Jump to content

dp142

Veteran Member
  • Posts

    262
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by dp142

  1. If they are employees that are non-probationary employees from RTO they still have a reason to be scared. They are required to undertake annual physicals. Let the urine show a little sugar and they are taken out of service till they come in with a note from their Dr.that they are either not diabetic or pre diabetic with it under control along with Their past history of any blood work. Another reason Maintenance of Way (MOW) Track is a better place then RTO. No annual physicals unless your out sick 21 days straight.
  2. Filterdnoiz, is your class in any of the yards training? While in Westchester square yard up in the Bronx I saw a class of new Track workers. There was one girl in it.
  3. For the last 22 years the boots they gave worked out ok for me. These new ones hurt me. I got the paper filled out to buy my own that meet the TA's specs. Do not go past a year with the same boots. Should something happen that will be one of the first things they look at is how old are your boots.
  4. Have you been issued boots yet? You have the option of getting your own (they have too meet TA specs) by having your Dr. full out a form the TA gives you stating you need to buy your own. They put you through a lot of hassle with it as far as Paper work goes. Not necessarily in justifying you needed them. You have to take them to safety to ok the boots and a trip to Livingston st. If you want to be reimbursed for a portion them. It's well worth it to buy your own quality boots though maybe wait till probation is over in a year.
  5. Filterdnoiz, Since your in school now who is your instructor? How you been to Flagging class yet? I'll be there tomorrow (Feb 9th) for a refresher. You have to go once every year for Flagging school.
  6. Financial issues have no bearing on your employment for Track worker.
  7. Just to give people an idea of what we do in this type of weather (storm) those who work days 8-4 stay till either 4:00 pm the next day (32 hours) or midnight the next day (40 hours). You shovel out tracks as needed in the yards once the snow covers the running rails. If you work nights your brought in for roughly the same amount hours starting at 8:00 pm.
  8. As for overtime I think nights had more steady overtime since weather is not much of a factor but the amount is about the same.
  9. Night or day is a preference. I've worked days my first two years. Having a normal schedule was nice. The work is a little less physically taxing and your out doors with more choices of places to eat. The down side is, if your in capital where the money is compared to maintenance, you will work at least a Saturday or Sunday depending on your days off or even both I'd offered and accepted. That's hard when you have young kids. In a nutshell you work from Sun up to Sun down on the weekends. Weather can also affect your overtime. I've had a few weekends rained out where the send you in the hole for minor work just too do something. When I was nights I actually liked it better. The work was more physically taxing and you really have to work at a proper eating habits and getting regular sleep but I didn't have to Worry about falling thru the structure, dropping a tool or material into the street, etc. It can take almost a year to become comfortable working on structure. Weather want a factor with the overtime since your in the hole unless it was real bad in the day and the work trains could not loaded. Even working the weekends you finish by the late afternoon-early evening and still have some weekend left. Also, I had free time during the week while the wife at work and kids in school. Go to the gym, run errands, things around the house, help out at my kids school, etc. It's all up to you what's best.
  10. Try to clear it up as fast as you can and get the paper work back to medical. If there is a class in February you want to be in it. Your Seniority number can mean the difference between a night job and day job, etc.
  11. Last I took the test it was pretty standard like any other vision test. The only difference I remember is that you will look into little view finders showing a circle filled with colored dots. Within in the circle a number or letter of a different color will be in the middle. The colors are very faint and the test is used to check for color blindness. Maybe even a test for depth perception. If you wear glasses, bring them and let them know. It's better then being put on medical hold. All that will happen is that your ID (pass) will say "corrective lenses required" as mine does. When you began, you ask your supervisor for a prescription eyeglass form, take it to a GVS Vision place (That's who does the safety glasses) and they will give you an eye exam and show you the frames for prescription safety glasses. Try them all out and pick a pair that are comfortable. Also, Track Worker is a safety sensitive title meaning you are subject to random drug testing which consists of a breathalyzer and urine sample. There is no getting out of it if your name comes up one day/night while working. No going home sick, going awol or other. If you are on probation and caught dirty your fired. If your not on probation your suspended and have to go into a rehab program and are now called monthly for testing.
