hopeful one

Things are going fine. Sucks when you are in the sun but all is good. Most people got to use power tools a few times already (some seem to not want to use any tool). Like i said earlier, people waiting to get on the job should start workingout. Walk up and down stairs carrying things in your hand. Carrying ties you will get a good workout, more so on uneven grounds.

People that are waiting should workout..Try carrying weights (50+ pounds) around and holding it for a few mins. as rail road ties are no joke when you got to move them around (carry them). I seen a lot of people breathing heavy as they are not use to doing any type of exercise. Our class will be finished on june 26 then a week after that we will be divided into 4 groups ( one group starting each week ) to go to flagging. It seems for just about all that first day of flagging will be somewhere in brooklyn then 7 days in queens then last day back in brooklyn for a total of 9 days of flagging.

today the bronx people where divide again, to go to work locations to help with some labor.The sun was no joke. you bake with that helmet on. Best thing to do is get light cloths. Gym shirts seem like a good idea and dickies pants or cargo pants. Over the last week a lot of the people we talk to have many years on the job and many are getting ready to retire. Also if you are not very good with using a ruler you should brush up now. If you have duffle bags good as no bags with straps are allowed on the track (a worker got kill a few years ago when the train caught the strap).

The two guys that walked off when you were on the structure, did they quit?

No they just wont do days/cap. On friday we used 4 power tools. A rail drill,a drill used to make holes in the wood for the lags/screw, a nut driver/runner and the rail saw. The hard one (or the one most people found the hardest) was the rail saw. Each blade is used about 2 times then replaced. Today we used a chainsaw to cut the wood ties. The bronx people have to be divide again (25 people in bx). So about 10 will goto dyckman ave to finish training.The thing they will tell you the most is be on time. Shoot to get there 30 - 45 mins early.

Last week 1 day we went into the tunnels and stood at the side waiting for trains to pass and another day we stood up on the elevated tracks ( i say half the people didnt like that and 2 guys walk off (they went back onto the platform )). This is the last week at PS248 (thats where the first 3 weeks of training are). We go and get respirators this week and we do our mini pick also (choose where you want to work and hope you get it). 7 day jobs open and the rest are overnights. Then for the next 3 weeks we split with half in the bronx and half in brooklyn for on hands training. then after that 9 days of flagging.

its the same.

They will test you by watching you use the items (they show you how), dont think its difficult as long as you can start a chainsaw (always from ground and not drop pull) and pick it up and use it. Flagging they say you must get a 100 on that otherwise they wont let you on the tracks. Wave hands or light left to right to sign stop to a train and up and down to say go ahead for the train. So far (it only been first week) it dont seem like its a hard job but its not a job to slack on cause you can get yourself or others hurt or killed.

They said training is for 6 weeks. First 3 is in south brooklyn (3rd to last stop on D train) then the last 3 weeks might either be in bronx or brooklyn (on hands training). They say you will learn how to use some tools (rail saw,chainsaw,etc.) and need to pass. Then after the six week they will call back (to brooklyn) a group of people (1/3 of class ( class is 45 people )) for 9 days of flagging and you MUST pass flagging (100% ). Was giving two pairs of boots (free) from lehigh safety shoes. They are about 3 pounds each shoe (not the pair but each boot) and they are not comfortable (might try gel insoles or super feet). You dont need to dress up for class but no sneakers. We will be going for a respirator fitting 1 week and they said if you have a beard you WILL need to shave it off (the respirator needs to seal around your face) unless you can prove its for religious reasons (you can grow it back after fitting and chose never to use the mask). The class is over ( i think june 26 ).

Well day 2 is done. First 2 days of orientation was about things you should not do in the work place,meeting people (union,etc.) and benefits and a few other things. Day 1 get your id/metro card (its a metro card with your pic and info). The medical,vision,dental for all plans (4 plans = 2 BC/BS and 2 UH ) except 1 is free for you and family. You get other things you can select (life,disablitiy,etc)  for a bi-weekly cost. Payday looks to be on thursdays. You get 12 sick days a year and can carry them over. Vacation you cant carry over (BOOOOO). They say you will most likely be working nights for the first few years. Dont think you can work part time. 3rd day will should be getting shoes

Some my questions. Does everyone bring lunch? Where do you go when you have to go bathroom? Is everyone`s paycheck cut from OPA?

From what i was told they still have a few people on the last list that are still getting calls. That list should be almost done with. Once that happens the numbers on the new list should move fast as many people fail drug or drop out. 

To the guys that recently got hired, I didn't receive my pass today , is that normal ?

Yes. Was told will get them first day. Congrats

I wear "work" jeans and t shirt in summer. A lot of guys in maintainence bring there own lunch from home. Not sure about capital ( haven't been there in a while). Whatever you wear expect to get dirty.

Thanks. Got a ton of t-shirts, looks like i might have to get more pants and lunch box

heard from a person that went today that they asked how many people they got and was told about 3/4. So it looks like they still need a few more to fill this class

Anyone thats working on the job now can give feedback on what cloths you wear and what you guys/gals do for lunch and anythings else that you bought for the job.

I resolved my license issues and although I don't yet have physical proof, I decided to try and make another appointment anyway. Well I called the number I was given last Apr 9. I was sent to an answering machine all day until about 1630. Someone on the line told me that they were not dealing with track workers this week and to call Ms Robinson tomorrow for further consideration. Needless to say, my discouragement level has risen ten-fold upon hearing that.

