Bobert

Does anyone have any idea how long a mini pick usually lasts or when the next general pick might be?

Today we lifted the rails and used the tools to pull out and hammer back in the spikes. The rail is 1200-1500lbs but you have a group of people so its not as bad as it can be. But I find the hardest part for lifting the rail is your footing and position. If there are multiple rails close to each other your foot might not fit in between properly and it gets harder You can have one leg over 3rd rail and you end up holding the weight further from your body than you would in the gym. The tools arent too bad but it depends on your experience with them. A lot of guys keep missing the spikes when trying to hammer them in but that can be fixed with repetition.

Believe it or not Bobert 2 best exercises in general for life in the construction industry are Squats and Deadlifts ( that's if lifting is your thing ). I've been lifting for a very long time and I have deadlifts to thank for having the back I have. Both of those exercises are the best for core strength, and they literally work every muscle in the body. But perfect form is a must because both can seriously f**k you up if you don't know what you're doing. Olympic squatting ( all the way down is the way to go ). 4-500 lb pulls off the ground will get your forearms allot stronger than 50lb wrist curls will. Sadly unless you workout in an old school style gym like I do, those 2 exercises are a dying breed. Most commercial gyms don't even allow deadlifting or the use of chalk. Most people live only machines nowadays, and all machines do is nothing except limit the development of your stabilizer muscles.

Deadlifts are good too. But you need to be careful cause insurance from MTA doesn't kick in for 90 days. If anyone has any medical problems I would get it fixed before you start the class.

Finished 1st week of training and got to go on the tracks for the first time. When you guys get called for orientation they will tell you the things that they are biggest on are being late and absent too much. If your late your supervisor is allowed to cut your pay or send you home. You get 1 sick day a month and at beginning of MTA year they give you 12 upfront. But if your trying to get promoted you need to have at least half your sick days until that point. I've only seen one tool but they are heavy and the rails are 100-115 pounds so I would go to the gym while you wait and work on triceps, forearm, biceps, and back. From what the instructor told us day jobs are outside and on the elevated structure and usually have the power on and night jobs are in the subway and may have the power off. But on nights you work on a lot more rails. He said 3-5 rails for day and 30-50 for nights and capital but I'm not 100% sure it will be like that. I guess in the day the trains are constantly coming by so you have to stop working and clear up then go back to work and that takes up the time.

I was the idiot with the sunglasses. Lasik surgery. Should be completely healed by Wednesday, fingers crossed. What'd u think about the first day?

I thought it was informative but didn't need to be 8 hours. Those chairs hurt my back too. I'm not digging the 90 days until insurance kicks in because winter is when your most likely to get sick. What did you think of it?

Anyone else went to first day of orientation today?

You have 90 days to fill out Benefit package or they will choose for you the difference between blue cross and clue cross plus is the one you pay extra for you use their dental the other plans you don't pay for you get MTA dental the only advantage to having the blue cross is if you have kids and they are close to 19 because with blue cross they are covered to 21 but you can choose to get the blue cross when kids are of age and use MTA dental until the united health care there are no copays blue cross has either $15 or $20 company per person per visit but united health care is only good in NY but how often do you use health care in another state for me it was a no brainier unless once again you have kids going to school out of state using blue cross they are covered but they will go over everything in detail once you start class good luck

Thanks for the info. One more question if you don't mind. On the paper they gave me it said not to where any sneakers when I go for training but I don't have any boots, do you know if they let you wear anything else?

Do you have to fill out the benefits package before the orientation or can you fill it out there because I don't know some of the info like BSC ID. Also does anyone know the difference between the two bluecross insurance plans. I don't see any except that one costs $26 more a month.

I spoke to Mr Moran today also. The call time is 730 but I'm going to be there much earlier. My number is 41*. What number are you bobert... hoping we are in range to be sworn in to the next class and not just the waiting list.

I'm in the 41* also, I think as long as we pass the medical we should make it into the class on the 26th.

For the education section in the booklet do they want from highschool going forward or all the way to elementary?

If you're really sick stay home. If youre on probation bring in doctors lines. No sense in potentially getting sicker at work. Your co workers don't want to be subjected to whatever it is you have either...

Thanks I figured my uncle was making stuff up.

We're here to help each other and Dunnlick is on to something.

