I do know one thing BNSF pays better when it comes to training. UP only pays $80 a day (first 3 weeks) can't remember what it is for BNSF. $80 a day is better than what they were paying.........Minimum Wage ($5.15/hr) for the first 3 weeks.
I'm not exactly sure about that. But after where R.C.O. trained we'll be paid at 80% of full instead of the 75% of full at the end of training. This is because of the BIG yard.
BNSF pays a basic day of $135/16hr during training for up to 48 working hours a week. After 48 hours you do get time and a half ($25). BUT only time doing on the job training is eligable for OT, class time does not count so in one week you could work 48 hours OJT and 8 in the class for a total of 56 but you would not get OT for the last 8 hours becauce of the class time, you will get paid for all 56 but just no OT. Once out of class there is 80% pay for certin jobs, just as a helper on a switch job or a brakeman. It does go up 5% a year though so after 4 you would get full pay for those jobs. Kevin
Thanks, Kevin and Charlie! I continue to be amazed by the depth of the answers to questions asked on these boards, and the generous willingness of guys like you to take the time to answer so completely. Sometimes I cringe when I ask a question, because I know y'all have probably answered it dozens of times in the past, but everyone has always been extremely helpful, and patiently enlightened me. I think that's part of what is so appealing to me about railroading. Those of you "on the inside", so to speak, speak with such passion about it. Even when discussing negative things that are happening, like what Charlie had to say about the Chicago terminals, it's obvious he cares deeply. I realize every profession has its share of positive and negative, but it makes me want to be a part of this. Thanks, guys!
===================================================== The pay increases,if any,or benefit changes are seldom(never during my tenure)retroactive to the time the contract expired.What has happened in the last few contract negotiations is that the bargainers were able to get periodic C.O.L.A. increases scheduled in the new contract to cover the time between contract expiration and new contract ratification. These increases are minor and mostly to the basic day. The carriers purposely drag their feet so as to avoid quick ratification and possible large rate increase. They purposely put outrageous demands in their Section 6 notices so that the unions will protest or litigate or in some way slow down or suspend contract negotiations. Of course the carriers will deny this, as they have denied so many of their other tactics. History is the proof of this comedy of errors. One such recent example was the in the 60/30 retirement law change. The carriers went along with this, but asked the rank and file to support the carriers demand to repeal the diesel fuel surcharge to the railroads,thus saving the carriers hundreds of millions of $$$ annually. They blanketed us with printed material,meetings with management,taped messages etc to support their demand. We did! Now the carriers turn around and serve their Section 6 notices AND also a demand to include crew consist negotiations in the national contract. Crew consist was never a part of contract negotiation, it was by local agreement. This is the current litigation that is delaying contract talks. To quote the current UTU war cry,"They use us,then abuse us"! What has happened is that the carriers stroked the rank & file's fur to get us to approve their "carrot" then turn around and try to eliminate the jobs of those who helped them. AND THE RAILROADS ARE STILL TURNING A HEALTHY PROFIT, they give their mucky-mucks big bonuses which were earned by us grunts on the ground. Even the management-oriented "TRAINS" magazine states that railroad workers are among the most productive of laborers and INCREASINGLY so! Dont believe me, you can read & research it yourself! Charlie
wanna B! A dream of mine... To become a locomotive engineer! The thought of knowing that one is in control of millions of tons of something sooo massive is overwhelming. (CN Pacific Division) Oh well, Model railroading ( 2 ibs or so) is about as massive as I will ever get! :confused2: Rgd's, NCMRailroad
Model railroading is a great outlet for those dreams:teeth: . You can pick and choose the times you are operating the train. You can also choose what you want to operate. That's not always true in the real world! :thumbs_down:
