What do you think it will all look like and will it work?
NS plans to “dramatically” expand conductor training class sizes in the first quarter of 2022, as well as increase its hiring rate to counter higher attrition levels.
source: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/norfolk-southern-seeks-to-grow-conductor-ranks-to-improve-service
Every rail union had an agreement in place in 2018 and through most of 2019. You do know that raise you got in July 2019 wasn’t the carrier just being generous. That was a negotiated and contracted raise.
If we had a contract in 2018, I totally missed that. What union are you in? Yall must have had a stand alone contract nobody else had.
"The typical timeline for contracts is 1-2 years after a contract expires"
This is more than 1 or 2 years 👆 ya dummy.
2020-2022 = 2 years...its not 2022 yet. Are you really this stupid?
Once the PEB gets involved this year the process only takes a few months to resolve.
“The contract may have ended in 2018. But that original contract was in 2015. So a new contract is going on 7 years and running.“
No, ya ignorant fool. The contract that was voted on and ratified in 2018 just expired at the start of 2020. Wake up and pay attention. You are embarrassing yourself speaking of things you know nothing about.
Exactly. These "Green" NS guys don't get it.
Go ahead and vote no on the next contract. Watch what happens. Everyone will say they voted no, but the new contract always seem to get voted in. It is always other locations that sold us out. The back pay that we are supposed to get always gets taken away for the health and welfare contribution. You will end up with $600 after 10 years of no contract. If you think otherwise , you are either a fool or dreaming. Been through this too many times.
"No. We aren’t going settle for the current cr---y contract just because 1 or 2 people don’t want to negotiate for something better."
Who aren't going to settle?? Lmao!! You or I don't have any say so. Do you honestly think when unions hand out the paperwork to contracted employees as to what is most important to us as individuals that they actually give 2 sh--s? They are gonna do whatever the company tells them. You really are lost in space.
The contract may have ended in 2018. But that original contract was in 2015. So a new contract is going on 7 years and running.
“There is a reason we haven't had a contract since 2015.“
Well since we had a contract in 2018 you are just as clueless as 26 year vet. Maybe if you just start paying attention you would be able to keep up?
The typical timeline for contracts is 1-2 years after a contract expires the PEB imposes a new one. The 2018 contract expired at the start of 2020, so the PEB will soon determine on our behalf what we get. I don’t claim to know that a good one or a bad one is coming, only that it’s coming and that will determine if NS new plan is successful or not.
This may be the longest I have seen us without a contract. 2022 for a contract you say?? WTH? I wouldn't hold my breath. There is a reason we haven't had a contract since 2015. Most of us in Mechanical are all going to be fizzled out in due time. I agree with 26 year vet, you do sound rather naive. There is nope for the newer generation with NS. Hopefully I wrong, I have never seen it this bad in my 36 year career. I'm lucky enough to be able to retire in 2022.
Keep dreaming big bud. Management has progressively gotten worse with every year passing. You will see. As for myself, I got out earlier this year. U saw the writing on the wall based on my 26 year history. Keep on Keeping on! I'm good!
“You either have 5 years or less at NS, or are totally clueless. I have been there long enough to see multiple contracts.“
The fact that you think past performance is an indicator of future results just shows how worthless you are as a person. Such small minded thinking only benefits the carrier, maybe that’s why they hired you, to hold back progress.
Regardless of your small minded views, the next contract will be passed in 2022 , like it or not. If the carrier makes concessions on insurance and benefits, then NS will do well with their new plan, if NS makes no concessions then their new plan probably won’t work.
The question in the OP is
“Will the NS plan to hire more conductors work?”
We can only speculate..., but I say “No, it won’t work under the current contract.”
It can work, however, if NS improves its contracts significantly.
