I am BLE
Did you vote for or against both contracts they sent out.? they had 2 contracts the first one i voted against . the second contract i didnt vote , why cause i never got the thing. after finding out that they had another contract out i called and was sent a copy to vote on. i would have voted no again. i recieved the contract the day it was due in. Now this being the case i wonder how many others did not know there was another contract sent out and if it would have passed.
I am not going to get into a fight about the working conditions and the good and bad points of railroading this is something that everyone has to do for themselves. To me the hours are not bad i like a little variety and working the same hours every day would be like the same ole rut 9-5. I have a life outside this railroad and have fun and do as i want… only thing i would tell a new hire is dont go into debt when working at first in case you dont like it then you wont be stuck and misserable . you can quit and go flip burgers and still pay your bills.
My son just finished six months with CSX as a conductor and he loves it. He has only been bumped to the extra board twice in the six months he has been out on the tracks. GO FOR IT!! May never get the chance again.
Since this thread got dredged up from the past, what did jrw249 ever do?
…and are things still as bleak as some of the posters indicated back then?
who knows…but wow…talk about a blast from the past…lol
csx engineer
Let me throw my hat in the ring here…
I got laid off my previous job, and there were few other options, but after reading a TRAINS magazine, I decided to look for work on the railroad. I shelled out the dough to AMDG, and later got it back as a tax deduction - work related expense, though many times the state will help with a retraining grant or (gulp) loan. NOTE - I heard that they are so desparate for new hires that CSX will now pay for the class and you won’t have to, but I don’t know when this will take effect.
I’m in the UTU, and the way we are here is 80% pay for a year or two, then 100% - no more 5-year plan. The Boston div hasn’t had any furloughs in like decades, but other places have. Cost of living is so high in Boston that I wouldn’t move here to gain the job if you don’t have to.
We find that most new hires out here are in the late middle age, late 30’s, 40’s and even 50’s. I figure it’s the psych test - they are looking for responsible, mature people who don’t take risks or show off, so older guys score well on that test. Older guys will have to work into their 80’s or beyond to take advantage of the FULL retirement bennies, but the health/vision plan is so good that they join anyway.
I was married just before joining CSX, and my wife has now gotten used to my being away for several days. A local job means working nights (for me), so I would never see my family at all, and the spare board is very hectic (but pays well). Road jobs are easier, but you only work 4.5 days per week, so the money isn’t as good. When the spare board is turning like crazy, you will be rich as sin…
I am only a conductor, so I don’t get the big engineer scale yet, but it’s OK if you figure in the health plan.
I was in training recently, and they said that there will be so many retirements in the next 10 years that after that, most people will be new to the railroad. I don’t know whether to celebrate or commit hari-kiri. Just be the best I can be, I suppose…
Good luc
Maybe a shortline is the way to go John…alot of shortlines will hire you off the street as a conductor and train you on the job. That being said, you may not make as much money but most of the time ( not all of the time) the hours are better. I worked for a shortline for quite a while before going into commuter rail service, and usually worked day shift with a set schedule. Just a thought…[:)] As for what CSX engineer said, I worked for CSX, and he hit the nail on the head.[^]
I really appreciate all the info in this thread guys. I work at a Ford plant currently but with all of the rumored closings I’m considering the railroad. Would someone mind giving me an idea of the hourly wage for a conductor? UAW wages are about $26 an hour. Should I expect a big dropoff from this?
mike… alot depends on what road you hire out on… and how much or little you work… some railroads pay by the hour…others pay by the mile… the best think i can say is find out what road you are thinking of appling for and try and find a crewman you can talk to that works for them. if they are willing,…they will tell you just about eveything about the outfit as far as pay and hours… and in most cases…how much the job realy sucks…
csx engineer
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mike… alot depends on what road you hire out on… and how much or little you work… some railroads pay by the hour…others pay by the mile… the best think i can say is find out what road you are thinking of appling for and try and find a crewman you can talk to that works for them. if they are willing,…they will tell you just about eveything about the outfit as far as pay and hours… and in most cases…how much the job realy sucks…
csx engineer
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Most likely it will be Union Pacific in Kansas City. As far as the job sucking… well, an assembly line job is as dead end as it gets. The only thing that looks like a plus to me over the railroad is being home on the weekends.
Good rule to remember about the rr, after being hired and given a seniority date, they will spend about $30,000 over 13 wks to train you the job then after marking up and becoming a condr, they will spend the rest of your career trying to fire you.
mike… alot depends on what road you hire out on… and how much or little you work… some railroads pay by the hour…others pay by the mile… the best think i can say is find out what road you are thinking of appling for and try and find a crewman you can talk to that works for them. if they are willing,…they will tell you just about eveything about the outfit as far as pay and hours… and in most cases…how much the job realy sucks…
csx engineer
[/quote]
Most likely it will be Union Pacific in Kansas City. As far as the job sucking… well, an assembly line job is as dead end as it gets. The only thing that looks like a plus to me over the railroad is being home on the weekends.
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yea…you can almost 100% kiss weekends off goodbye if you want a railroad job…once in a while you might be able to get one off…but being the younger man on the roster… you will find it will be a hard enought time just making a paycheck let alone trying to get a weekend off… you might get marked up on a job to spot on an extra board… and right befor you might get called to work…get bumped…and this will happen alot… so there are going to be weeks where you are going to litterly starve for money… and what little you do manange to make…you will find out how much you dont get after taxes…union dues…health insurnce are taken out of it…best of luck to you…your going to need it
csx engineer