My Letter to the Railroad
Posted by Lou on Sep 25, 2009
It’s now a week ago that I was very frustrated with the work and furlough Situation that I decided to write a letter to Union Pacific Railroad. I did not expected an answer, just wanted to get something out that’s bordering me. Here is my Letter:
Hello,
Since 2006 I am with Union Pacific Railroad as a Conductor in the Roseville Hub. I love to work for UP – if I only get a chance. In my long Railroad Career (I worked for 17 years with the German Railroad) I’ve never expected a situation like this : several hundreds of Employees are furlough now. The Situation is very bad and the hope to get back to work get’s lower and lower.
There is no financial help or other support from UP for us. I am very glad to have the Health Insurance going on for 4 months.
Every day I am expecting and waiting to go back to work. You can imagine the situation we are in.
What does Union Pacific Railroad expect from me ? Do you want me to come back and be ready for work once there is enough work ?
The answer after the break. Read the rest of this entry »
Furlough rate goes up, my mood goes down
Posted by Lou on Sep 15, 2009
This morning I checked the boards. A few hours later the big shock: 71 furlough in Roseville, 54 in Oakland, 24 in Ozol and 12 in San Luis Obispo – not talking about the other stations along the Lines. Within a few hours 11 more furlough in Roseville. That is unbelievable. The Statistics show more Car Loads (the best month since December 2008) – everything is going up, so the furloughs. What’s going on there ?
Oh MAN, I am so mad right now. I want to put my Steel Toe Shoes (still the original once I’d by in Roseville while in the New Hire Class – just don’t have enough time to wear them off) into somebody’s Telly Device – not to get a Brown Nose – the other kind of kicking.
Nice to hear that the German Railroad is offering ~400 new Training positions this year for New Hires with guarantee to work after a 3 year Training period. They know how many people are leaving this year for retirement so they can calculate. Not one of the biggest Railroad in the World can do such thing ? Something is fishy here behind the curtain. I am still too trustworthy to see the big picture I guess.
The new Hours of Service implemented this year did not help at all; at last for us furlough employees. Guys on the Extra Board are still working like crazy with a 14 hour rest between shifts – 6-7 days a week (if the week had 10 days they had/would work 9 days I am sure).
Can’t they spread the work between all of us ? Every time someone on the Extra Board lays off they should call one from the furlough board. How about that ? Everybody works 40 hours a week and if over get somebody from the furlough board or expand the boards so every body has work.
Just a few thoughts from me – nothing will change in the near future I guess/fear. It’s not the Carriers fault, it’s the System behind that lags. Let’s hope the economy will go up again and everybody is happy.
Kicked out
Posted by Lou on Aug 12, 2009
Yesterday I logged into my Employee Web Site to check my furlough status. As anything would ever changed there but hey, keep the flags up and perhaps with a miracle and some help with the guy high above there (not Mr. Young, higher) there can be a chance for me to get back to work. But nothing changed. Some more guys got onto the Cut-Off Board, some left. There is always some movement there. But only the higher seniority once get a chance from time to time to proof they are railroaders.
So I logged in and got a Message telling me that, if I had one, I have to empty my locker and get everything out there. Ok, I understand that there might be a demand on lockers and there might be some lockers that have been never used (I might wonder why ???). But just getting this message dropped my frustration level more down. Will there be EVER a chance to get back to work or is that a ‘little’ sign to show me there is no room (!!) for me at this place ? I don’t know.
Down the Hallway I saw one of the Big Bosses and I thought : get a $20 out of my pocket and slip it to him while shacking his hand. Ok, a small grade I was going to walk but hey, for a good joke and a reason to have some talk with the guy, I give it a try. Thanks-fully he understood my scene of humor. “Hey Boss, get me back to work. That’s for you. If you need me to broom stick the Parking lot or polish the switches, I am your man. Just get me back to work”. I only got back a smile and a sorry. Do you know how many sorry’s I get every time I visit the Office ? Way to many. But at last they think of us furlough personnel from time to time.
