I was quite frustrated by someone's post about how railroad workers generally do not have enough marketable skills and because of this, most are forced to accept lower paid jobs elsewhere.
Does anyone else think so? Possibly there are some exceptions who were not lucky, but certainly not the majority. I don't know ANYONE who is now paid less after their experience at NS.
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What contractor? RJ Corman can't find any help, don't understand why they are paying the same amount as McDonald's. Ya want fries with that! I would love to know where all the people are that are willing to do the same job for half the money and no benefits. We won't get all the union is asking for nor will the carrier get all they want,if neither side agrees to the PEB and we strike or they lock us out Congress will legislate the new contract for us.
No matter how you describe the work it doesn’t change the fact that anybody who does it can pretty much name their price because the work has to get done in the name of national security…(critical supply chain function) If not by NS employees, then subcontractors will take the money and just pay the people doing the work less, but NS won’t save a dime .
Nobody said the work is easy. They said it is simple. The work you do is simple. But it is not easy for unskilled whiny a-s crybaby’s to do simple work along side of unskilled whiny a-s crybaby’s while they are whining about how bad they got it while they are sitting on their a-s sipping coffee expecting $45/hr for getting their pu--y’s wet with a little rain.
If it's as easy as you say come join us troll! But I bet Mommy's basement is more suited to you!
people work better together when they know what the goal is and why....
I can't quit because i need their healthcare
The debate was not about IF railroaders have skills, but about how easily those skills can be acquired. Your value is a reflection of your scarcity. In the case of throwing a switch, few people have the raw stamina to accomplish such an amazing feat! Turning a wrench or a ratchet is a similarly rare ability possessed only after extensive training! These skills alone should put $45/hr on the low end of a railroaders value.
Now how rare is it to have a job that directly influences the nations supply chain? $100/hr?
I don’t believe anyone was debating on whether or not railroad employees have some skills, but more so are their skills worth $45/hr on the job market. Those 30 people making $45/hr? Are the jobs that they took suitable for a long fruitful career? I have seen several people quit who had a good enough resume to get hired at jobs that have similar pay, however 8 months later they either get fired or quit to save face. Getting in the door is one thing. Having a long fruitful career is another. This post won’t be popular, however telling a room full of re--rds that they are re--rded is almost never popular.
Last year we had 25 people quit, this year we have had 5, someone must think we have skills.
Fred Flintstone could do my job
The reality is that most hands on mechanical positions on the railroad are filled by people who are comfortable with, and experienced at working with their hands. Many come from previous mechanical/electrical professions. These are the people that literally keep the place running 24/7/365. Over time, the skillset they already bring to the table obviously becomes more focused on their actual railroad specific job. No different than any other industry that employs mechanical people. This skillset is definitely transferable to other industries, unlike railroad manager positions requiring a college degree. The work force in all industries is full of people with college degrees who are employed in positions that are unrelated to their original course of study, or “career path”. It is very common for blue collar people who work with their hands today to be making significantly higher pay than a college graduate with a basic undergraduate degree. The script has definitely been flipped, as opposed to a generation ago when college degrees were less common and more highly valued by employers. Why would a mechanical person forfeit a normal life, and a balanced work schedule of M-F with weekends and holidays off, to work on the railroad without some added perks like rr retirement ? When the railroad forces people to give up their quality of life to work for them, they have to offer something to entice new hires. All aboard ? Meh……
Not all railroad crafts are equally marketable outside of railroading, but all railroad crafts do have some marketable skills. In returning to the job market it will be up to you to avoid selling yourself short because most employers will be happy to pay you the bare minimum if they can convince you to take it.
Railroad pay and benefits are more or less competitive with similar union jobs. If you go non union then you will find the pay and benefits are significantly less as a whole, but you as an individual will have more opportunity in a non union environment to set yourself apart from your peers and excel and be better compensated as you prove your value.
There are plenty of contractors out there as well that view 10 plus years with one company as a "skill" that being stability. Honestly, unless you go work for a scab cheap contractor, its relatively easy to make something close to RR pay, or a little less, but the same take home due to no pension.
If a person is highly skilled and they go to work for the railroad, they do not stay. They quit and use their skills to make more money and spend time with their family. If a person is not very skilled when they get hired by the railroad they tend to stay because they have no option to get a higher paying job and spend time with their family. The post you are talking about is meant to point the finger at the obvious. The railroad is a refuge for re--rds who think they deserve $45/hr to do simple work when they would be hard pressed to make $25/hr outside of the railroad with their skill set. If you disagree with this fact you are delusional.
Agreed. I know several people from my shop laid off with better or same money.