schlimmYou do have unions. Doesn't that offer some protection, say a bit more than the 17-year old working at the local WalMart gets?
Union 'representation' only begins to come into play after a person is charged with an offense. An offense that the company intends to take to an Investigation (trial). In taking the proceeding to a Investigation, YOU WILL BE FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED WHAT THE COMPANY CHARGED YOU FOR, with the 1st level verdict an you will be assessed 'discipline' (depending upon the offense, discipline can be anything from a Formal Repremand to Dismissal from the company with a range of other penalties in between). Through this procedure you Union Rep will attempt to be your 'defense attorney' (in most cases your Union Rep is a working stiff just like you, whose only TRAINING in Investigations is by attending the ones he has in cases before yours and what he has learned from those experiences). Your Union Rep will be compensated 'a basic day's pay' for attending your investigation by the Union (your dues at work - and potentially a reason for higher Union dues).
Once Discipline has been assessed your Union Rep will then appeal the results through channels. 1st stop will be the Division level manager that assessed the discipline. 2nd stop will be the company 'Labor Relations' department. 3rd stop will be National Labor Relations Mediation Hearing.
Remember, the orignal Investigation will be scheduled so that AT A MINIMUM you will lose at least one day's pay, since under the Hours of Service Law, one must be FULLY RESTED to participate in your own Investigation, and you cannot return to duty until you are FULLY RESTED at the conclusion of the Investigation. Even if on the 'snowballs chance in hell' you are not assessed discipline from the investigation you still will have lost one or more days pay in participating.
The 17 YO at Wal-Mart was looking for a job when he got the Minimum Wage Wal-Mart job and besides Burger King is hiring. Railroad employees have jobs that compensate them so they can raise a family and put their children through college.
There are those in 'management' that think 'It's good to be the King'. (History of the World Part 2)
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACDschlimm You do have unions. Doesn't that offer some protection, say a bit more than the 17-year old working at the local WalMart gets? Union 'representation' only begins to come into play after a person is charged with an offense.
Beyond the grieving process you describe, I was thinking more of union pressure when negotiating work rules or union lobbyists pressuring Congress and FRA, etc. for government rules. Your unions don't do that? They should for all the dues you pay.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
As a railfan I try to make myself invisible to the railroaders.. It wasn't always that way. When I was a kid I had no problem standing at trackside and waving at oncoming trains like an idiot. But now that feels kinda weird. Time and age have jaded me somewhat.. and I don't want to be a distraction to someone else who is working. A wave could be misinterpreted as a wave for help etc. So i'm the guy behind the tree you don't see.
CMStPnP Go buy a ghillie suit and binoculars at Gander Mountain. The train crews will never spot you.
Go buy a ghillie suit and binoculars at Gander Mountain. The train crews will never spot you.
That sounds like a great idea except that it would make me even more noticible standing on an overpass and would draw some unwanted attention on the way to the yard. . Anyways, thanks for the replies, it has put my mind at ease.
Lone Geep
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schlimm BaltACD schlimm You do have unions. Doesn't that offer some protection, say a bit more than the 17-year old working at the local WalMart gets? Union 'representation' only begins to come into play after a person is charged with an offense. Beyond the grieving process you describe, I was thinking more of union pressure when negotiating work rules or union lobbyists pressuring Congress and FRA, etc. for government rules. Your unions don't do that? They should for all the dues you pay.
BaltACD schlimm You do have unions. Doesn't that offer some protection, say a bit more than the 17-year old working at the local WalMart gets? Union 'representation' only begins to come into play after a person is charged with an offense.
They do what they can within the framework that is presently stacked against labor. However, that is like trying to get your White House Lobbying law firm to step in to handle a dispute over unpaid parking tickets.
Union lobbying and real world railroading take place in different Universe's.
On our property there is a Company/Craft Overlap Safety meeting and process. Issues that apply to each craft get presented, get discussed and in some cases get resolved through this process. This is a part of the 'Safety Culture' the company emphasises. I am currently working on a section of the property that I worked on 35 years ago - at that time, if the Division went a month without a reportable injury it was a relative cause for celebration. Recently the Division celebrated 1,000,000 man hours injury report free - that is not just 'reportable injury free' - that is INJURY FREE. Railroaders know what can make an injury, even though minor and not resulting in lost time a REPORTABLE injury. The Safety Culture has had a quantum shift in the past 35 years.
Almost 30 years ago I bagged groceries at a fancy grocery store. Speed bagging cans by tossing up with right hand and catching the bag with left hand gained me an audience. It was odd looking up to see people watching with glazed stares of amazement. For fun I'd ask a customer if she wanted the eggs on the bottom and the watermelon on top. Women customers would multiple times ask if they could bring me home to help put the groceries away. I was better looking then.
At the pizza restaurant/bar I work at I think some customers purposely sit at tables near the kitchen just to watch us work. Others came to the bar every day that one very good looking bartender worked as all mal heads turned when she walked by. She was fired last summer.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
BoydAt the pizza restaurant/bar I work at I think some customers purposely sit at tables near the kitchen just to watch us work.
The diner where I eat breakfast when I'm on the railroad is usually entertaining, especially when they're busy and you can be amazed that they're keeping all those orders straight and finishing up at the right times...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
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