Thanks guys, for thinking about me. And I love to give up my locker (if I had one) for someone who needs it and who is able to work.
What’s new ?
Posted by Lou on Apr 5, 2009
Nothing new from the Home front. There are right now furlough’s everywhere and it seems not to end. I had some little hope to find some work in Denver, Colorado. By mouth to mouth I was told there is some work there for lower seniority guys. But as it is always with mouth to mouth – nothing behind. Contact with some Locals showed there are plenty of furlough boards there, too. A friend of my wife is working somewhere in Texas for a little local Railroad. They are fighting, too. No one is furlough there but thinking of working for them is more than a dream. He told me that BNSF is going to furlough more than 200 guys. Oh, btw BNSF – they are going to change their Telephone and Communication Devices to some Microsoft Stuff. Hopefully their Devices are better than some of their Software Stuff 
Speech enable
Posted by Lou on Mar 19, 2009
I’am testing a new feature. You can let the computer read the entries for you. I think the speech is very good and understandable. But since I am german with a strong accent, everything sounds the same to me
I wish we would have this for the radio when the Dispatcher is giving you some instructions. Most likely the Loudspeaker is only installed over the the engineer stand so for people like me, it’s very hard to understand ANYTHING. Lovely if you have to get some very important instructions down …
So let me know what you think about this new feature – I am only testing it now. Since it’s optional, no big deal. Remove it or prove it. It seems it’s messing up with the format a little bit, I have to work on it.
As usual, Comments welcome.
Lokführer
Posted by Lou on Mar 1, 2009
Did I ever mentioned that my younger brother back in Germany is an engineer ? Years after I started with the German Railroad he decided to do the same. Since I was often home, had a lot of days off and plenty of money to spend on gadgets, it seemed to him a good decision. I helped him to find a spot so he joined the Railroad. His career started a little bit different than mine. See, the Job at the German Railroad starts with a 3 year training. During this time you go through all different crafts. You work in the Yard, you are on the Road, some days you are a Dispatcher and some you are a Conductor on Passenger Trains. There are no freight Conductors in Germany. So in his first 3 years he saw a lot – all aspects of the Railroad. Usually you go a few weeks in Class – study the rules and stuff – than you practice the new learned stuff out in the field with an assigned Person. After the 3 years you do a big test and than you decide what you liked most and where are the best chances for you to work. His dream was being an engineer. His first Hub he got assigned to was only 20 minutes from home. Get your Passenger train out of the yard in the morning, make 2 trips and than go home. Once a week he has to bring his train to the roundhouse (which is, btw a real roundhouse) for check ups and maintenance. His paycheck is not as high as here in the States, but it’s OK to make a good living. Regular work is 40 hours a week with 2 days off. Everything over 40 hours will be put into a special account. At the end of the year you can decide to take the hours off (payed) or let the Railroad pay you out for that. Another nice plan, which he choose, put the hours on a life account. That means every hour you earned on that account get’s towards your retirement. The regular way to get retired is to reach 65 years of age to get the full benefits for the retirement. He already figured out that, if he works the same hours he is working now, he will retire at the age of 52 or 53. With full pay until he is 65 and than he is getting the retirement plan. Folks, I am so jealous. And the retirement is not bad, either. You get around 75% of your last pay but with much lower taxes. Health plan is included and does not have to be payed extra. I will talk to my local chairman about those German plans – I am sure I will get a giggle out of him.
Kick in the butt
Posted by Lou on Feb 19, 2009
Well, here we are again. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way. Sometimes you have to find out that goodness is not with railroaders.
