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 …..
