Hi,
I am a former Engineer and now am working on a Masters in college. My thesis focuses on women working for railroads as train crew employees and while googling, found this website and thread.
I think many of you are correct when you point out the challenges women face in this type of work. For myself, I got along with most of my coworkers and enjoyed the camaraderie we shared.
For women, the difficulty holding a railroad job lies with having to juggle family obligations with being on call 24/7. Also, the companies have no policies in place to address excessive absenteeism when a woman has to lay off to take care of a sick kid, spouse, or parent. Union agreements don't address this either, btw.
I know that FMLA is available but sometimes it's not enough to cover serious illnesses in the family.
I can give you an example by sharing what a friend of mine, a conductor, is currently going through. In late 2010 both parents where diagnosed with cancer and in the midst of running them back and forth to a city an hour away for kemo, her husband blew his knee out and was laid up for 8 weeks. On top of all this, she is trying to hold her job and take care of her two little boys. She was fired for excessive absenteeism after exhausting her FMLA and vacation. She's been off since last May and is still fighting to get her job back.
Do you know of any other women that are going through something similar?
Thanks for any info. o