beanz

6 minutes ago, Comrade96 said:

I mean I got the pdf version of it, Im assuming I need that on me at all times?

No they should have given u the physical blue book. That pdf version is good to have but it isn't a replacement for the book, especially in school car u still gotta carry it.

1 hour ago, Comrade96 said:

Alright, first day of school car is tomorrow, we get most of our rule books tomorrow right?

Rule book u should have gotten when u were sworn in after your medical. U should be getting all the induction books tomorrow yeah.

45 minutes ago, Jericho said:

You didn't go for any of the temp jobs? Those were probably the only ones you were possibly able to win.

I won a temp job and so far I'm still rolling with it.

I know somebody who won a temp job with weekends off and the person isn't resuming at all this pick. Sometimes u get lucky but u won't know unless u try.

1 hour ago, trackerjack said:

OMG a pick would def make it "better" now.  but......i hear some train ops for 3-4 years still hasn't picked and i'm like uhhhh....      

Vacancy bid is your friend

3 minutes ago, trackerjack said:

if u really really want this job/career. i'll give it to you.  see if there's a way to "Trade" job.  too bad they don't i'll give u my spot

I feel your pain but u can always just turn in your tools if it's getting that bad for u. I 100% would understand the decision and wouldn't judge u for it 1 bit. Remember tho that time moves no matter what and in a year or 2, when your classmates are picking and you are no longer here you might regret it. Unless of course you are a lot happier at another job.

6 minutes ago, RTOMan said:

Man listen they way they going through people they might get to everyone who took this test...

Its not just people "quitting in masse" as  some folk are saying..

They firing people for absolute Stupid  things that they are doing...

Yea man i feel for the new folks but it's not a job u can afford to lose focus in, even for a second. I know it as well as anybody. People look at that salary and those checks and don't realize this job is gonna pay u well but it's gonna take it's pound of flesh. U have to be 100% on point at all times even if the crew office is downright abusing u. I've met a couple of new people who just haven't grasped the seriousness of the job just yet. Transit doesn't care that u tired.

It's gonna be extended. That hasn't been announced yet but neither has a new test. They still need to hire more people so i don't see them letting this list expire until a new one is given out.

1 hour ago, lizzydriver said:

Are E-readers NOT allowed (those small thin electronic books like Kindle)?
Are they catergorized as an Electronic Device?  And if I am caught using it (reading on it) will I be penalized and taking out of service?

As long as u don't have it out while operating the train you'll be fine. U might get in trouble if u have it out on the platform also but they mostly worry about using it while in the operating cab. I've had my phone out reading messages from my wife on the platform and I've gotten dirty looks from a TSS but that's it. While on probation it's best to just not take it out unless u in the crew room.

34 minutes ago, cominginhot said:

I have date for drug test and paperwork submission.

I was part of a random drug program for over 10 years. I have never tested positive for anything, ever! I never did any drugs, just drank alcohol. 

I recently ( April) was let go due to lack of work. I actually was already considering a career change or at least a better job.  I took tis opportunity to take the summer off and look for a job in the fall, was the plan at least.

Couple weeks after I got my medical card for marijuana.  Using thc was suggested to me by my doctor over the years, but due to random testing I told him I can not use that option. I used gummies and vape only, no smoking. It helped with my symptoms. Honestly, I could have done without but since I could, I did. My plan was to stop using end of August for a potential job and drug test in the fall. 

I get my letter from MTA!

Obviously I stop immediately. Now I will without a doubt not use anymore. 

My appointment is in 2 weeks. 

If i test positive do i have any recourse? will the dq me and that's it? I just not sure how to handle this. 

 I am not interested in "beating the system".  I did nothing wrong. I would have never even used if I didn't have a card. I am willing to do hair test at my expense to prove what I am saying is true. I am actually considering doing the hair test now just so I have it and can plead my case at my appointment.

I really want this opportunity. 

Hindsight, if i was paying attention to the list here and then I would have known  I had this coming up and would have acted accordingly. Honestly its been years and I forgot all about this test!

Any feedback is welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

Buy a few drug tests from a pharmacy and take them the day before the preemployment. In the meantime drink a lot of water and work out. Depending on your body weight, 2 weeks should be more than enough. It isn't really cheating because all u doing is drinking water and working out. It should leave your system by then but take the at home drug tests to be sure.

