Lou’s Point

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…..

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.