Extended unemployment Benefits
Posted by Lou on Mar 5, 2009
New Economic Recovery Legislation Affects Railroad Retirement Annuitants and Railroad Workers
Good news for all of us running out of Rail Road Unemployment Benefits. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed by President Obama, spools us a little bit more hope into our wallets. As announced by the RRB perhaps from May 2009 on we will get a one time $250 and a 13 weeks extension for our Unemployment Benefits. There is a PDF-Document in my Download Section that gives you more information. On the RRB Phone Line are some information’s, too. The Number to call is (877) 772-5772. Not much information on that Tape but, hey, start to make more room in your Fridge. The Link to their Web Site is www.rrb.gov. Hope this information helps and let’s look forward for May.
The United States Department of Labor said : Extended Benefits are available to workers who have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits during periods of high unemployment. The basic Extended Benefits program provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits when a State is experiencing high unemployment. Some States have also enacted a voluntary program to pay up to 7 additional weeks (20 weeks maximum) of Extended Benefits during periods of extremely high unemployment.
More Information avail at NELP, the National Employment Law Project, and from Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of Government. Don’t forget to visit the Kid’s Page, Nancy’s Grandaughter talks about her eating habbits. Somehow, if you can’t see anything on their Web Site click on the ‘Adjust Text Size Button’ – worked for me.
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.
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…..
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 …..
The Most Negative Week in Railshare History!!!
Posted by Lou on Jan 15, 2009
Railfax reports what we already know : it’s going down and it seems not go get better soon. Highest number of negative year-over-year. That’s something to look forward to in my railroad future. Checking the furlough boards shows me even deeper the trouble I am into. The nunbers in front of me are rasing constantly, and the total number is at record high. Now it takes a 2004 guy to work at my Hub. With my early 2007 seniority date you can figure out when I will be called back to work. Hm, perhaps I should ask to get my German Railroad seniority date transfered. With the starting year 1986 I can hold any position out there, heck, I could be President of this company. Yeah, let’s go for it. I am starting to make little stickers that you can put next to the funny ‘Stop Smoking’ Signs you find on every Engine. The Sticker could show ‘Lou for President’ – hm, already taken. Perhaps ‘You run the Railroad – I destroy it’ – hm, already taken by a big company up in the North. That’s not an easy task. Perhaps you have an idea.
Union Pacific lays off 230 in Nebraska
Posted by Lou on Jan 9, 2009
The nation’s economic slowdown has put the brakes on Union Pacific’s railroad freight business, forcing layoffs across the nation and, now, in North Platte.
Chad Wilbourn is UP’s general superintendent for the North Platte service area, and he delivered the news on Thursday. About 230 people will be furloughed until business improves and they can be called back to work.
In November, UP announced that it had laid off or cut hours for about 1,500 engineers and conductors since January 2007.
A Union Pacific (nyse: UNP – news – people ) spokesman in Omaha declined on Friday to comment specifically on any of the layoffs.
“While Union Pacific does not disclose furlough numbers, the economy is affecting all the railroads,” said Tom Lange, director of corporate communications.
“Putting people on furlough is a difficult yet necessary decision in response to market conditions and for the long-term viability of the company. Many of those on furlough will have a chance to be called back when market conditions improve.”
Union Pacific has 21,000 engineers and conductors. It operates 32,400 miles of track in 23 states from the Midwest to the West and Gulf coasts.
Source: Forbes.com
Furlough in the State of California (Sacramento)
Posted by Lou on Jan 9, 2009
State of California
Not only Railroaders get furlough. The State of California is in a financial Crisis and is going to furlough. Different to my Railroad, they are furlough only for a few days – will still make money. It’s now hitting everywhere.
Good news from my old Station: In San Luis Obispo (Central Coast California) the Furlough Board was deleted and all members got a job on the Trainmans Extra Board. I am very happy for those folks. Hope it will stay a long time and at last it will get better there. Can this be a little indicator for things going better ? I certainly hope so. My Furlough Board is now ‘down’ from 49 to 43 – what a happiness. How much easier was it with the German Railroad. You got assigned for a Job and you stay on that job forever. If you don’t like the job you could go to your local Human Recource Supervisor (who is NOT several Hundreds of Miles away hiding in the Snow behind Mountains on the Other side of the Country) and talk with them PERSONALLY. Between him/her and you there was always a solution coming up to make BOTH sides happy. In the Rare case you could always depend on your Local Union and TOGETHER we tried to find a solution. The BIG CASE of safty working is to create an envoyment of happiness and fun to work. Happy worker take pride in their work and want to come to work and get back to home. Yes, there were safety rules, but they were created to protect the worker, not the Company.
Today in the Local Newspaper i found this:
Most of California’s general government offices will close the first and third Fridays of each month starting in February.
The first furlough day will be Feb. 6, the Department of Personnel Administration announced in a memorandum Friday.
| Read the rest of this entry » |
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.
The Force
Posted by Lou on Dec 26, 2008
The Force
The Force is not with me. The Force is now my Railroad carrier. It’s going to be on the Dark Site. More and More. As a little Stormtrooper I am I can feel the Dark Site grabbing at me and sending me to the Colonies called “Furlough”. It’s an outpost far away from everything where nobody want’s to be. After a few month on that Planet you are going to loose the feeling for Reality and how it is to work on an Imperial Cruiser. I am not part of the Revolution anymore. The UTU Rebellion is giving me a hand and tries to show me the good Force. Will I be able to resist or is it already to late ? The future will show. Please Mr. Dark Young, don’t show me your Power. Still I am with the Empire…..
