What does anyone think about the proposed rail strikes? Reasonable or unreasonable?

Question

My view is that the RMT are selfishly playing games with people's livlihoods on the misconception that it is looking after its members. If the only way they can look after their members is by causing problems for thousands of others, then the RMT should be ashamed of themselves! The government should ban the strike and the rail companies should sack anyone who doesn't turn up for work!

Answer 1

lazy b******s

Answer 2

From what I can gather the signalmen have been pretty much shat on in relation to other safety critical staff. And while the Union reccomended accepting the initial offer it was rejected by the members (the union is not very popular with the signalmen either). However it looks like its now been sorted.. and the strikes have been called off...

Answer 3

Saleen219,I think Hoghead was just venting from the thoughtless remarks of others..You don't put in the time he has without being dedicate to the job..

Answer 4

HOGHEAD: You know - if you don't like it - you CAN quit. You make it sound like the only person on a train is the engineer (and maybe where you are that might be true).  

This side of the pond, there is a conductor, and sometimes a trainman to help out with duties (like getting torpedoes/flares/drinking water). If you have no where to cook on the train - get your union involved. In Canada - we have hotplates, fridges, chemical toilets (not the greatest, but better than what we used to have). No running water true, but if the crew bothered to get drinking water, you have water to wash.

No food at your away from home terminal? Thats your fault - you can always bring food with you. I did. Everyone I know that works on the rails packed food with them.

How about you get off your high horse and answer the question instead of bashing him with your problems that you SHOULD be taking to your union.

Not sure about over there, but over here we arfe considered an 'essential service', meaning if we strike, within a few days we are legislated back to work by the government because shutting down the railroads will cause everything to grind to a halt. I agree and disagree with this...if we are legistlated back to work - we have nothing to force our hand over the company.

WHy are you fueling your own locomotives? That isnt your job - and if it is, stop your whining. Brains on the front? WASH IT OFF! Or if you prefer - force the company to do it - sounds like a health hazzard to me.

Yes, I've known people that have lost their lives or limbs due to the dangerous situations/accidents. It's part of the job. So is the fact that you will be away from home half the time. It's YOUR DESICION to work there.  Granted, its not the type of a job to have if you have young kids at home, but its still your desicion to work there

A railroad position is not really a job - its a calling. And it sounds like you don't belong there.

Answer 5

i hope they strike as i want the workers to prevail

Answer 6

Anybody has the right to strike BUT any organization needs to have the right to immediately fire them for doing so.  Maybe then people in this county would appreciate the job that they have.

Answer 7

You know, I've come across many ignorant idiots in my life time, but NO-NICKNAME and Garry Sangster take the cake.  Here's what the "lazy b******s" do for you morons.......

How about this?  Everything you own, house, TV, car, motorcycle, plates, silverware, the building you work in, the food you eat, the gasoline you suck up, fuel for generating electricity and EVERYTHING else you need and use has been transported by rail, in one form or another at one time or another, by we lazy b******s.

We are on call 24/7/365.  12 hour shifts are common place.  We work in all kinds of weather, at all times of the day and night.  We lay-over at our away from home terminals in flea bag motels.  If we reach our tie-up point after the restaurants have closed, guess what?  We go to bed hungry.  If the grocery stores haven't opened before called on duty, guess what?  Today's 12 hour trip will be made without food.

One is allowed 8 hours off duty between runs, most times, so subtract the 1 1/2 hour call from that, and subtract time on the front end of the layover to bathe and go to a restaurant for some food.  And, if you can't sleep on demand, you're lucky to grab a couple hours of sleep between trips.

We selfish SOBs put our life on the line every time we go on duty.  It's not as dangerous as law enforcement, but there have been too many friends of mine killed or dismembered while on duty.  Then there are the idiots (you guys probably qualify) who can't seem to stay off the tracks in front of our approaching train in their automobile.  You know, the one that we selfish b******s helped to create for you to buy.  In addition, you know, I've had locomotives with hair, skull fragments and brains spattered on the front.  Check that c**p out sometime.  If the visual doesn't make you puke, the smell will.

We're never home.  We miss being with our families for those events which we all hold so dear, and you slime-balls probably take for granted, such as birthdays, holidays, school plays, recitals, attending church, sporting events, recreation, anniverseries, etc.  The list is nearly endless.  You can't accept an invitation to a friend's house for dinner next friday night, because you don't know if you'll be in town or not.  What time we do get at home is used up doing those things around the house that must be done.  Mow the lawn, fix the fence, wash the car, trim the trees, etc., etc., etc.