  12. I stand corrected. Except for Staten Island. As you say that's it's own entity.
  13. Wether you pick capital or maintenance depends on your seniority. You have a "Pick" every year or two. A large book, the Pick book, comes out with all the jobs in capital, maintenance, specialist jobs such as welder/burner, crane operator, heavy equipment such as pay loader, etc. Also listed are the reporting locations in the 5 boroughs, and shifts and days off for those jobs. The pick is unpredictable meaning new guys don't always go nights and Maintenance (which is consider easier work) is not always full of senior men.
  14. In capital construction (where 99% of the OT is) it's on the weekends. Doubles (8 hrs regular and 8 hrs over time) and 12 hour shifts which are all over time. Then you also have over time shifts that start at 4 pm till midnight and roll into your regular midnight to 8 am tour. Over time is anything outside of your regular shift. It does not go by total hours worked. Usually by the middle of the week or two days before the end of the week you'll know about the overtime. A canvas sheet is sent out every week. you sign for what you want to work if you want to work. Emergencies do pop up last minute and which ever work gang is nearest may be the ones to go. If you can't for a reason like kids at home things get worked out most of the time. Also, the OT is every weekend with a few exceptions through out the year.
  15. When I started we got minimum wage that first month. $4.75 an hour. Like the above post mentioned it's around $20 an hour. Being you will be on the back of the list for awhile 95% chance you'll be nights a few years. 10pm-6am or midnight to 8am. They may still have 4 to midnight but there is little to no overtime there.
  16. You get small written tests during class that cover what was taught. When I was first hired (1992) it was 2 weeks classroom and 2 weeks hands on in a train yard before going to a regular work gang. The training is nothing complicated. It's all Safety, names and purposes of tools and learning about the Track layout & designs. Not complicated at all.
  17. Track is physically taxing when it's time to work especially at night. There is down time when waiting on trains and trucks with tools and material but when it's time to work your busting your ass (in capital construction anyway) for those couple of hours. Not to mention all the fumes. If you've done your share of back breaking work and know it's not what you want to do anymore then Train Operator is the way to go.
  18. Thanks for the correction. I looked at the wrong column in the chart.
  19. $29.10 top pay for a Track worker $31.87 top pay for Train operator Keep in mind, overtime is plentiful in Track though it's pretty much on the weekends.
  20. My brother was a Train Operator for 11 years. I've been in Track 22. The difference in pay is no less then a dollar an hour. Train operator you will remain clean. In between runs you will sit in the crew room, watch TV, play chess or read. Whatever floats your boat other then closing your eyes. The down side is it's a very strict department with a low tolerance for mistakes. Operating a train is serious and takes years of practice on various lines and types of train to hone your skill. Also, if you have young kids, taking time off is VERY hard to do. Track you will work hard and get dirty when it's time to work, meaning the trucks and trains have arrived with material and or tools. However, the overtime is plentiful. If you make a mistake someone will correct you. It's more lenient. When you get some time under your belt you can pick a specialist job where you will be trained such as crane operator, pay loader, flatbed driver (TA takes care of CDL) etc. If you have young kids and need to take a day off or there is an emergency, like your kids school calls, your one out of maybe 12 guys on a job. You let the boss know and he calls you off. In Track you can advance quickly in supervision also. Both girls you will most likely work nights for some time. As a Train Operator they'll have you on different lines daily at all hours on the mornings and night. You just kind of float around. Track, you pick a location and hours and that's it till the pick comes. Maybe a year or so. Very steady.
  21. That is a VERY high number. However, better to be on a list then not. I waited 2 1/2 years to be called. That was 22 years ago. At the very least call once a year to see where the list is and just wait your time. Keep taking tests and being patient.
  22. You need to pass a 1 year probationary period before being eligible for any promotions. It is possible to have probation extended, usually by 6 months, should there be some sort of serious rule infraction which is very rare. Should you become I'll or injured requiring significant time off like 2 weeks for example or were to be called for jury duty I'm not sure if and or how an extension of probation may work in those cases.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.