G13

On 8/16/2018 at 11:18 PM, MTAtookMeOutTheHood said:

Instructor said today in class that the September class will be the last class for this year. Everyone in the September class already received there letters 

 

he wouldn’t elaborate if that meant it’s gonna be a freeze for a couple months like this summer that just passed or what

 

level 2s who have all the administraton pull never really politic with reg track workers. Unless you buying breakfast you not getting the drop. He wouldn’t speak in details about the topic 

Wow, I haven’t been here for awhile. Hope everyone is doing well, and congrats to those who made it in. I was hired last year 9/25. 

Its been pretty good so far. I actually like this job. Lots to learn, lots of good dudes (for the most part), and you can make some decent money here. 

As far as the freeze on classes, a memo went out about 2 weeks ago freezing lots of OT projects. Seems until next spring, transit will try to do as much as possible on straight time, so that may have a bearing on hiring as well. 

On 8/13/2018 at 4:45 PM, njbk said:

Can anyone tell me how good the union dental benefits are? There’s only one medical plan that has payroll deduction but it also comes with dental. I don’t wanna pay for that dental though if it’s the same as the union dental benefits. 

Ive yet to use my dental benefits (high plan), but I’m told they’re better than the base plan. 

The people being called off this list are still receiving provisional postions? How does that work if you’re already a MTA employee? I’ve already done my probation, and am in the early 2000s on this list. Does that mean I’ll be a permanent T/O if I choose to accept the position?

55 minutes ago, VA Slim said:

Man two accidents and a red light conviction

Bro it's guys at my quarters with 8 and nine felonies on there record and they got hired

u just have to tell them the truth about ur stuff and they will hire u 

One guy just got out of prison in Feb 2017  and he got hired this past  November  

And points don't matter if u not driving

 

 

It May matter. If there are any fines, I suggest you pay them off ASAP. I’ve seen many people get held up at processing due to traffic issues. 

Not trying to be a downer or anything, but I thought they were stopping classes for awhile? Hopefully they can get the main pick finished in the meantime. 

12 minutes ago, PotentialMTAemployee said:

Nic eman so day 1 of the class was good and orientation went well...?

So In regards to the MetroCard everyone.... Does that count for on and off the clock? And what about the express bus.. does it apply. I have an Express bus near me that if I end up in the city can take to work

Your employee pass (metrocard) is available for use by the person it was issued to at all times. You will be asked before it’s given if you would prefer a badge for the LIRR or the Metro North. As a reminder, do remember that you can be traced via your pass. So don’t go pulling any nonsense which may get your ass in trouble. 

As far as the express bus, officially you’re supposed to pay. Take that as you will. 

16 minutes ago, Queensqueens111 said:

If you want OT go days in CC on your mini pick in school, it varies though. Last group got the pick sheet and it was mostly day picks only like 10 nights, our group in training now got only like 10 day picks and the rest all nights. Half the training group is getting OT right now, there is a big 5 week GO in one of the yards and we’re allowed to sign up and help for sat&sun all three weeks we are here, lucky enough to already bank an OTO day and didn’t even report to my pick yet. 

 

 

Please take into consideration that new hires do not understand the lingo and you’re gonna have to break down everything you just said to them. 

6 minutes ago, PotentialMTAemployee said:

Okay so I just finished the drug test.. 3-90 days of course. Can anyone tell me what's overtime like. And also working on the track dangerous how's safety in and out the tunnels

Not trying to be a hard ass, but a lot of you don’t read through the thread. Some of you ask the same questions that have been answered 4-5 times over. 

OT is based on 2 things. Your report location and seniority. Some guys have a pretty steady stream of OT, some don’t. Depends. 

They have a saying down here ; “you’re responsible for your own safety”. While this definitely can be a dangerous environment, it’s up to the individual (for the most part) to be aware of their surroundings, and know their own limitations. I’ve seen some dudes try to be macho and carry the mat and they almost wind up eating a rail. Take your time in what you do, follow procedure, and respect the environment.  If there’s something you aren’t sure of, ask. If you feel unsafe doing something, say so. 

18 minutes ago, Sb2687 said:

Does anybody know if you have to bring your high school diploma to the pre employment stuff?

