What happened ?
Posted by Lou on Nov 17, 2009
Hello loyal Visitors. You may wonder why there is nothing new on my Website since several weeks. The reason is simple – but also a bad reason. My frustration level being furlough is very high and for some time I really lost some interest in Railroading. I will try to make up for that and post more.
The last few weeks were pretty tied for my family and me since there is no income and no future light at the horizon getting back to work soon. This year (2009) I worked only 2 trips as a conductor so far. A few days here and there helped to keep the Health Insurance rolling. That is a big relief and I am very thankful for that.
The future didn’t look very bright to us this year and in the near future there is no relief. Since this ’stupid’ seniority stuff is not going away there will be never a chance for us lower seniority guys get a regular work. Just thinking about it makes me mad. Several guys are working on positions they don’t like. Therefore the motivation is not always the best. I can understand that old Rails have the right to get better positions. But this whole system is not right. You bid on a job and if you ‘win’ you keep the job – and you like the job and will do the best and get motivated to work because it was your decision to work this job. And don’t forget the safety aspect: Getting every day on a new job in territory you are not so familiar with is a dangerous thing. If I work the same job every day I know where the derails are located, where a slow order is in effect and how things are rolling.
Make long things short : I don’t like how stuff works. And since there is no chance – and there will never be one – …. you get the point.
Promise : I will start posting more.
Yours Lou
