Bronco rail train loading is suspended as of today 9/14

[California]

Are you denying that a union is behind the railroad strike?

Did I say "single handedly killing this country?"

How is my comment a "strawman?"

Do you even know what a "strawman" is? Cause it seems like you're just regurgitating terms you've heard before.

Fact is that our country is not in a place to sustain a railroad strike, long or short.

payscale.com lists Union Pacific's average salary at $91k/year. This is only to earn bonuses/clout for the union brass.

I've been a member of three different labor unions in the past, even helped organize a shop. That was before I learned how corrupt these organizations are.I

Simply put, they're nothing but leeches.

I'm sorry you were in a weak union. I didn't share your experience with mine. I won't get too billigerent here. I've just been slapped by the Mod for calling out another Huckleberry in another thread. It's unfortunate that this forum is populated by such people who have their head planted so firmly up their asses. Oops, I did it again. So be it. It looks like I'll be opening up another email account in the future. See ya Rubes.

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[JohnnyO]

Wow this goes on too long and the coal won't be able to get to the power plants to provide power for ev's.

That, plus using trucks to fill in for trains will only work until they run out of DEF. ?

 

[Dereku]

Yay go unions... Give me more money for less work. Orginized welfare that you clock in for....

 

[Sanctus Rimor]

So glad I cancelled my Bronco. Luvin my Ranger!!

 

[DonB]

Sorry/Not Sorry

 

[KJRR]

Thinking about this, why haven't trains been automated? Why wouldn't it be easier to automate something that is on rails than a car that can go anywhere?
They have set starting points and destinations and while they can switch tracks, that would be easy to automate. They run large swaths of the country in relatively unpopulated areas. The number of variables has to be much smaller.
Seems this would be a lot safer than trying to perfect self driving cars or trucks.
My guess is it doesn't have the same profitability as a consumer product where you can fool the masses.
Hey Elon, solve some real problems for a change instead of providing solutions for problems that don't exist.

 

[Sanctus Rimor]

One word...


Unions.

 

[KJRR]

One word...


Unions.

Yes, but if there was enough money to be made by doing it, it would be done.

 

[Dereku]

Yes, but if there was enough money to be made by doing it, it would be done.

It would be the ultimate union job, sit and monitor the automatic system.

 

[lazynorse]

How about the brainiacs spend two minutes on Google and learn the background of the strike. Railroads cut nearly 25% staff to increase profits, then implemented a points system, requiring 90 min on call work or you’re docked points, ultimately paid hours.

Railoads want fewer staff, more profit AND want the fewer staff to take less time off AND be immediately available, anytime they’re called.

My employer doesn’t get away with that, does yours?

 

[NotBudule]

How about the brainiacs spend two minutes on Google and learn the background of the strike. Railroads cut nearly 25% staff to increase profits, then implemented a points system, requiring 90 min on call work or you’re docked points, ultimately paid hours.

Railoads want fewer staff, more profit AND want the fewer staff to take less time off AND be immediately available, anytime they’re called.

My employer doesn’t get away with that, does yours?

Ummm , none of that matters here , sadly ?, Unions bad , companies good ? unions only care about money and the companies and management are the real good guys here that are really looking out for ya ?

AND this is now becoming political and should closed by the mods...

 

[KJRR]

Ummm , none of that matters here , sadly ?, Unions bad , companies good ? unions only care about money and the companies and management are the real good guys here that are really looking out for ya ?

AND this is now becoming political and should closed by the mods...

Unions are political?
And I'm not sure anyone is saying all companies are good. There are a lot of threads here bashing Ford, right or wrong. My view there is the same as a job, go find another if you don't like what you have. Hell, plenty of people do that with spouses.
Back off topic on automation of railroads... plenty of union jobs have been eliminated by automation. Look at the auto industry. Unions can't be the only reason railroads aren't automated.

 

[JohnnyO]

Yay go unions... Give me more money for less work. Orginized welfare that you clock in for....

Actually that's not why they're going on strike. It's over working conditions and the insane amount of overtime they're putting in.
Five years ago I worked as a cab driver for the railroad, picking up and dropping off rail crews at all hours of the day and night for six months. They're on-call 24/7 all the time, as was I. Their max workday as I recall was 14 hours then they get 10 hours off and the dispatchers know when that 10 hours is up and their phone rings telling them to get their ass back to work.
I learned a few things:
1. Being an engineer or conductor sucks.
2. Freight train "schedules" are so F'd up that it's amazing the railroads make any money.
3. I've had a lot of full-time and part-time jobs in my life and working for the railroad was easily the worst job I've ever had by a long shot.

 

[JohnnyO]

Back off topic on automation of railroads... plenty of union jobs have been eliminated by automation. Look at the auto industry. Unions can't be the only reason railroads aren't automated.

AFter working for a railroad subcontractor, I can see that's not as easy as people might think.
Not every train has 50 or 100 cars going to the same place. They have to be put together in a certain order so the rail cars can be delivered in a certain order en route. Cars can be hitched together by banging into each other but someone (the conductor) still has to connect the air brake lines and make sure everything is properly connected, and do it regardless of how hot or cold or how much it's raining or snowing. Where I live I see ads for railroad jobs all the time and it pays $60k a year starting out, problem is you have to go to school in Atlanta for 9 weeks and meals are on your own dime, which for someone who's already out of work isn't a good plan. Then you're going to spend at least your first 10 years being on-call 24/7 and it's kind of hard to have a life.

 

[dtech]

Actually that's not why they're going on strike. It's over working conditions and the insane amount of overtime they're putting in.
Five years ago I worked as a cab driver for the railroad, picking up and dropping off rail crews at all hours of the day and night for six months. They're on-call 24/7 all the time, as was I. Their max workday as I recall was 14 hours then they get 10 hours off and the dispatchers know when that 10 hours is up and their phone rings telling them to get their ass back to work.
I learned a few things:
1. Being an engineer or conductor sucks.
2. Freight train "schedules" are so F'd up that it's amazing the railroads make any money.
3. I've had a lot of full-time and part-time jobs in my life and working for the railroad was easily the worst job I've ever had by a long shot.

jeez finally someone comes up with some commentary that is reasonably stated, esp item no 1. If you know folks who work as train crews - it's not all about sitting in the train and collecting money, yes they are paid well but in many cases it's long hours on the road away from your family and home, not a lifestyle that some find all that pleasant.

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