The cab of a locomotive is a steel box.  Often times, the heater won't work, the air conditioning won't work, the speedometer is inoperative, theres no way to cook anything, no place to wash your hands, no decent toilet facilities, bad order windshield wipers and the list goes on and on.

These days, when locomotive engineers take charge of a consist where there are no full time engine service facilities, they are required to fuel their engines, supply with sand, fusees, torpedos, drinking water, ice, etc., make daily inspections of the equipment as required by federal law, checking out the "blue cards", inspect when the train stops between terminals and a myriad of other duties which used to be handled by other crafts, such as pipefitters, laborers, carpenters and electricians.  This is in addition to the usual duties associated with handling tonnage freight trains over difficult terrain.  If you can find any men of these crafts on railroad property today, ask them what their unions were able to do for them.  (Best be prepared to duck.)

Your average freight train rolling through your town has enough hazardous materials and / or explosives as part of its consist to blow your town off the map.  The train crews have the dedication to keep the trains rolling along safely, around the clock, just so ingrates like you fem-boys can tell us how overpaid we are.  

My guess is the aforementioned pair would't last 90 days out there, and anyone who thinks the craft is overpaid has certainly never done it.

As far as striking is concerned, during my 35 years as a locomotive engineer there has been a handful of strikes sanctioned by the union.  They all were ended in short order with a federal order to return to work, citing the fact that the railroads are VITAL to the nation's security and economy.

One piece of advice.  If you call a rail a lazy b*****d to his face, you'll likely find yourself waking up, sitting on your butt on the ground, wondering how you got there.  Better not go that route, as there are no whimps like you guys out there, so you'd best be served avoiding the uninformed clap-trap you're putting out.  Trust me on this one...... you idiots know nothing about it and your feeble, uninformed attempt at some kind of answer to the question posed demonstrates your foolishness.

I'd tell ya what I REALLY think about you little boys, but to do so would require that I violate all community standards of this service.  If I'm lucky I'll have the opportunity to some day meet you and explain the situation to you in person...........

Addendum for Saleen219.  The trainmen and enginemen that I've had the pleasure to work with were brethren looooong before the crafts were consolidated.  So, for one thing, there is no "other side of the pond".  I write as an engineer from the perspective of an engineer.  I haven't slighted my brothers one bit.

As for OUR plight you suggest that the union handle it.  Let the union handle it?  Remember the question at the top of the page?  The only teeth the union has is precisely in its right to sanction a legal strike, which is what the above thinks is selfish, unnecessary and an inconvenience.  I've listed lots of inconveniences for the train crews here, which the general public is unaware of.  It IS part of the job.  I'm just trying to set the record straight, and inform those who may care.  If you have a problem with me, that's ok.  But I'm looking out for you too, my man.

The clods I shoot barbs at deserve it.  They are uninformed yet sitting at their computer (which traveled by rail), telling us how the cow ate the cabbage in air conditioned comfort (the fuel for electrical generation transported by rail) maybe snacking (on foods transported by rail) or sipping soda or beer or other beverage (which got to the distributor by rail)..........see where this is going?  No one will escape verbal come-uppance running my railroad brethren down, wherever I can apply it.  I make no apology for any of my comments.

As for fueling and servicing our consists, through the miracle of collective bargaining in "give back" mode, we are indeed required to perform all the duties I have mentioned.  You are misinformed.

I always took food with me.  Guess what?  Not even peanutbutter and jelly holds up for long in the cab of an engine where the temperature can hit 130 degrees (I've measured it).  Then again, you probably don't do much running through a desert, do you?  Did you ever perform service under the 16 hour hog law?  Do you even know what the hog law is?  My guess is, "nope."

Always serviced the engine consist when required.  Hailing from Canada you may have an appreciation of what it's like to perform the duties mentioned in 3 or 4 feet of snow, or ten degrees below zero (not centigrade).  Of course the trainmen assisted in servicing the engines when available.  They are usually attending to their own duties, however.

You are quite correct.  Railroad is a calling.  That's why my family has been doing it for 3 generations, on both sides, with somewhere near 230 years of combined seniority.  I assure you I know the dedication required for "the service."

I am not a betting man but my guess is you've not spent much time on the seat box on the righthand side.  Get over it.

I can assure you, your efforts as a rail are probably as thankless as any other.