Not necessary for this position 

42 minutes ago, noska said:

i just started a few weeks back so i can answer some questions

 

1.23.17 is what i start at

2 top pay for a regular track worker is 33 and change i believe, specialist pay is 36.50 i believe. pay seems to increas about 80 cents per year in each contract so by the time I reach full pay, top pay for a regular track worker will be like 37.and change is my guess

3. night diff is like a 1.11 more per hour starting out I think. don't quote me on that I don't remember the exact rate.

4. for school and ojt (the first 6 weeks) no. for your mini pick (where your spot will be until the next general pick) you have a choice between days and nights and different location. for our class there were 50 jobs to pick from and the class picks jobs in seniority list order

5. days is considered for senior guys.  its more laid back. but for advancement oppurtunities the same job positions considered promotions are there for both days and nights. the main difference for days and nights is day works on the elevated structure and night works in the tunnel.

6. i just started ojt and I think I am working 6am-10pm tomorrow and the day after for storm watch. so thats 16 hours OT plus storm pay

6am-10pm? Never heard of that. Specially while on ojt. 

2 minutes ago, dlsmtih said:

another stupid question, what are the determining factors of where you are placed after school ? is totally random and out of your control or is there some reasoning to it ? 

It’s based on which report locations have openings. Doesn’t matter if you live out in ENY, if there’s a slot open at 239th street yard, and that’s the only one available, you’re gonna have to make that trip everyday until the next pick or youre able to bid out. 

3 minutes ago, Queensqueens111 said:

Rdo is your days off. As of right now top pay is 33 after 5 years, and yea OT depends on where you are really. A cleaner isn’t going to get as much OT as someone in capital construction.

You’d be surprised... 

13 minutes ago, dlsmtih said:

Thanks for the help

What is an RDO ?? and if you are lucky enough to get placed into a zone with OT how many hours could you realistically expect on a weekly basis ?? and can you expect it every week or is it sporadic ? Sorry, if these questions are a pain. I want to take the job but I really need to make sure it makes financial sense for me b/c I would be taking a significant pay cut from my current job based on the $23/hr rate

RDO = regular day off. 

Again, I don’t want to tell you “well you’ll get at least X amount of OT shifts per week”. For one, OT rotates on seniority order so you may get it one week and not the next. 

54 minutes ago, dlsmtih said:

Long story short, my list number is 13xx, mail was delivered to wrong address, I went down to DCAS Friday to re-certify, still waiting for that but I just discovered this forum and I had a couple questions that hopefully anyone could help me out with :

1. what is 2018 starting salary ? ( in 2012 base pay was around $20.37/hr)
2. what are the salary increases over time ? ( in 2012 after 4 years salary increases to $29.10 )
3. what are the current night/weekend differentials ?
4. when starting out do you have a choice between day and night shifts ?
5. are there any career benefit to working days or working nights ? ( i.e. - more opportunity for advancement;  more overtime; more pay etc )
6. how much OT can you expect on a weekly basis ? 

Thanks in advance, any help is greatly appreciated. 

 

1) I believe it’s 23 and change (I’d have to check my files for an exact number)

2) it’s capped at about $32 and change currently after your 5th year (again, I’d have to check). 

3) a little more than a dollar. 

4) Not really. There are instances where you get to pick into a morning shift out of school, but it’s not really the norm. 

5) From what I can tell, not really. I could be wrong though. Your pay is based upon your title/seniority, regardless of which shift you’re on. 

6) Never “expect” OT. It’s definitely there but it’s dependent on what zone/gang you’re in. Some of my classmates rarely get to see the OT sheets at their quarters but it’s pretty regular at my quarters. OT is also dependent upon your RDOs. Some OT May pop up but it may fall on a regular shift for you. 

7 minutes ago, bimmer4me said:

That's insane. Is it because the list is nearing its expiration?

Has nothing to do with it. If you go back in the thread, there are people who were hit by the rule pretty early on during the hiring process. 

Its applicable to any CS exam. 

4 minutes ago, bimmer4me said:

I'm not understanding. Your saying they are considering people on the promotional before people on this list?

The rule basically says when there is a tied score, they can remove 1 person out of every 3 for reasons besides test scores. 

32 minutes ago, bimmer4me said:

What is this thing everyone is talking about?