Yesterday again I got a call from the Crew caller that my application was finally accepted and an open spot would be filled with my little body. Yep, I was happy. Another chance to work – that sounds so great. My last work day (not counting the rules classes last month) was in September 2008 for ONE day and before that I was able to work a few shifts in March 2008. Don’t ask me how we managed it to get through all the time but somehow we did. Now after yesterdays call I was first out, a very good chance close to 100% to get out and work. Watching the whole day the boards and train lineup. Several Trains were re-scheduled so the waiting time for my train got longer and longer. I had a slight bad feeling that is not a good sign – every minute counts. Every minute you can get bumped. But hey, I was first out, so what could happened ? My working boots were positioned in the doorway next to my grip, just to jump in and get out. According to the train lineup I supposed to bring a train to a big harbour in North California. Nothing big, I have done that before. But it could not hurt to check again the Timetable and the Rules that changed every week. Hard to be on top of it if you don’t have to deal it on a dayly basis. 8pm was my train scheduled. Now it’s 3pm – time to go to bed and take a nap. About 6:30pm got up and grabed a snack – want to be fit for the trip. Just finished my last bite the Crew caller gave me a phone call. Fine, I tought, they are telling me to get ready and be at the train station in 90 minutes. That’s the time they give you to get ready. Luckly my drive to the station is only about 10 minutes. I had other times where I had to drive 3 hours to work so you have to watch closely the boards. But instead of getting the train news I got the Girl on the phone telling me that I got bumped. Silence. Long Silence. “But I am first out and my train should leave in a few hours” was my response. Like a robot she tould me I was bumped and if there is anything she could do for me. “But I was first out” my response again. “Is there anything I can do for you ?” her response again. There are Thousands of things you can do for me, but not this one. Let me do what I am supposed to do and what they called me for in the first place. “Have a good day sir”. Yeah, how good can my day be after that. Bumped again with a kick in my ass. I feel like one because again I believed the Railroad needs me and cares ‘a little bit’ about me. Because I am willing to work and I can work.
The nicest feeling is to get bumped first out. Why can’t they wait to bump you after your turn ? Just one day will expland my medical benefits, will give me a little bit self respect back, will bring a few dollars into my life. All that was printed on the Boots that kicked me was “NO. NOT YOU.” As a bitter pill : got bumped by someone who was in my hiring class. His birthday is just a few days before mine. Thought he would understand the ‘not spoken rules’ and the codex between railroaders. But things changed and changed people. This times brings out your real character. If you are tough and mean, don’t care about others only about yourself, you are a winner in this game. If you are try to be nice and care about others, you are the looser here with a Boot sticking out of you rear telling you what a fool you are. Since I am not going to change, nor I will not turn to the dark site, I guess I will not get out to work. The closest to be with the railroad will be sleeping under the bridge watching trains go by – without me.
Update: See my wifes blog about how hard it is to be a railroaders wife. Find it under www.myheartvoice.com.
Grants and Stuff
Posted by Lou on Feb 13, 2009
Wildlife Heritage Foundation gets UP grant .The Wildlife Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving California’s rich heritage of open spaces, agricultural land and wildlife, has received a $5,000 grant from the Union Pacific Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Union Pacific Corporation and Union Pacific Railroad, to support their Outdoor Environmental Education Program. The program’s goal is to promote conservation education and experiential learning to grades K-5.
The Union Pacific Foundation is funded each year from the operating profits of Union Pacific Corporation.
That’s great stuff. But it makes me a little bit jealous. As important as it is to support the local Community, especially for the Wildlife Heritage Fund (what the heck is that ?), I am going to need some support, too. As an employee I am sitting closer to UP than some Outdoor Foundation. At least I thought I was. Help the outdoor furloughed people. We are increasing and we can be still useful to the Company. As I was told at the hiring session some years ago. This session was very interesting. During the session I was asked several questions about my willingness to work and be ready for some ‘unusual’ work conditions – like be off work for 4 months and than be called to get ready to work in 90 minutes. Hmm, they didn’t mention the 14 months out of work, but surly the 90 minutes call time. The recruiting Manager was an old army guy who sure did know his handwork. “If you don’t have a cellphone to be called to work, UP will provide you one.” Yeah riiight! “ During your first year you may not be able to reach $75.000 but I can assure you that it will be around $50.000. And than the sky is the limit.” HAH!! So, how does this sound to you if you don’t know the background and the real possibilities they provide you ? Pretty good, eh ? So I thought, too. It took me about 5 months to figure out the truth of it all. Now I am still with the company, after 2 years, and I try to work as much as possible. I get here and there a trip, that’s all. Just for ’standing by the Railroad’ and a ‘willingness to work at any time’ we, the furloughed People should get a grant or something else. I would be happy to get some more training on the road. That helps everybody when we get back to work. We will be a 100% rules fit, know the territory and we will be motivated too deep in our work boots. But since Circus Cars in a parade ($30,000 worth!) and the Wildlife Heritage Fund is more important that I am I should dress up like a clown and run through the woods to get a little token of appreciation to keep my fridge full. Just some thoughts…..
