Furlough Shock
Posted by Lou on Mar 2, 2009
What a shock this morning. Checked the boards for work – usually 2 to 3 times a day. They put me on the furlough board again. Being LB Status last only 4 days max in this days now. My Hub Roseville showed 50 furlough followers. That’s an absolute Record since I am following it – and that’s for over 2 years now. The other places are not looking better. I have no idea where this will end. As of my understanding, and good will thoughts from other ‘older’ railroaders, there is an all time low during the month’s December to February. But was it ever that worth ? I don’t think so. Furlough was never so bad – being bumped – OK, that’s part of the Job. You don’t like it, but you get used to it. Being furlough gives me the feeling that I am not wanted anymore and not needed. This get’s worse from day to day. If you happy to get a job meanwhile, that’s fine. But you are more or less expected to be ready 90 minutes after the call. Ok Ok you have up to 14 weeks to get back to work, but during this 14 weeks how often will you get bumped ? 20 times or so. You will get never back to work for the Railroad if you take only 8 hours to give them notice : OK, I am ready to work. That’s a devil circle and not many way’s out of it. Please fire an extra candle for us guys. We are not in the news like the State workers of the guys working in the Automobile craft. We are the forgotten once, by public and by Railroad.
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.
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 …..
Sharp Shooters
Posted by Lou on Jan 18, 2009
Bumped. Bumped again. As of my last posting you could see I got assigned to a new Board. Full of motivation I updated my Rules – I was not that behind as I thought – packed my Grip (Backpack) and charged my Radio. The nervous Level was very high this time but I was really looking forward to go back to work after a long furlough time. You must know, as much as I love railroading, I am in there for the money. The Fridge Level is almost below 10% and that means something has to happen.
Just got a call from Dispatch telling me I got bumped. I was 3rd out, that means, the 3rd Train that is leaving my Station SHOULD be mine. But no. I got ‘Sharpshoot’. You might ask what that means ? There are people out there just waiting for bumping people who are close to work. The reason is easy : Money. You jump from board to board looking to bump others in order to get faster to work. Instead of doing like 5-7 trips every 2 weeks, they manage to do many more, and since you get paid by trip … It’s not the first time that happend to me. Most of the followed co-workers have a code of honor and give you a chance to have at last one trip before they bump you. Most of them are good people who know the situation. Bumping others is Railroad Buisiness and that’s how it works. Nobody likes it. If there will be no Sharp Shooters more and more people would have a chance to work. So what can you do ? Nothing. And that’s the most frustrating thing. God help me that I will never become such person. Hope I will never got tempted or overwelmed to do such thing.
If you ever get into working for the Railroad make sure you have a strong Wife/Husband behind you. There WILL BE hard times and they will try to break you. I am blessed with my wife. I’ll put her into hard times when I signed up for the Railroad. Sure, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. But I had a chance to take something different – but I choosed the Track Path. Didn’t know that the switch was lined into a siding where you have to wait forever to get out.
Hope other’s have more luck than we have – or have more seniority than I have. I am surtenly running out of both…..
Update: The Sharp Shooter who bumped me Layoff 25 minutes later. Makes it even more painful. I don’t know why he did that, but I know I NEVER will forget his name. Good thing : you meet people always twice….
Back on the Board
Posted by Lou on Jan 17, 2009
Yipppieee! Back on the Board. At 6:30pm today a call from Dispatch. 6 times out – hopefully no bump before 1st out. I need to get back to work and make some bucks – and stay with the Railroad. After 365 days without an assignment I will be terminated and my Railroad Dream Train will be gone. So, press your thumb’s for me – or cross your fingers – or snip your toe’s. Whatever it takes. After my last assignment I got bumped 3.5 hours later. I am going to top that today 
One of my Railroad Buddy’s set a new record yesterday : 24 minutes after assignment he got bumped. That’s just enough time to get nervous. After all: I am not furlough for some days, that’s a good feeling. More later, after the Bump
Back where I belong ?
Posted by Lou on Dec 27, 2008
Another call from the RR. “You have been notified …..”
You know what will follow. A more or less friendly Person is telling you that’s time again to worry about your future. Here I am again, furlough with over 40 guys from my Station. Can there be a better start into the new Year ? Jumping around the Christmas tree stopped and we are back to reality.
Christmas is over – no change
Posted by Lou on Dec 26, 2008
Last week I got called back to the board. What a joy. I was getting ready to work …. charge my Radio, get the Rules updated, pack my backpack.
After 3.5 hours later another call from my carrier. “Can I speak to my Lou ?” My answer was not like always “That’s Me” because I’d know what’s next. Instead I yelled into the Phone “You will not tell me I am bumped. I am furlough over 6 month, 3.5 Hours before you called me back and you are NOT going to tell me I am without work again.”
It got really still on the other side but after a while “I am so sorry Mr. Lou, but you are bumped. Have a nice Christmas !”
The world is mean and heartless ! Now I am bumped again and now I am bumped.
