RLA, the Railroads and Airlines
11-23-2022, 09:48 AM
#131
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Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,099
Originally Posted by ObiWanJabroni
I worked for a railroad for most of last decade as well and I wish I had your experience in the cab. I worked out of three terminals, two of which were giant crew bases, one of them was the largest for BN. The majority of people in the cab did not support the unions at all. Everyone hated the fact that unions suggested voting for libs and the fact that they had to pay dues.
They also couldn't put two and two together and figure out that the total erosion of union power is almost entirely thanks to conservative judges that will always side with the carriers. Who puts those judges there? That is the biggest mystery to railroaders across the US. It's a question they'll never be honest enough to solve.
The utu and blet seemed to not really work with with each other at all. I mean I can't think of any example of that happening. I know the blet made sure to secure some scraps for single man crews over a decade ago and the utu jumped at the chance to run the rco box to the dismay if the blet.
As for the current negotiations, the unions did pretty good getting raises, but now the rails all want more paid time off. They don't even care at all about getting back to a schedule with decent layoffs because they are so greedy, they only care about money rather than quality of life. Makes me real glad to have left. It just blows my mind that they could have had full public support if they just concentrated on how bad the time off is now. They could really get back to a 5 and 2 system and paint the carriers as the most evil companies in the US, which they are definitely in the top 10.
They also couldn't put two and two together and figure out that the total erosion of union power is almost entirely thanks to conservative judges that will always side with the carriers. Who puts those judges there? That is the biggest mystery to railroaders across the US. It's a question they'll never be honest enough to solve.
The utu and blet seemed to not really work with with each other at all. I mean I can't think of any example of that happening. I know the blet made sure to secure some scraps for single man crews over a decade ago and the utu jumped at the chance to run the rco box to the dismay if the blet.
As for the current negotiations, the unions did pretty good getting raises, but now the rails all want more paid time off. They don't even care at all about getting back to a schedule with decent layoffs because they are so greedy, they only care about money rather than quality of life. Makes me real glad to have left. It just blows my mind that they could have had full public support if they just concentrated on how bad the time off is now. They could really get back to a 5 and 2 system and paint the carriers as the most evil companies in the US, which they are definitely in the top 10.
And yet when they finally get a chance to exert maximum leverage by withholding services, they get a Dem president who intervened with a PEB and now they’ll get a Dem congress who will impose a contract on them before a strike could happen. It’s politics. Each side has their reasons for not supporting unions when it matters most.
11-23-2022, 10:15 PM
#132
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Joined APC: Feb 2022
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by FXLAX
And yet when they finally get a chance to exert maximum leverage by withholding services, they get a Dem president who intervened with a PEB and now they’ll get a Dem congress who will impose a contract on them before a strike could happen. It’s politics. Each side has their reasons for not supporting unions when it matters most.
No party right now will let the rails strike. One week of striking would sink the Democratic party for years. The public will not have sympathy. The carriers will make sure that everyone knows they offered a near offset in inflation with raises and the workers wanted more money. This is what I am saying, they should have stood firm on getting back the 5 and 2 layoffs on top of the raises. Going for the pld's is a huge mistake. If the public knew anything about the schedule and total lack of life as a rail, they would have got sympathy for that issue.
No one wants to get further screwed by inflation because railroaders want extra paid days off when the company offered big raises. Even a rail thinking logically about this situation should realize why no politician will support a strike. It's easy for Bernie to be the lone wolf here. That's his schtick, but he doesn't get to make the big boy decisions that keep Democrats in power.
11-24-2022, 04:24 AM
#133
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2021
Posts: 661
Originally Posted by Cyio
With this high of stakes just pay them what they are asking. It’s not like they haven’t been underpaid for years already while the corps using them raked in billions.
Those that I know (family members) that work in the railroad said if Congress steps in and doesn’t allow the strike (assuming the companies don’t give in and give them 2 consecutive days off per week) that they all have their resignation letters typed up and will quit or retire.
It is 2022 and the Railroads are making BILLIONS in profits. They can afford to hire more Conductors/Engineers in order to give the current ones (and new hires) 2-days off per week. That is only 8 per month. Meanwhile all of us pilots are complaining wanting more than 12 days off per month. Imagine being on reserve days and you are on call 24/7 and have no idea when to sleep. Well when I started it was like that. If we went back to those rules, y’all will want to strike too!
11-24-2022, 04:47 AM
#134
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Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: Semi-Retired...
Posts: 3,127
Originally Posted by ObiWanJabroni
..............They also couldn't put two and two together and figure out that the total erosion of union power is almost entirely thanks to conservative judges that will always side with the carriers. Who puts those judges there? That is the biggest mystery to railroaders across the US. It's a question they'll never be honest enough to solve...............
.
.
The answer to all of those is, it wasn't the conservatives.
11-24-2022, 04:48 AM
#135
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: Semi-Retired...
Posts: 3,127
Originally Posted by FXLAX
And yet when they finally get a chance to exert maximum leverage by withholding services, they get a Dem president who intervened with a PEB and now they’ll get a Dem congress who will impose a contract on them before a strike could happen. It’s politics.
11-24-2022, 05:52 AM
#136
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,716
Originally Posted by FXLAX
And yet when they finally get a chance to exert maximum leverage by withholding services, they get a Dem president who intervened with a PEB and now they’ll get a Dem congress who will impose a contract on them before a strike could happen. It’s politics. Each side has their reasons for not supporting unions when it matters most.