Nobody knows anything until the medical examiners says what happened. I've heard all sorts of rumors today. Rip to her.

Just now, mimic101 said:

Appreciate the encouragement OG.  My group refuses to fail and we've been working hard together so we're all on the same page.  At least we have that going for us and I am blessed lucky to be in group that I am. 

Having a good group is huge. shared information, venting, and just talking about the small stuff once you are out on your own really helps. Think of it as a support group for the bad times and just friends to celebrate the good and don't let the end of schoolcar be the end of the chat.

I encourage everybody coming in now to make sure whatever class u get into, get those numbers as soon as u know who your classmates are and form those group chats. there's always going to be people who want no parts of it, but everybody doesn't have to be in it. They are a major tool in your success.

15 minutes ago, mimic101 said:

I wish it was still like this.  I'm in the A division and our schedule is 7am-3pm.  Our road days are in the middle on the week from 9am-5pm and then the next day a 7am start.  If you have a long commute the schedule is brutal. 

Last week on Saturday July 30th, we had our first practical on new tech.  Next week Saturday August 13 we have our second practical on SMEE and then our first signals midterm that following Monday.  The schedule is so condensed.  There is so much to know.  It feels demoralizing at times.  My group are doing very well, everyone passing the practice signals exams at the Sim and we all passed our practical.  But it still feels so condensed and like you have no time to absorb the stuff you're learning. 

Cuts and adds on new tech...how nice of them lol

Don't worry, even if u don't think u are absorbing it, u are. I'm surprised at some of the stuff i still know. If you've gotten this far you will be fine.

You gotta think of all this as a 1000 piece puzzle. They just dropping pieces in front of u on the table that don't look like anything u know, but eventually the picture will start to take shape. Its overwhelming at first, but it really isn't difficult. Hang in there.

12 minutes ago, Imhim said:

Lol I understand your frustration but you can’t technically be mad at folks. They paid their money to take the test, passed and took the opportunity. The real issue is the actual job! There’s no reason really for people to be actually quitting once they go through school car except for the environment, culture, other employees down here. Me personally I wouldn’t do all the training and quit, but I can’t speak on other people’s situations and mindsets. It’s so much that can be changed, but this attitude of “we went through it so you have to go through” is just plain dumb! It’s 2022 there are so many tools and ways to make the job easier for both crews and crew office. However, when you have situations like dispatchers in the crew office yelling at employees for calling for a late clear because they’re too lazy to check, they tell you there aren’t any jobs ask the terminal dispatcher, smh. Then this XX crap is just stupid, putting someone close to home to get enough sleep is a no brainer, especially when you have others who literally live on that side that can literally swap with that person you’re trying to punish, it’s clearly done on purpose! Then their fake fall back excuse is “you’re XX it’s to help you learn the system” lmao yeah ok.

I agree, it sucks the way the crew office f**ks with people. With all the technology we have there's no excuse. Lately it seems to have gotten worse, but that's due to the crew office also having a lot of new people working. Some of them not even from rto. If i had a say I'd overhaul the shit out of it.

The union needs to do more too. It's very overlooked and brushed off as "we all went through it" but until they realize this is a problem, transit is going to continue to have a problem keeping people, especially conductors. The money TOs make can be enough to make some hold on longer but conductors start so low that XX life is that much harder to take.

1 hour ago, trackerjack said:

how many "niches" are out there on the road?  (i hope i dont have to bribe folks at the crew office? LOL)   im curious cuz it's VERY brutal.  and yes...so much confirmed reports of TOs quitting after graudation and even an entire class quit on the spot.  anyways....would love to know some 'secret niches' being an XX.   i'm all ears!

I should have said once you have some stability u just have to find your niche. 

As for xx, bidding is always the best route. I saw lots of very high numbers just won some jobs on the latest vacancy awards. Also, if u are into overtime and call for it a lot, the crew office can get an idea of what u like and i have heard of people that get hooked up with the same stuff they prefer for OT. I know someone very new who has made it work for himself on the midnights because he's always calling for overtime on his RDOs close to home on certain lines and after a while they just started keeping him on those lines daily. Again, not guaranteed to help you but it has helped others.

It's been said before but i hope all of u coming in have your expectations of the job set correctly. There's been a lot of talk of new people quitting deep into training or after they complete it.

