buzz456 wrote:This is a serious question not meant to be negative but doesn't every single person working for every single railroad have a negative attitude about every company?
No, it is I who is being negative.
I suppose in all honesty most folks moan about their jobs in some capacity or another. Whether your boss is a moron or the soda/pop machine in the break room is always empty, the list goes on.
The railroad of course as most of you know, has been a union organization for a very very long time and this can often create a rift between the work force and management.
I think what most folks find frustrating about the railroad (atleast on my end) is how we are treated. It is often the case that a certain train is behind schedule and a manager will ask you for a "special move" which often means cutting corners and breaking rules so as to get the train moving/out. Now if something happens, who do you think would take the blame for it? So some folks break the rules and get the train moving, others stick to their guns and follow the rules. The guy who stuck to his guns might end up finding something wrong with the train (maybe the reason it was delayed in the first place); finding the fault might result in its immediate repair, delaying the train further. This ofcourse infuriates the manager who told you to move your butt in the first place. Which can lead to him trying to bird dog you later and catch you slipping up. My company preaches safety and following the rules (as most do). So the dilemma is what do you do? Follow the rules and get in trouble, or don't follow the rules and get in trouble?! Now the easy answer is, always follow every rule and you won't get in trouble. Easier said then done. There are sooo many and they can change often and don't always pertain to every situation and minus the GCOR most railroad rules are written with a certain grey area to allow room for interpretation for or against a certain situation. Throw in a less then healthy life style, plus little sleep, and your gonna break rules. How many of you know all your rules of the road and follow them every time you drive? I know I can't/don't.
As for the Union, they are in bed with the company and regularly don't or fail to defend us properly. Unlike most industries that have seen wage increases over the years our industry has seen a decrease (I'm told this is the same with trucking). A guy I work with who is 67 and about to retire after 41 years, makes about $10-15,000 less then he did in the 80s!
So thats a taste of it, there is actually waaaay more to it and I could go further down the rabbit hole, but I'm trying to restrain myself.
Also worth mentioning, despite, all the moaning and complaining, you don't see many of us leaving looking for other jobs.
Admittedly, it was ALOT to take in after coming from the Army after 10 years. In that environment nothing came before mission success, not food, not god, not your life! If things weren't the way they were supposed to be, you "sucked it up" and drove on. Talk about counter culture!
Also, (from my experience) employees that had previously worked for, or current employees that work in a territory that was formerly a different railroad tend to have a bad taste in their mouths towards the purchasing company. I work a region that was formerly CNW and you see that attitude daily. I hear that folks that worked for MOPAC, SP, WP are the same, but I can't confirm that.
Anyway, take care!
P.S. You know why I love the internet? I post a picture figuring you guys would have a conversation about which paint job was best, instead you had a conversation about socialism! No sarcasm, I'm dead serious, YOUR ALL AWESOME AND I'M GLAD YOUR ALL HERE, THANKS FOR THE LAUGHS!!!
by GERUNIMO625 » Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:12 pm 