Just have the laborer wash the front of the engine off?  NO SERVICE FACILITY, remember?  If the public observed grade crossing protection there would be no more engines to hose off.  But we can't seem to get that message through, either.

Yes indeed, it was my decision to railroad.  Call it a "calling", if you will.  But those who attempt to pass judgement on the craft who know nothing about it need to be educated, and there is nothing as good as an insult to get one's attention.  I stand by my remarks.  And, I'll be happy to engage you in a battle of wits, right here in this public forum.  In the spirit of fair play, I'll tell you in advance, you lack ammunition and are woefully out-gunned, so you may want to stay on the porch with the other little dogs.

But let's start right here.  How many fixed signals have you had installed on the subdivisions on which you work to smoothe out operation?  I can think of six, for myself.  How many rules have you written that have become a part of timetable's special instructions?  I can think of two, for myself.  Did you ever write a rule that became a part of the Consolidated Code?  I can name one, for myself.  How often has the FRA contacted you with questions evolved from EOT operation?  I can name one, for myself.  So you puppies bring it on and you just might learn something.  But don't dispare, saleen219.  Your comments indicate you are a perfect company suck up, as we call it over here, and you probably have a meanial [sic (pun intended)] line level officer's position in your future, perhaps as an Assistant Trainmaster, or the Canadian equivolent.  Just think of it.  You'll be charged with the duty of making sure coffee cups stay filled at division staff meetings.

Of course this is egomaniacal, self-centered, narcissistic BS to some who may read these lines.  But, it's the truth, and in these matters I don't care what any may think of me for telling that truth.

By the way, I can't quit as I retired six years ago.  I make these little stands for the brothers I've left behind and those who are up and coming.  Why?  No one else is going to try to look out for them and the unions are impotent because they can't strike.  Well, they can, but they are ordered back to work immediately, and they ruffle the feathers of those whom we try to SERVE.  Sounds to me that you, Mr. No-nickname and Mr. Sangster are cut from the same cloth, which makes me feel sorry for all of you.

I had a steak sandwich for lunch today.  What did you eat in the cab of YOUR engine?

Addendum for Mark B:  Didn't take the time to find out what union represented RMT, and now I know.  I feel for your brother's plight.  None of my comments were directed at you or your organization. But, just for fun, others should delve into what happened to PATCO during the Reagan administration.  For those of us who serve, the unions must be strong and unified.  Outsiders have no conception of what keeps the nation's railways operating.  Yours is also the best answer,  Good luck.

Addendum:  Tanks to Dirtydog for his kind remarks.  There is more than venting in my acidic comments, however.

One may notice that whenever possible I try to work safety practices into my responses wherever possible.  This is a good forum to spread that word and makes the game, as fun as it is, merely an adjunct and a vehicle for my purpose.  Grade crossing and pedestrian fatalities are completely preventable, which makes them even more tragic when they occur.

Secondarily, the nation's first responders, policemen, firemen, EMTs, etc., were in large part unsung heroes until the tragic events of 9/11 reminded us all of the danger they face every day as part and parcel of their everyday lives, to serve all the rest of us.  I can think of no higher calling.

Though not in harm's way to the degree of these dedicated men and women, the men and women who keep our nation's railroads operating safely and efficiently, in all railroad crafts, are

also unsung heroes.

Consequently, I (as well as other railroaders) bristle when the uniformed pass judgement on the crafts associated with the running of our vital infrastructure.  The main difference between us is that I will use whatever verbiage as necessary to inform, educated and, when necessary, castigate those others who enjoy playing the Answers game.

Of course, the first ammendment guarantees (thanks to many other unsung heroes who don the uniforms of our country's military branches) that all may comment as they please herein.  But, those who display their insensetive ignorance through sophomoric commentary when speaking of my railroad brethren and running them down will not escape the eloquent profanity that I can roll off my tongue at will.

Thanks again, and tell someone to tell someone to stay away from railroad right of ways.  The trains never come looking for you.  You must put your own self in danger.

One more addendum:  Thank you to "hello" for your support.  It does mean something to us.  Pass it on and please look before crossing railroad tracks.

One more addendum to one more addendum:  Saleen219.  You been outta town or what?  My previous challenges have resulted in a reply, at least, and I found a new friend for it.  You MUST have something to say, yes?  Tic, tok, tic,tok, tic, toc,.  The sound of a standard clock...............ever heard one?

Never mind.  It's 2:45 AM, and your phone just rang.  Lemme know when you're rested, then we'll carry on the discussion we've been able to initiate.  I'm depending on you.