Railroad Labor Strife Is Very Solvable!

[edblysard]

Where I work, they would sit there and argue as to who had to move first, and who was going get fired for letting them both sit on the rails.
(sitting, standing or stepping on the railhead is against one of the GCOR rules, it isnt safe!)And neither one would point out the boxcar to the other, because the other "side" wouldnt belive them in the first place. Nuts, isnt it?

[edblysard]

You have been around them too,,silly, arnt they.

[Saxman]

Being a person who has had the "privilege" of being in management and returning to being an engineer, I don't think nuts is the word to describe the relationship between management and the union. Try schzophrenic.

[Saxman]

Being a person who has had the "privilege" of being in management and returning to being an engineer, I don't think nuts is the word to describe the relationship between management and the union. Try schzophrenic.

[Anonymous]

Here's reality, pal. The companies refuse to talk about ANYTHING! They just show up to go through the motions. Then, the unions go on strike. Two or three days later, the US orders them back to work. Binding arbitration shoves stuff down our throats. We have to swallow. Of course, now it's different. Now, the UTU, having sold out half of its membership, agrees to sell out the engineers with the "black box" along with some other stuff. They then settle with the carriers. This new UTU/carrier agreement sets a "pattern", or "framework" for contracts. Thus the engineers are forced to take an agreement based on the UTU agreement. But really, all these unions are junk; my dues are just a tax to allow me to work. The General Chairman for the BLE on my carrier lives far away, where the carrier maintains its headquarters. His kids date their kids; he golfs with them at the same clubs; shoot, he lives in the same neighborhoods with them. And why not? He makes just as much as most of them do. In other words, they are all "working closely together." So there is your reality, son. It will all work out if we can all just see the economic intricacies. Right!

[edblysard]

Did both of you realize that at the same time?

[edblysard]

Did both of you realize that at the same time?

Sybil

[edblysard]

You mean the guys who actually make the train move dont really see the big big picture? Their money, our sweat?

[Anonymous]

If whoever started this thread thinks that this strife is so very solvable, why don't they just bounce their little a** on over to a contract negotiation and make everything all better. I hate it when people oversimplify stuff that they probably arent even involved in......

[edblysard]

Dont know about you, but I dont see any resolution untill it becomes economicaly profitabl to both parties to work together. Right now, each sees themselvs as the one "making the money" and the other side sees itself as "earning the money". In the last 175 years, neither one has budged and inch, why should they? Both feel as if they earn the money they are entitled to, both feel as if they ar e "running" the railroad. Dont hold your breath waiting for anything to change. Me, I'll just keep pounding rocks....

[Saxman]

Ed,

Preach it brother! In regards to my schizophrenic reply. Yes both of me agreed at the same time. I am now trying to get my other 24 personalities to come on board.

Saxman

[edblysard]

Hey, if the rest of "you" play, you could start you own big band!!!

[Saxman]

Ed,

Don't tempt me's.



Saxman and the Cracked Reeds

[edblysard]

Ok, I"ll quit while y'all are ahead....