Hard for the Family
Posted by Lou on Feb 12, 2009
Being furloughed is not only hard for the railroaders ego – it’s the hardest for the Family. Not everybody is blessed with a wife like mine. During the hiring session we were told that the highest divorce rate is among Railroaders. I could not believe it at first. How hard is it to have tons of money and a good pension and health insurance ? But I guess I was wrong. Being on call is one thing. How often are we are getting called during family meetings or while shopping ? As it is convenient sometimes – it’s hard most of the time. During my first years with the Railroad I discovered how much I was asking for my wife. We had no home most of the time because I was chasing my seniority. The other times I was not able to work or being furloughed. Sleeping in a Motel or in a RV in a campground can be fun and exciting, but only for a short time. Another thing is the Fridge level which I mentioned in earlier postings. Once it gets below 20% the moods of family drops considerably. How often did I ask myself: “Why am I doing this and how will it end ?” Right now I am still motivated but for how long ? A Family Health Plan and the excitement of a good pension are good reasons for staying. But to know that you are not wanted to work railroad wise for the company is on my mind all the time. Why did they hire me and offer me all the goodies ? Why am I not important for the Company ? Do they really care about me ? Or am I just another card you have in your hand for bad times or only when needed ? Yep, too many questions. I have no answers to these. All I know is there are 41 others in my Station asking the same questions, and over 140 in the Hub wondering what’s going to happen. I feel really bad for the furloughed State workers who cannot work every other Friday (unpaid). But at last they have work the other days and have a steady (even if a very low) income they can count on. I can only count on the help of others during this hard times. Again, I am thankful for a wonderful wife who still stands by me, but not everyone is in that position. First you don’t work, than you lose your home and than you are going to loose your closest ones. Why are we not sharing the work we have with everybody ? A trip less for some will not hurt that much – but others can make a living out of that. We can all have a life with the ones they care about.
Who is left ?
Posted by Lou on Feb 8, 2009
Leftovers
In a few days is my 2nd anniversary Railroad wise. In November 2006 I joined the Railroad and my Seniority date was set to February 2007. Sadly, since they go by your date of birth, I was born on the 25th. That means I have to blame my mother for the situation I am in now. Why couldn’t she have squeezed me out on the 1st? That would be so much easier for me. But I am sure if I was born on the 1st the seniority date would be after my shoe size or the circle size of my Middle Ear. But what the heck, everybody from my class is now furloughed. Everybody who is left, that is. The smart ones figured out very quickly, from which side the wind is blowing and left the Railroad after a few months. Some other ones, who did not get pregnant during that time, got back to their old jobs. Some changed their positions and are now watching homeless people under bridges so they don’t get rolled over by trains. Some are no longer in California and chose to get furloughed in other States. And than there are the many who got fired. You know it’s very easy to get fired when you are not experienced enough to find out what’s going on between the Rails. So there are only a few left. We are the Hardliners, the War Socks, the Foamers who would never admit to be one of them. The positive thinking souls who are still thinking of better times to come. The one’s who are dreaming about a Conductors Position on the Extra Board. About a guarantee that will be payed every half month. Dreamers of not being nervous about getting bumped after every trip. The one’s who dream about making plans to get settled down and having the fridge level always above 80%. Dreaming about earned Vacation and regular time at home with family and friends. My only friends during the first 2 years with the railroad are the ones who have eMail. Who are sharing the few adventures on the Train. The diehards, the ones who are left …..