My two cents, probably worth even less. I've been on the job now for 21 years. Insurance used to be a "paid" benefit, obviously not now. However, I can also attest to this. My brother who had 16 years was laid off and the Insurance on the outside is horrendous. The new lingo for it is called high deductible insurance, he pays 400 a month for his family of 4 and the yearly deductible on top of that is 3500. His rate of pay is around 30 which isn't too bad, but the health benefits are terrible. The RR used to be a he-l of a good job, and in some ways it still is, but health benefits for most other people are paltry compared to ours. The sad thing is both the new company he works for and the RR itself could help with the cost of these plans but we as employees are just not worth their dollars and cents.
"No. We aren’t going settle for the current cr---y contract just because 1 or 2 people don’t want to negotiate for something better."
👆👆👆 You either have 5 years or less at NS, or are totally clueless. I have been there long enough to see multiple contracts. I worked there when we paid nothing for insurance. ZERO! It will only get worse. The unions are not going to get you anything better and the company sure as he-l isn't willing. So yes, I'm good the way it is now. They can keep their $1.50 raise because I don't want my insurance to be $400 per month with horrible deductibles.
So the last few contracts we overall have lost. Either pay or benefits. In the middle of PSR, and factoring in the past trend, coupled with a corrupt union. Do you actually think we are going to get anything but less? What are we going to do about it? Strike??
Well hopefully then can run a hiring campaign that promotes people NOT getting amputations which has been happening at an alarming rate with new hires because they are under trained. Add 3 mile long trains and bad radios and it's a recipe for disaster.
People aren't even coming to the hiring sessions when invited after they hear about the great work and life conditions.
No. We aren’t going settle for the current cr---y contract just because 1 or 2 people don’t want to negotiate for something better. That kind of nihilistic thinking is absurd. We are going to keep working to improve what we have, leverage out assets and walk away with raises as well as better insurance.
The guy who wants to live in a stagnant bubble instead of fighting for something better should just go find a nice job as a fry cook at the local fast food restaurant.
There are no contracts in sight, not even any negotiations in the works to my knowledge. As far as better benefits, you can forget that. Sure they will give you a few pay raises, but as far as the insurance is concerned, it will only get worse. So in my opinion, just suck it up and either quit, or deal with your current pay and current benefits. The tiny raises won't even come close to what you will have to pay on your insurance when/if another contract comes out. And lastly, know this, the Unions are NOT on your side! They will just raise your dues again. I'm good, keep it as it is please!
It should work as soon as NS pulls its head out it’s doo doo ho-e and gives the employees a fair contract with respectable pay raises and improved benefits. NS had been underpaying it’s employees for years before inflation spiked. Now it’s hardly worth it to get out of bed for the BS they throw at you.
You will grow in ranks, conductor extraordinar, master conductor, conductor supremo, Lord conductor, you get the point. Show up to work 3 days in a row earn a point to advance to the next level. Perks of advancement include but not limited one bottle of water guaranteed, a full crew pack, one approved day off a year, if you make it to the top you will be fired.
Me either, no weekends either. No forced overtime, no scheduling all my vacation out of days left from other people, 3 weeks of it in the first year, and can take it however I want, even a half hour at a time,no job abolishment’s, no bumping, and no holding off on large purchases because I’m not sure if I will have a job next week. I can finally get on with my life.
My new job I never work on the holidays. I would never go back to the railroad ever.
The best move I made was getting outta of transportation dept back in 2008. I like many new hires thought WOW I landed a good. Job. Only to be furloughed months later. Feel bad for new hires this day and age. It's a fu---d up business.
I keep hoping they will never recover. Would be great to see.
These new hires are super stoked about getting hired at NS. We try to warn them they are making a huge mistake, but they say "You're just lazy and don't want work. Aight bro....You have been warned! Talk to me in 6 months when you quit and found a new proffesion. Bottom line....NS SUCKS!!
They keep hiring only to see them quit soon after. No one in their right mind is going to want to always be on the road with horrible days off. No to mention the sh-t show they don't realize they're getting into. I hope they fall flat on their a-s.