Metra Conductor/Overtime pay

[BOB WITHORN]

What Australia pay anyone is really not revelent to the USA. Assumptions are being made that everything is equal in both countries. I come from a family of teachers and they are a bit under paid to start. The difference being the benefits and retirement packages they receive are something the average working American can only dream of. Metra, 55% fare funded, 45% sales tax funded wouldn't seem to be a private corp. I sure I'm wrong, but it would seem to be governmental with the city of Chicago and the surrounding counties appointing the board. Probably me not understanding what sales tax is? Engineers and conductors get paid $100,00 / year to work 40 hours / week is way over, BUT, working 80+ / week and only getting $100K is close to slavery for what they do.

[zugmann]

I love this:

 

“It’s outrageous that riders are going to be paying for this level of salary when riders are not guaranteed those kind of pay schedules or those kind of work rules or additional compensation,” Robling said.

 

 

 

Wait... WHAT?  In what twisted world does Robling think we live in where you are paid/schedueld solely based on what your customers are paid?  Guess what? Many of those commuters work M-F, 8 hours per day.  So I guess that is all the Metra workers should have to work.  Only fair.

 

Sounds like Robling is a little mad that he was a 'communciations director' that got paid less than a conductor.

 

 

[Buslist]

schlimm

 Metra's paying many conductors and engineers over $100K also seems misplaced values.

 

 

however as the item noted:

 

"The average $100,000-club conductor worked an extra 885 hours a year — the equivalent of 22 additional 40-hour workweeks — to take home at least six figures, the Sun-Times found. That boosted their average guaranteed pay level by 44 percent."

 

Having folks work that much over time, and at straight time as well may be the misplaced value.

[schlimm]

jeffhergert

Schlimm, I would have never guessed you were a conservative.

I'm not, but it seems like misplaced values.  Some other poster thought it was a consequence of Metra being a government enterprise.  However, the article suggests the Metra pay scales are similar to what is paid to the engineers for Metra trains on the UP and BNSF lines.   You mention the loss of good jobs that have been outsourced overseas, which I think was very short-sighted. But right now, there are beginning teachers and college instructors in Wisconsin getting only $35-40K.  No wonder our education is slipping, when teachers in the top systems, like Finland pay theirs much better.  At this rate, the future looks increasingly grim.

As to the poster who contends consumers would have to pay far more if wages were at a decent level, examine this fact:  The minimum wage in Australia is $16 per hour, which is what most of their Mickey D's employees earn.  Nationally here it is $7.25.  yet a Big Mac there is $4.81 vs here an average of $4.80 (depending on location).  

[BOB WITHORN]

It is not unusual to see anything that the government is involved in paying high wages. Those involved seem to believe that funds are unlimited, just tax someone to get more. In business we try to pay people well but really are limited to what the consumer is willing to pay. If you, the consumer won't pay $10.00 for a burger, $6.00 for a gallon of milk, $4.00 for a 2 liter of cola, $50,000+ for a new car, then we, the business people, can't pay someone $15.00/hr to flip burgers, answer the phone, sweep the floor or $1,000 / week to make deliveries. It is not as likely that these kind of wages can happen in private business. Bob

[jeffhergert]

Many jobs used to pay as well, or better than, the railroads.  Over the past 40 or so years most of those jobs have, if they haven't been exported to developing countries, had the wage rates cut.  Meat packing is a good example.

Instead of trying to bring everyone up, regain what has been lost, most people who have taken it in the shorts seem more eager to bring those appearing to have it so good down.  I guess it's easier that way.

Schlimm, I would have never guessed you were a conservative.

Jeff 

[schlimm]

 There are plenty of folks who would take exception to your accusing them of greed and envy.  Many folks understandably would see paying someone to rest for four hours to be an utter farce.  Metra's paying many conductors and engineers over $100K also seems misplaced values.

[BaltACD]

wilmette2210

Good evening, 

This was a recent suntimes article about the pay of Metra Conductors and Engineers. http://chicagosuntimes.com/news/metras-100000-club-includes-conductors-engineers/ Thankfully the jokers of the comment section stayed home. Now why does the media always try to manfuctre, "outrage" when it is not warrented? 

 

Because those to whom they direct the outrage earn more than those that are trying to generate the outrage.  Envy &  Greed, as old as time!

[wilmette2210]

Good evening, 

This was a recent suntimes article about the pay of Metra Conductors and Engineers. http://chicagosuntimes.com/news/metras-100000-club-includes-conductors-engineers/ Thankfully the jokers of the comment section stayed home. Now why does the media always try to manfuctre, "outrage" when it is not warrented?