Civil Service Law Section 61 allows public employers to choose individuals for appointment or promotion from the top three scores from an Eligible List. An Eligible Lists is the list of candidates who have passed civil service examinations, identified in order by their test score and from which State and Local agencies will hire or promote employees. The Civil Service uses a scoring methodology that first calculates a raw score (i.e. the number of questions correctly answered by a candidate), and then creates a band scoring table which groups the raw scores within certain ranges in the same band. As a result, all eligible individuals falling within a particular scoring band will tie for the same rank. In promotional examinations, typically, seniority credits will be applied to the raw score before a band score is applied. Veteran’s credits are also added in open-competitive and promotional exams after the score band is applied. 

The rationale of the One in Three Rule is to allow employers to consider factors other than test scores when making appointment and promotions.

2 minutes ago, Sb2687 said:

Did anybody else get this?  Is it safe to assume that I have a 2 out of 3 chance of getting the job due to this rule?  Not sure if I can risk things with my current employer and spend all that money on flying back and forth if they are pulling the 4.7.1C stuff with this exam.  

This rule is applied to all OC transit exams to my knowledge. Anyone on this list who’s waiting can be hit with it. There were a few in this topic who got hit with it as well. 

9 minutes ago, Chris127 said:

i’ll take the height over rats any day my opinion 

Lol common misconception. You won’t really find rats out in the tunnels. They usually hang out on the platforms or nearby. The less human traffic there is, the less likely there’s food. 

6 minutes ago, marley723 said:

He said he was up there today and he said he would never do it again. 

It’s pretty common. Many people I was in school with flat out refused to even do it. Sometimes people freeze up out there during training and need to be assisted off. 

10 minutes ago, marley723 said:

We originally thought it was 3, so when he said 6 I was like okay. His uncle retired from the MTA just last year and he originally said 6 to us then I read 3 somewhere on here. But when he got there they said 6. I think he likes it so far, except going up on structures, apparently that’s really for the true brave of heart, especially with a train passing. 

Working on elevated isn’t as bad as it seems. It’s pretty fun IMO. Word of warning for those who dislike it; If you have a problem walking/working on elevated, you’ve locked yourself into working nights for your entire MTA career. 

1 hour ago, Queensqueens111 said:

264*s passed medical and swore in today, in March 12th class.

When they email you for the medical do note they tell you to bring a money order for fingers prints, don’t forget it.

Sheesh man, time flies. I’m 5+ months in and I see the list is still moving rather briskly. I wonder if the classes are still 75 ppl. Congrats to you making it. Great job. May not always wind up doing what you think you signed up for, but just remember you get paid the same as everyone else. 

7 hours ago, nycFin said:

 i would hope that's the case

Outstanding Cert just means DCAS has sent your info to the MTA. 

20 minutes ago, J2wresnwood said:

What exactly is a “pick” and a “mini picks?”

Also what bank does the MTA payroll ?

Every two years or so MOW will make a list of jobs available to all MOW employees. This is what’s called a “pick”. All Track workers participate. It’s a big deal because basically it will determine where you will be reporting and what you will be doing for the duration of the pick. Spots are filled mainly by seniority order (if there is a specialist job, you may need additional requirements besides seniority). 

The “mini” pick is done for new hires out of school. It’s called mini for the obvious reason. If you happen to have your mini pick in between the main, you’ll post at that location and preform that job until the main comes around. In other words the Main pick supersedes the mini. 

MTA banks with chase. 

You have  to pick. As the selection choice goes by seniority, those with more time may choose to stay where they are if slots are available. We were told from the outset to not get too comfortable where we are because it’s very likely we won’t be staying there. 

13 minutes ago, VA Slim said:

Believe me buddy i believe u 

I was just saying that im in maintence now from my mini pick after my mini pick

I can do cleaning 

Because where ever i work at ill do the job and be thankful i got a job

 

 

Nice. I’m stressing this info because a lot of new guys are throwing fits about this whole cleaning situation. I’m with you, as long as it got me in the door, and I’m making the same pay. 

41 minutes ago, VA Slim said:

Im from the nov 6th class and my pick was definitely a maintence gang

my gang roster is filled with people thats been n track over 5 years

Some more then 10

So maybe they r going every other class cleaning

Because like u guys up here said the class b4 me went 2 cleaning

 

 

That was a mini pick. The general pick is when all Track employees get called to select a job. Trust me when i say it’s about 98% certain you’ll wind up in a cleaning gang.