XX life is tough, especially if you have little kids, but remember that the sacrifice is FOR them and for yourself. Just push through and before you know it you'll have some stability. You just have to find your niche and what works for you and the job can be a great job.

Training is tough but very doable. Being extra extra is tougher but also doable if your head is in the right place. Remember that nothing great comes easy. Time moves on regardless and in 5 years do u want to be saying "man i wish i had stayed at that transit job" or do u want to be saying "I'm so glad i stayed". 

2 hours ago, mimic101 said:

Damn man.  I don't even know what to say to this.  During probation we're suppose to get 12 hours off between shifts, but after probation it's 8 hours right?  If you live in the Bronx and you're starting and clearing at Far Rock you're losing at least 4 hours due to commuting time alone.  Then you sleep for just a few hours, wake up, head back? That's crazy.

I live in the Bronx and reported and cleared at far rock just once. Stillwell maybe 4 or 5 times. If u in the B and live in the Bronx u are in better shape than most because the Bronx and uptown Manhattan usually has open jobs and most of the B division lives in Brooklyn queens and long island. Don't let our stories scare u, experience it for yourself. If it's too much, then i we would all understand but don't just take people's words for it. Some have it better than others.

7 minutes ago, mimic101 said:

As someone going through schoolcar this is so demoralizing to hear.  It sounds like they just beat you down. 

I'm sorry i don't want to discourage you from finishing. It may be better for u and they may get their act together by the time u go out. Xx honestly was not bad for me. I had bad days but the good ones outnumbered them. It's still a great job and every 2 weeks when that direct deposit hits, all the sacrifice is worth it. You just gotta have a tough chin and enough toughness to push through until u can pick a job. Just bid bid bid for now.

50 minutes ago, thegameksk said:

I dont get it. Arent they concerned with an accident happening when people get so worn out? 

U would think it would be something they think about but no. Most people with time down here don't want it to be easier for u because it wasn't easy for them. Nevermind that when they were xx the crew office probably did everything with pen and paper and it was harder to keep track of who lives where, but with all the technology we have nowadays there's no excuse. I'm sure there's a variable we don't know shit about but still, theyve been better in the past so i see no reason they can't be just as fair now.

1 minute ago, Brytstar said:

I was told there are new people at the CAS. Are you still xx? Last pick was my first time out after school car and was pms with ss as RDO’s. Was a pretty sweet schedule and I was barely on board. I think maybe 5-7 days total on board whole pick. Went AMS this pick has been a pain honestly. I’m board almost every other day. It’s so annoying.

Nah i got a decent RDO relief package for my first time picking.

Makes sense there would be new people there. It's like they just don't care anymore and it's demoralizing for people.

Crew office decided to say f**k everybody that's XX. My B division classmates have suddenly started seeing reporting locations they never saw in their first 8 months out. All of a sudden it's like the screw office just stopped caring about being fair. MTA shoots itself in the foot because it wears new people out so bad that it leaves them thinking about quitting all the time. I have friends in the A that have been xx for 3 years and all of a sudden they are being treated worse now than ever before. 

Then they wonder why they have staffing issues smh.

9 hours ago, dincena said:

Do you know where I can submit the application for parking permit? I have it filled out in my back since I started school car TSS said it has nothing to do with him not sure where or who to submit it with? Any info is appreciated 

I submitted mine at concourse yard..u have to be there before 11 30am. The supt's secretary takes care of it for u in the barn. 

If you are A division then do it at Westchester yard. Also at the barn. Just look for the supt's office.

3 minutes ago, mimic101 said:

permit that takes about a month and a half to process according to my TSS and that will allow you to park in the MTA parking spaces. 

You don't have to wait to finish schoolcar to apply for the parking permit. I did it way before i finished.

You have to be able to pick in the division you are transferring to.

There are times when a division is so short that they ask for volunteers, and you can transfer as XX, but that doesn't happen often.

Otherwise, you can't transfer while being XX.

37 minutes ago, iag48st said:

I live close to every terminal in the Bronx (10min avg commute) and I got pushed into B. 

Might happen again...B is still short as far i can see.

1 minute ago, Chris8 said:

 

You aren't xl after xx..xl is a picked job. U can pick it if it's available when it's your turn, but by the time it gets to the end any xl available will usually be midnights or opto xl. The most likely jobs after xx are RDO relief with what's left of jobs nobody wanted.