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If RR Retirement was gone...

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  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
Posted by zugmann on Sunday, April 22, 2012 5:41 PM

Carrot on the stick sort of thing.

 

RR retirement is a big attraction for this job.  It ain't much, but after a lifetime of this kind of work, it's nice to see guys that are getting their retirement. 

 

Probably one thing if you've been here for 20 years (like walking out of a movie before it ends), but for me?  I don't know.  It would be enough for me to really re-think my career.

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

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 22, 2012 5:22 PM

zugmann

Would people stick around in this industry?

What do you see as a reason why someone would want to quit if RR retirement were discontinued?

 

Your question is framed as though RR retirement, as it is, would suddenly go away.  So that raises the question of people working under it being compensated for what they have in it if it were to go away.

 

I do not know what you pay in versus what you get back out, but I am guessing that it is not a net plus in benefits back to you.  If it is, then eliminating it would mean lower pay.  Is RR retirement withholding invested for you so it accrues some return on investment when you receive the benefits?    

 

How do you compare RR retirement to Social Security in terms of what you pay in versus what you collect?

 

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Sunday, April 22, 2012 4:41 PM

Well, contracts between a worker and his employer should not be political.
In many countries (I am told) that retirement is run by the government, and not by industry, but I do not think I would want to work there.(Ask the Soviets how *that* worked out for them) (Or don't ask them ask some US workers I know, and see what they think all of a sudden.)

My brother works for a firm with no retirement benefits, that is why he cannot retire. But then he works for himself and did not put away a fortune while he was working. Bad Union, I'd say. So yes, people will work where they get paid, benefits or not. All the better if they are working a job that they like.

A BNSF conductor of my acquaintance remained on the job until he could retire and then he was out of there, so even a job you like can turn in to a nightmare.

LION thinks (apolitically, of course) that Health and Retirement should be removed from the contract talks. The Union should talk to the employer as if these did not exist, and require a remuneration package that would allow the employee to provide these things for himself.

If the employer says "I can get you a better deal on health and retirement than you can on your own, and so I'll provide them, all well and good. If not, maybe the Union should provide them. Or maybe the employee should obtain health and retirement from a third party provider (A fund of some sort?)

The LION has no retirement package, but the rest of the benefits are out of this world. ☺

 

ROAR

 

 

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
If RR Retirement was gone...
Posted by zugmann on Sunday, April 22, 2012 4:16 PM

Would people stick around in this industry?

 

Note: this is not political, just a what-if.  If someone makes this political and gets it deleted, may a thousand scorpions crawl up that someone's pants.

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

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