 

I started as a Track worker when I was 22. I'm 45 now.

I had no kids, no second job, nothing requiring my attention other then my girl friend and pet fish at home.

 

I tried showing the old timers I could pull my weight with the He-man acts, tried keeping on the bosses good side carrying as much as I could handle. Plus, I didn't want to make to many trips up and down.

Now I have bursitis, a bad back, calcium deposit in the rotor cuff, etc.

 

Don't be a show off to much trying to prove yourself. There's plenty of time for proving your self.

For some guys this job if all they have going for them and it's their life.

Let the other guys help if they offer. It shows your a team player and you get to know the other guys.

 

 

 

Lunch, by the book, is between the 4th & 6th hour. In reality, by the time you get on the Track, get set up and start working lunch comes after the job is done close to morning time. Once in awhile you'll get a easy night and the foreman lets a few guys break off and rotate going to get something but usually the men vote to work straight thru.

 

Point I'm making is most guys would eat heavy in the morning after work and then rest and go home and go straight to sleep. The guys with kids had it even harder and pretty soon 5 years later half my class were now type 2 diabetics from not burning off heavy meals.

 

If that's caught on a physical for a promotion or return to work after being out 21 days sick or from an injury, then you'll be going for a medical every 6 months to a year.

 

Don't let the schedule / life adjustment get the better of you. Watch your health. Every aspect of it.

My uncle told me if you work for MTA and your sick it's better to go to work so they will send you home. Is that true or if your really sick call in sick instead?

The MTA called me back for the medical test today and said come in on the 14th at 7:30am. My dad took the message so in not 100% sure if 7:30 is the right time. Does anyone who went for medical remember what time they called you in for?

Does anyone know what would happen if they call you for medical and you have an injury?

Does anyone member what the 21 page booklet contains?? I didn't receive one at the pre interview.

It includes a bunch of rules on filling out the packets, rules and information for city employees and the actual packet goes more in depth on your work, school history, criminal background and where you

lived. You should call them and ask if you can come in to get one because on the packet it says If its not filled out when they call you back in you won't be able to continue processing.

Right on I know its been a long wait but we are finally down to the wire and it's about to snap an we are all gonna get a sweet gig

 

Your going down to pee in a cup that's it don't expect anything more do plan on being there all day

I got lucky and was only there for 3 hours. There was maybe 70 people there and maybe 2/3 of them were for track worker. I saw one guys number and he was in the 430s.

Right on I know its been a long wait but we are finally down to the wire and it's about to snap an we are all gonna get a sweet gig

 

Your going down to pee in a cup that's it don't expect anything more do plan on being there all day

While you wait is there anything to do?

When I went for my pre-interview, it was during the winter so I wore a nice pair of black jeans, a black sweater and a yellow polo shirt with the collar sticking out. I also remember wearing either black sneakers or black boots. The key word is casual, so you don't have to wear a suit and a tie or anything like that.

Thanks for the help, the business part was throwing me off.

I finally got my letter in the mail today. It said come in on the 24 for a pre interview medical and there will be a hearing test. It also said wear business casual clothing, what is that exactly? I am in the 410s so I doubt i will make it into October 5th class unless they have a second group.

I think they are actually starting to look for people now because if I remember correctly when they were calling for the first class It said I was not on an outstanding certification. But when they finished it said I was on an outstanding certification.

On the notice of result paper it says if you have a change of name or address submit it to MTA NYC Transit, Examinations Unit at 180 Livingston Street, Room 4070, Brooklyn, NY 11201. It also says to include your name, new address, social security number, exam number, and exam title in the letter.

Im in the 410s im hoping I get lucky and they reach my number with the next class but most likely the class after that. I might be wrong but I think they reached 150 in the first class and 270 in the second. If they do 150 people like the first class I should get called.

Anyone get any letters in the mail yet?

You will work full time. More than likely during a mini pick when you come out of class you will be work nights (overnights) since days jobs are usually taken by folks with seniority.

Thanks for the info.

I don't think they have any set date. I think it's whenever they need more workers. Based on last two classes though if they keep the same pattern it will be end of August-September. I would just go with what you plan to do if they don't have class because even if they have the class they could not get to your number or some issue comes up.

Are the ties the 6x6 wooden posts? If they are i've seen online people say they can way up to 150lbs, how heavy are the ones MTA uses?