Writing from Chicago -- Hog Butcher for the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler; Stormy, husky, brawling, City of the Big Shoulders. I ride the commuter line to work and have become pals with many conductors, including one who is the Vice Chair of the local RWU. These workers are put through literal hell. The hours are horrendous -- 12 hours most days, which is ruinous on them and their families. The salaries are paltry, and the conductors are forced to jockey amongst each other for "better" assignments (short rides, working in the yard) and "better" pay. You know what the railroad provides in the awful event that there is a "pedestrian incident"? Two days off and admission to a club that no one wants to be in -- and that's just for the engineer. Imagine that. And in the ten+ years that I've been riding the trains, I have met two, TWO, female conductors. Believe me, it's worse for them than it is the men.
It's capitalism. And a long term railroad strike may win the workers a better wage and working conditions, but this will also guarantee that the GOP will regain power as they will blame Biden for supply interruptions and continued inflation. The whole country will pay the price for something most people did not intentionally cause.
The US didn't become a commerce giant by caring about its workers, but by convincing its populace that there is no difference between wanting and needing something. How often are products advertised as "must-haves" and "essentials" - until something shinier and prettier comes along? Why the hell am I now paying $5 for a loaf of bread?
My neighbor’s an engineer for BNSF, U.S. Marines veteran, and Trump supporter. His wife is a local elementary school principal. He mentioned, once, that he didn’t have a choice during the worst part of COVID epidemic, pre-vaccine era, he couldn’t take time off regardless of illness. His wife was home sick for 2+ weeks during that school year, but never him. It will be interesting to see if he supports a strike.
Any thoughts on the settlement? Seems like they got some more money, but money wasn't their primary demand, scheduling was. I've seen this before, where even if you do have a strong union, what it gets you is a kickback of a few percent of the profits but what management NEVER wants to give up is CONTROL.
Writing from Chicago -- Hog Butcher for the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler; Stormy, husky, brawling, City of the Big Shoulders. I ride the commuter line to work and have become pals with many conductors, including one who is the Vice Chair of the local RWU. These workers are put through literal hell. The hours are horrendous -- 12 hours most days, which is ruinous on them and their families. The salaries are paltry, and the conductors are forced to jockey amongst each other for "better" assignments (short rides, working in the yard) and "better" pay. You know what the railroad provides in the awful event that there is a "pedestrian incident"? Two days off and admission to a club that no one wants to be in -- and that's just for the engineer. Imagine that. And in the ten+ years that I've been riding the trains, I have met two, TWO, female conductors. Believe me, it's worse for them than it is the men.
THIS is the story.
It's capitalism. And a long term railroad strike may win the workers a better wage and working conditions, but this will also guarantee that the GOP will regain power as they will blame Biden for supply interruptions and continued inflation. The whole country will pay the price for something most people did not intentionally cause.
The US didn't become a commerce giant by caring about its workers, but by convincing its populace that there is no difference between wanting and needing something. How often are products advertised as "must-haves" and "essentials" - until something shinier and prettier comes along? Why the hell am I now paying $5 for a loaf of bread?
My neighbor’s an engineer for BNSF, U.S. Marines veteran, and Trump supporter. His wife is a local elementary school principal. He mentioned, once, that he didn’t have a choice during the worst part of COVID epidemic, pre-vaccine era, he couldn’t take time off regardless of illness. His wife was home sick for 2+ weeks during that school year, but never him. It will be interesting to see if he supports a strike.
Any thoughts on the settlement? Seems like they got some more money, but money wasn't their primary demand, scheduling was. I've seen this before, where even if you do have a strong union, what it gets you is a kickback of a few percent of the profits but what management NEVER wants to give up is CONTROL.