11-24-2022, 11:08 AM
#137
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,099
RLA, the Railroads and Airlines
Originally Posted by ObiWanJabroni
Yes, but IMO, which I believe to be more of a fact right now is that inflation is so bad due to supply chain issues and the majority of people without a union are not getting significant pay raises, but the cost of living has skyrocketed.
No party right now will let the rails strike. One week of striking would sink the Democratic party for years. The public will not have sympathy. The carriers will make sure that everyone knows they offered a near offset in inflation with raises and the workers wanted more money. This is what I am saying, they should have stood firm on getting back the 5 and 2 layoffs on top of the raises. Going for the pld's is a huge mistake. If the public knew anything about the schedule and total lack of life as a rail, they would have got sympathy for that issue.
No one wants to get further screwed by inflation because railroaders want extra paid days off when the company offered big raises. Even a rail thinking logically about this situation should realize why no politician will support a strike. It's easy for Bernie to be the lone wolf here. That's his schtick, but he doesn't get to make the big boy decisions that keep Democrats in power.
No party right now will let the rails strike. One week of striking would sink the Democratic party for years. The public will not have sympathy. The carriers will make sure that everyone knows they offered a near offset in inflation with raises and the workers wanted more money. This is what I am saying, they should have stood firm on getting back the 5 and 2 layoffs on top of the raises. Going for the pld's is a huge mistake. If the public knew anything about the schedule and total lack of life as a rail, they would have got sympathy for that issue.
No one wants to get further screwed by inflation because railroaders want extra paid days off when the company offered big raises. Even a rail thinking logically about this situation should realize why no politician will support a strike. It's easy for Bernie to be the lone wolf here. That's his schtick, but he doesn't get to make the big boy decisions that keep Democrats in power.
Yeah, like I said, each side ultimately has a reason not to support unions when it matters most, strikes. Look at the timeline. The original filling of period started in June. Biden ordered a PEB back in July, meaning that the rail unions could’ve wrapped this up way back then. But even now, when the rubber meets the road, the Dems are not willing to risk their elected positions for the workers who they say they champion. Who and what do they are more about? The union workers or themselves and their own jobs? What is the millions donated to their re-election campaign for if it doesn’t pay off at the moment it’s needed most? Both sides do this. Let’s no pretend anymore one cares more than the other. Each has its own priorities that come before unions.
Originally Posted by OOfff
it tickles me that you think a Rep administration and Congress would do different.
I never said that. I’m just pointing out the Dems aren’t in unions side all the time like they make people think they are. This is the PERFECT example. They have excuses when their own political positions are on the line.
But there is a way out of this for Dems. If they decide not to not let the strike happen by imposing a contract, they should impose a contract with EVERYTHING the union is asking for. If they simply impose what the PEB recommended, then they will show their true colors. And that brings up another point, if a Dem president is going to keep unions from striking by issuing a PEB, why in the hell would he appoint people onto the PEB that won’t recommend something more helpful to the union? This PEB recommended no changes to the attendance policy! WTH?
11-28-2022, 07:04 PM
#138
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Joined APC: Dec 2019
Posts: 476
https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-government-and-politics-44c88740ed57ba96a20c4fc6fffb230b
These corporations. Every party is in their pocket. Here’s real unions trying to get sick leave (what most Americans have) for the DOT segmented workers with the WORST QOL job.
I’d change everything. Including for us. So it’ll never be allowed. Interesting times.
These corporations. Every party is in their pocket. Here’s real unions trying to get sick leave (what most Americans have) for the DOT segmented workers with the WORST QOL job.
I’d change everything. Including for us. So it’ll never be allowed. Interesting times.
11-28-2022, 07:08 PM
#139
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2018
Posts: 432
Originally Posted by R0GER BALL
https://apnews.com/article/business-...0c4fc6fffb230b
These corporations. Every party is in their pocket. Here’s real unions trying to get sick leave (what most Americans have) for the DOT segmented workers with the WORST QOL job.
I’d change everything. Including for us. So it’ll never be allowed. Interesting times.
These corporations. Every party is in their pocket. Here’s real unions trying to get sick leave (what most Americans have) for the DOT segmented workers with the WORST QOL job.
I’d change everything. Including for us. So it’ll never be allowed. Interesting times.
11-28-2022, 08:48 PM
#140
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,099
Originally Posted by R0GER BALL
https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-government-and-politics-44c88740ed57ba96a20c4fc6fffb230b
These corporations. Every party is in their pocket. Here’s real unions trying to get sick leave (what most Americans have) for the DOT segmented workers with the WORST QOL job.
I’d change everything. Including for us. So it’ll never be allowed. Interesting times.
These corporations. Every party is in their pocket. Here’s real unions trying to get sick leave (what most Americans have) for the DOT segmented workers with the WORST QOL job.
I’d change everything. Including for us. So it’ll never be allowed. Interesting times.
Dems hold the White House, the senate, and the House of Representatives. No letters or money thrown at their re-election campaigns from corporations forced them to go against the unions they purport to support. Let’s face it, all politicians will cower when faced with not getting re-elected due to bad press.
If a union under the RLA cant strike with Dems holding all the power, it will never happen. And that’s a shame.
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