adequately regulated is railroad management. I thought everybody here agreed on that point since I have heard it a million times. When I say, “You can’t wreck the railroads by allowing them to be plundered by PSR for the benefit of short sighted traders,” I am not blaming the short sighted traders. I am not using the term “short sighted” as an insult, but just as a way to define them for discussion. Management is free to hire and fire workers and close facilities, but these cuts can also affect the shippers if they reduce shipping capacity. Railroad management is not free to let that happen. From the Federal Register: Common Carrier Obligation of Railroads: The common carrier obligation refers to the statutory duty of railroads to provide “transportation or service on reasonable request.” 49 U.S.C. 11101(a). A railroad may not refuse to provide service merely because to do so would be inconvenient or unprofitable. Currently it is possible for railroad management to cut costs by reducing the workforce, but it is illegal for them to do so if it degrades service to the shippers beyond a certain point. This is entirely within the interests of shippers and they have a law that requires that interest to be upheld. If labor cuts degrade service to the point of violating the Common Carrier Obligation, shippers will require Government to intervene. So when I say, “You can’t wreck the railroads by allowing them to be plundered by PSR for the benefit of short sighted traders,” I am referring to railroad management that is doing the plundering.” Maybe Congress should investigate them and their practices.
Convicted One Euclid What I am talking about is saving the supply chain and economy. Increasing railroad worker quality of life will have its cost, but it is an investment that will make both the supply chain and the economy more prosperous. It will also make Ma and Pa Kettle more prosperous as well. It’s a win-win. You can’t wreck the railroads by allowing them to be plundered by PSR for the benefit of short sighted traders. But as a consumer ultimately paying the bill, or an employee just trying to do the best job they can...how can one distinguish between a "sainted" retiree stockholder, vs an opportunist institutional investor? I don't get the priority some here seem to have defining one as "good" vs the other as "bad"...unless you just hate them all and expect god to sort them out. I mean it appears as "tomayto" vs "tomahto" to me, in both instances you have entities expecting an income while not contributing ACTUAL PHYSICAL GOAL-ORIENTED PRODUCTIVE work...and it is that expectation that is driving the reductions in the actual workforce, in accomodation of both. Doesn't appear sustainable at prices consumers can support
Euclid What I am talking about is saving the supply chain and economy. Increasing railroad worker quality of life will have its cost, but it is an investment that will make both the supply chain and the economy more prosperous. It will also make Ma and Pa Kettle more prosperous as well. It’s a win-win. You can’t wreck the railroads by allowing them to be plundered by PSR for the benefit of short sighted traders.
But as a consumer ultimately paying the bill, or an employee just trying to do the best job they can...how can one distinguish between a "sainted" retiree stockholder, vs an opportunist institutional investor? I don't get the priority some here seem to have defining one as "good" vs the other as "bad"...unless you just hate them all and expect god to sort them out.
I mean it appears as "tomayto" vs "tomahto" to me, in both instances you have entities expecting an income while not contributing ACTUAL PHYSICAL GOAL-ORIENTED PRODUCTIVE work...and it is that expectation that is driving the reductions in the actual workforce, in accomodation of both.
Doesn't appear sustainable at prices consumers can support
The Staggers Act modified the application of Common Carrier concept to rails.
https://cs.trains.com/trn/b/observation-tower/archive/2018/02/12/whither-the-common-carrier.aspx
charlie hebdo Upper management compensation is typically more in the form of stock options or warrants so they have a strong personal incentive to take actions, such as PSR, to influnce stock prices.
Upper management compensation is typically more in the form of stock options or warrants so they have a strong personal incentive to take actions, such as PSR, to influnce stock prices.
Euclidif the Government is worried about a strike harming the economy, I am sure they will be worried if the railroads cut cost so deeply that they cannot service the market for rail transport.
Nobody remembers April?
https://youtu.be/Q0rk5tnrFqA
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
zugmann Euclid if the Government is worried about a strike harming the economy, I am sure they will be worried if the railroads cut cost so deeply that they cannot service the market for rail transport. Nobody remembers April? https://youtu.be/Q0rk5tnrFqA
Euclid if the Government is worried about a strike harming the economy, I am sure they will be worried if the railroads cut cost so deeply that they cannot service the market for rail transport.
What do you make of that?
EuclidWhat do you make of that?
Waiting for the sequel.
zugmann Euclid What do you make of that? Waiting for the sequel.
Euclid What do you make of that?
Well, they have not finished the job yet, but I think it is a sign of exactly what I am predicting. We may not yet be at a tipping point. We may never reach one if the economy recovers, the railroads are able to hire more people, working conditions ease, and the problem goes away. Even if the problem gets worse, the government is not going to solve it with just one meeting. But the one meeting shows the issue and where it is heading unless things change.
