For anybody who ACTUALLY works for the railroad or is somewhat close with anybody who does…
would you care to comment on this subject?
I feel it’s somewhat important to have a dialogue about what (union pacific) employees think and feel about the company they work for, being that this STRONGLY affects how the job gets done and how it is conducted…
For Union Pacific substitute any railroad. After 45 years of working on the railroad I have come to the conclusion that being able to moan and b*tch is a pre-qualification to employment. In fact I recall a senior executive, whose name escapes me for the moment is quoted as saying “If you take a railroader out of his rut he is not happy until he can find another one to crawl into”
Railroad guys cry and whine all the way to the bank. It’s part of the job description.[;)]
Sounds to me like any other job…You can please some of the people some of the time but not all the people all the time…Danny
I went to a JROTC high school, and I once remember one of the instructors, possibly even the SAI telling us: “As long as the troops are complaining, everything’s alright. It’s when they stop complaining that you have some big problems.”
I’ve since come to learn that that particular bit of wisdom is true for much of life. I would tend to believe that railroading probably falls into the same category, too.
[#ditto] Just about word for word how I would describe it. It’s the rare guy who doesn’t complain, but it’s an even more rare guy who quits the railroad.[:D]
There are some who quit but usually, those who quit quit within the first year or two after they start. If they don’t quit then, they quit within the first five years. Rare is the individual who voluntarily quits after that, after that, they’re either content or looking for another path out.
If you do want to get specific, I’ve heard UP employees commenting on the low morale of employees of one of the eastern railroads. That may tell you something.
But there are always things that are complained about–be they creature comfort, safety hazards, operating practices, the crew callers, the timekeepers, the dispatchers. Some complaints are valid, and, believe it or not, are usually acted upon.
Not sure about other areas, but in my area 50%, that’s right HALF, of the new hires quit within the first year. A few more leave before 5 years. Valley X is correct, if you make it 5 years, you’ll probably never leave.
You know how to tell if a railroader is dead? He stops complaining.
Nick
In my time in several industries I have noticed two kinds of people:
One kind treats their job as a career and they are constantly looking for ways to do their job better. These people are very honorable men to work with and you can count on them when things go into the crapper. They are also the ones who go the extra mile without complaining. You can trust their workmanship and you can trust that they are as concerned about your safety as you are. They are also very good at buying a man a beer after a good day of hard work.
The other kind are completely useless and a waste of space. They are there to soak up a paycheck. They aren’t safe to work around, and are quick to find ways to avoid working. Complaining is a hallmark of this crowd. I never trust their workmanship. For them it is just a job. When times get tough they are the first to go, and I am standing at the door cheering their departure. Give your job to someone who wants it.
On a recent trip to the largest retail store in the world, I was stopped at the BNSF tracks in Princeton, IL waiting for two trains to pass…and on the eastbound train there was a tank car with the words…“NS f***s their employees!”
At least with the graffitti you can’t read it, but someone didn’t want to beat around the bush with that one. Yowza!
Just about every rr worker, regardless of their craft, tries to make an honest effort to do their job correct. However, issues such the way management treats their work force, contract labor talks, getting screwed on your pay every pay half, fighting with timekeeping are just a few issues that after time it starts to drain you and any good feelings about your job. I will go out and do anything asked, all I ask in return is pay my miles I am entitled to and any special claims and I will go home that day happy. The rr is an interesting industry to be involved with. Some days I like my job, other days I totally hate it. The bottom line is though we are all out here to make as much money as possible and to build a good standard of living in our life’s for many yrs to come.