Thank You Bob,
Mark, unfortunately, represents the attitudes of most railfans. That is if it weren't for the unions, the RGS would still be here, the San Juan would still be running, the C&S would still ply along South Park.
The figures show that nothing could be further from the truth. But... Too many foamers read press releases written by the railroads themselves trying to rationalize an unpopular decision. These management wannabee types read the garbage put out from offices in Omaha, Denver, St. Paul, Fort Worth or wherever and swallow it hook, line and sinker. The most outrageous are the type that read the "(RR initials) says that because they pay their Engineers and Trainmen in excess of $40.00 per hour..." and it makes us people who really move the trains look like a greedy bunch of SOB's. Well, after 23 years on the UP, it just ain't so. I would like to see that $40 per hour that these guys squalk about. What they DON'T say is that most of the "hourly" wages they talk about are hidden in Railroad Retirement matching funds, Hospital and Medical Insurance for us and our families, FELA payouts and a myriad of other costs, including the overpaid people in "Human Resources" (aka Personnel).
What a Foamer like Mark doesn't see is the fact that by age 50 most Railroad employees have bad backs, kidney problems, bad knees and hips, arthritis, partial deafness and lung problems (from diesel smoke, various commodities, etc.)from working around the Railroad and the type of work that it is. This is not to mention the broken families, Sleep Apnia from no schedules, Fatigue the leads to accidents and in some cases hospitalization for the effects of this lifestyle. And all this for a take home pay of less than $20.00 per hour. Sounds like a lot until you compare it with the Silicon Valley, Airline Pilots, Truck Drivers, UPS drivers, the US Post Office, etc. etc.
Yes, we're a greedy bunch of bastards and we are responsible for all that is bad with the railroad industry today. I personally signed off on Dick Davidson's $10 million dollar salary. Not to mention the wages and perks of all of the "Officials" who make their wages from my labor. Just remember one thing, Railroading may be fun on a Sunday afternoon, but there is a damn good reason why people get paid for it.
Or maybe foamers like him haven't stopped to think that maybe Railroaders, inspired by the obscene salaries of management, just want their piece of the pie. Or maybe, just maybe, they want to give their families a decent life or leave them with some financial security before the job kills them.
It is a job, and a tough one.
You have to love the job to stay there because the money sure isn't worth it any more.
Rick Steele
Proud member:
UTU local 446
BLE Div. 103