CSX revamps attendance policy as railroad unions push back on sick time
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/csx-tweaks-attendance-policy-railroad-unions-push-back-sick-time-2022-12-13/
"Under the new policy effective Jan. 1, CSX said on Tuesday it will no longer assess points when an employee calls in sick shortly before a scheduled workday with an illness for which they saw a doctor.
CSX's new attendance rules will be "non-disciplinary and non-punitive," the company said in an email to Reuters."
rdamonCSX revamps attendance policy as railroad unions push back on sick time https://www.reuters.com/world/us/csx-tweaks-attendance-policy-railroad-unions-push-back-sick-time-2022-12-13/ "Under the new policy effective Jan. 1, CSX said on Tuesday it will no longer assess points when an employee calls in sick shortly before a scheduled workday with an illness for which they saw a doctor. CSX's new attendance rules will be "non-disciplinary and non-punitive," the company said in an email to Reuters."
All weasel words for public consumption until I see and hear how it is working from my still working contacts.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
UP now wants to offer sick days (See the newswire).
Funny how the companies didn't want to even entertain the idea in contract talks, but as soon as there are rumblings about Pres. Biden possibly signing an executive order forcing sick days, now they want to rush into offering something.
BaltACD rdamon CSX revamps attendance policy as railroad unions push back on sick time https://www.reuters.com/world/us/csx-tweaks-attendance-policy-railroad-unions-push-back-sick-time-2022-12-13/ "Under the new policy effective Jan. 1, CSX said on Tuesday it will no longer assess points when an employee calls in sick shortly before a scheduled workday with an illness for which they saw a doctor. CSX's new attendance rules will be "non-disciplinary and non-punitive," the company said in an email to Reuters." All weasel words for public consumption until I see and hear how it is working from my still working contacts.
rdamon CSX revamps attendance policy as railroad unions push back on sick time https://www.reuters.com/world/us/csx-tweaks-attendance-policy-railroad-unions-push-back-sick-time-2022-12-13/ "Under the new policy effective Jan. 1, CSX said on Tuesday it will no longer assess points when an employee calls in sick shortly before a scheduled workday with an illness for which they saw a doctor. CSX's new attendance rules will be "non-disciplinary and non-punitive," the company said in an email to Reuters."
I don't know Balt. CSX's new president may be part of the reason behind this. I'm bullish on Joe Hinrichs.
SD60MAC9500 BaltACD rdamon CSX revamps attendance policy as railroad unions push back on sick time https://www.reuters.com/world/us/csx-tweaks-attendance-policy-railroad-unions-push-back-sick-time-2022-12-13/ "Under the new policy effective Jan. 1, CSX said on Tuesday it will no longer assess points when an employee calls in sick shortly before a scheduled workday with an illness for which they saw a doctor. CSX's new attendance rules will be "non-disciplinary and non-punitive," the company said in an email to Reuters." All weasel words for public consumption until I see and hear how it is working from my still working contacts. I don't know Balt. CSX's new president may be part of the reason behind this. I'm bullish on Joe Hinrichs.
Listen but verify!
I'lm dissapointed in BNSF. I expected them to be the first to reduce the problems inherent in an Operating-Railroader Career. Or were they more benine to already?
daveklepperI'lm dissapointed in BNSF. I expected them to be the first to reduce the problems inherent in an Operating-Railroader Career. Or were they more benine to already?
Senior managers that achieved their positions based upon a specific 'vision' for the compay do not easily give up that 'vision'. Katie Farmer's vision for BNSF has been what she implemented - being named 'Railroader of the Year' by one of the trade rags, reinforces her belief that she has the correct vision. Time will ultimately tell.
Do we know in specific detail what Katie Farmer's position on Hi-Vis is, or what her role in promoting and implementing it was?
OvermodDo we know in specific detail what Katie Farmer's position on Hi-Vis is, or what her role in promoting and implementing it was?
That it happened when she is the 'Top Dog' is all that needs to be known.
Overmod Do we know in specific detail what Katie Farmer's position on Hi-Vis is, or what her role in promoting and implementing it was?
Outside of the BoD nobody knows the details.. Though I can tell you she is a proponent of Hi-Viz..
BaltACD Overmod Do we know in specific detail what Katie Farmer's position on Hi-Vis is, or what her role in promoting and implementing it was? That it happened when she is the 'Top Dog' is all that needs to be known.
Sometime back, Mr B. said they needed to look at doing some aspects of PSR. They did start doing some PSR related things, although they didn't and probably don't call it PSR.
I think Ms. Farmer was brought in to take them further down the PSR route, the Hi-Vis policy being the most visible aspect of this.
Jeff
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.