Thats not true. Did you call on 4-14  and if so what they say?

hi all. I have been following this post for a while now and wanted to thank you for the info. i have one question. I keep seeing people mention make sure to have no gaps in work history when filling out 21 page booklet. I have been out of work for like 2 years but i have been taking care of a relative for most of that time. my question is what would i put down considering this would be a gap in my employment history.

put down what you just said. If you have any kind of proof that`s what you were doing then bring that with you otherwise i would ask people to wright a letter saying you were taking care of so n so and have them sign it. Always a good idea in trying to be one step ahead of something they might ask you to do (which would delay you).GL

Anyone else going in for final processing tomorrow ?

GL man and keep everyone info what happens.

Thanks for all the great info.   As for the dates for previous employers, if you know the month and year you were hired, but not the exact day of the month, do you think that would be good enough ?

I wasnt 100% sure on some days also so was told a long time ago to always put the 1st. Many jobs will only give yr and title you did.....if they even ask a job for that info.

congrats bro! after getting a first call in Jan and waiting for 3 months they got back to you all in one week nice! congrats again and keep us updated...

Thanks, will do.

They are most likely gonna call people mon or tues to come in for med & FP this coming week as i was one of the last to leave on friday and they said they have ABOUT half of what they want/need. So make sure your paperwork is 100% filled out and if you dont know the dates try and find them out as they wont take i dont know answer. My med was vision (color numbers in a circle (6 of them), circles (really the letter C) asking which way its facing up,down,left or right on a line., shapes and which of the four in each box (6 boxes) had the most depth then a shield comes down infront of your eyes and they say which light is blinking (u cant remove your head, the light is in the far upper right and left corners of the unit not on the screen). EKG, now if you are hairy you might want to trim/shave your chest and upper arms. Hearing was in a box and you will hear a sound like beep,beep,beep or puff,puff,puff. Each sound had 3 beeps or puffs and you had to push a button and let go as soon as you hear the first beep or puff. Lung test. You blow has hard and as fast as you can and keep push that air out until they say stop (i think this was hard as i didnt have much air left before they say stop). Pee in cup to see what your blood sugar level is. Blood pressure (pump your arm up thing). Height and your weight check. Then they say wait up front (that means behind the blue wall not way up front) .Then a doctor twill go over you asking to bend and touch your toes, lift your arms up and bend side to side and they psuh down on your arms and legs lightly and you have to resist it and they will go over your med history with you. Before this all starts you will be on a computer filling out yes/no questions on your med history and thats the questions they will go over with you at the end of the med. If you pass then its off to see the interview person then pic id person and last finger print scan person.

you dont know. alot of people dont make it (many seem for drugs) and others are told to come back another time. paperwork not done 100%. One guy today didnt have his paper work all filled out (he pass med) and they told him to finish it now but he didnt know the info and said there is no one he can call and he live to far away to make it back before 4pm so they told him to come back another day. Another person forgot his DL at home and he had to leave.

What is you approximate list number? And you got a call for the medical prior to today?

between 185-190

got the call for med & FP on wed saying to come in today

Ok went today for medical and final processing. The next class is May 18,2015 and they have about half the people they need/want so far. Make sure that 21pg book is filled out 100% dont leave any blanks. They want no gap (in time) in your job history since you left high school. Make sure there is no pending court or traffic things on you (try to wrap them up if u can).

just keep on top of them as computer errors happen (happen to me once). Keep checking this and any other websites and see what list number they are up to. On the firefighter list somehow my list number got put on decline. I didnt find out for a year and the way i found out was talking to other people and finding out what list number they were.I said i never sign a decline letter and they looked it up and the person with the number before my number sign the paper and the clerk (or whoever) type my number instead. So i always now try to see other peoples list number so if i see numbers alot higher then mine i know something is wrong.

the letter does say you can be there all day and it does say a hearing test, but from what i see that seems to never happen. It looks like they do the pee (drug test) first then call you another day if it is clean for the medical. I got there today at 650am (left my place in the BX at 540am) and was home by 1030am

when i went in jan. i got out about a hour later (alot more people that day) then i did today

atleast one person did (saw 16*). Almost feels like they are jumping around the list alittle cause i think i saw one persons paper ( i try to see what number people are so i know where i stand ) with a list number of 4*4 (not sure as i dont want people to think i looking at their SS number).

The funny think about that person was he didnt grab the 21pg booklet which means that person must have been there before.

So they didnt give you a full medical, or just a urine test? I though they give a full medical being that the letter said it could be an all day process.

Just urine test. I went today again and all they did was the urine test. Had the 21 page book filled out and everything but they where not taking me today for the medical. There was about 20 people on the line for medical/final processing today and only about 70 people there where in jan it seem to be about 200+ people there. I asked about 6 people when the next class might be and 4 said they dont know but 2 said the same thing, which was they are hoping to start another class in about a month. Hope i get called for medical soon,

Also it always seem that you have to be there at 730am but i would get there at 7. Today they started doing things at 715 today and people were still coming in and didnt know what was what.

maybe they are getting ready to hire more. got the same letter today as the first one ( and nothing (list #,etc.) has changed on it). to come in on monday.

At this rate 12k+ people will never get hired that made the list

People drop out cause they take another job or fail the drug test or etc.so dont give up.

Hi all, i went for the pee test in jan. but didnt take the medical yet. Was sent home with the paper work to fill out until i get called for the medical. List number is 18*