Application approved for Union Pacific, track laborer.?

Question

I got approved for the track laborer position in El Paso, TX. I have a few questions for anyone that works with UP or knows someone that works for UP.

1. What should I expect with the hiring process?

2. The job posting says it starts at 17.40/hr. Should I expect overtime and if so, how much per week? The more the better.

3. What is the likelihood of furlough with the UP track crew?

4. Is there unemployment insurance covered by UP?

5. How much unemployment insurance would I pay a month?

6. How much will unemployment insurance PAY ME if I am furloughed?

I'll appreciate any answers I get with this.

Answer 1

Ahh Yes the life of a Track Jack!  Wooo are you in for a daily workout.

Nah, just pulling your chain.  Congrats on the job.

You are going to have some overtime, but as Hoghead points out its going to be kept to a minimum.  However, as in the immortal words of Mike Rowe, (Get ready to get dirty).

Yep, its a Dirty Job.

As far as answering your specific questions, I would not want to give you bad information, but I can tell you that I work on a MOW Crew with my local club here.

Being a Track Jack is hard work, and believe me when I say you are going to go to be sore!  I can tell you this, if you are not in excellent shape, you are shortly going to wish you were.  Moreover, its going to be a very physically demanding job.  

Though I do this through a volunteer organization, I cannot imagine what it would have to be like on a daily basis.

You are more than likely going to start by working on the Extra Board, unless they have you a guaranteed slot on a crew.

The hiring process is going to require that you complete a skills craft battery, then you get to go to 14 weeks of school to learn all about building and maintaining the Right Of Way for the railroad.

Just for the record, you guys are the heartbeat of the railroad.  Without you folks, the trains don't roll.  

When you get to your job interview, don't hesitate to ask questions about the job.  If the MOW is not your style, then you might consider Train Service Crew and start out as a switchman/brakeman then move into Freight Conductor and eventually Locomotive Engineer.

In any case, you are going to be doing lots of travel around your Hub's area.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Can't help you with all of it, but here is what I know..

Overtime is usually kept to a minimum, as a rule, for section men.

If on a tie gang, surfacing gang or steel gang the OT will be there, but, these are usually "system" gangs that travel extensively.

As far as unemployment insurance, that is within the purview of the Railroad Retirement Board.  Coverage for furlough is directly related to length of service paid into RRT.

Furloughs were a given, at one time.  But these days railroads don't usually hire until there is a great (accute) need for manpower.  They don't want anyone on the payroll that they don't really need.

But, if speaking of "Job Insurance," crafts that are offered this, for a premium, receive payment if off work for disciplinary measures, as opposed to furlough.  (Obviously, drug, alcohol, speeding and some other infractions are not covered.)  Here, the premium is paid by the insured (you) and varies according to how much insurance you wish to carry.

Don't leave home without it...

Answer 3

Well congrats on the approval here's what i know about our trackies...

1. Those boys work and work hard

2. They are not governed by hours of service, so its not uncommon for a foreman of a tie, steel or surfacing gang to have his guys work by the mile, they get paid by the hour but they work till they get a set amount of work done . 16 hour days are not uncommon.

3. As the new guy your gonna get the worst jobs, machine operators and back hoe operators are bid jobs those guys don't get off that seat, you will be doing the labor, don't be offended that's just how it is

4. We get no unemployment insurance paid for by the company

5. How much totally depends on how much you make and what percentage you want if you need to use it.

Good luck and stock up on Alieve and Icy Hot your gonna need it.

Answer 4

When you start out in this kind of job you will be on call. Last hired first fired. You will work odd shifts that the regulars don't want. The unemployment insurance will be most likely paid by UP. Like working for ANY unionized job at a large corporation they will try to get rid of you to save $. The only thing you got going for you is alot of railroaders are retiring and UP can not get around that so they will have to keep you.You are also subject to the ups and downs of the economy. As for overtime alot of it is feast or famine so you might be working 60 hours one week and 15 the next.