Farjo33

On 6/27/2018 at 7:30 AM, GerardL said:

whenever they give the next helper exam, you have to take it..only way you can become permanent. you will not be let go as provisional. unfortunately, you will be on probation until you take the test and that list is established. what are they telling you in school? do you have George as your teacher?

This is 100% not true.

On 6/28/2018 at 5:45 PM, GerardL said:

you can 100% do your 25 years as a provisional employee and never take the civil service exam for TEHP. but you will be on probation for 25 years and you will probably get evaluated after every year. kid in my section came in December ‘17, I came in April ‘18. because i took exam and he is provisional, my seniority is is 7 slots above him. once you get permanent status, you will have to f**k up pretty bad to lose your job but if your on probation, thats all the TA needs to boot you if you slip up. if you want to always have probation over your head, thats up to you.

Whoever spoke to you is correct with you no test to take and still have your job. all the questions your class is asking, my class did the same thing. every single person that came to speak to us got asked the provisional/permanent/can i lose my job question.

Not entirely accurate.  Your probationary period is one year and that's it.  Once the year is up you are not put back on probation.  However the difference is you still will not own your title.  Seniority is not effected.  If a lerson was hired before you they will have seniority.  Once a provisional goes permanent, it will still take a year from that date for them to own their title.  What does that mean?  If you go for promotion and take it and either screw up, fail school, whatever, there is no position for you to go back to of you don't own the title of helper.  That's where people have to be careful.  There are no extended probations although it may feel that way because even while off probation you still don't own your title.

6 hours ago, Byrd said:

how long does it take to be employed  

Hard question to answer.  Some people waited 4 years to be called.  I got called in 9 months.  There is a big push right now and they need people so it could be a lot faster than normal.

7 hours ago, moussaberte said:

Wait there was someone playing with it was he a helper or someone that actually has the power to touch the switch?

He was a guy in your class.  

What was with the guy playing with the switch control at lunch time.  That was nuts.  

1 hour ago, moussaberte said:

Oh alright and they told us to be there at 8 I should hopefully be there by 7:30 if not before. You guys are gonna be there?

They wanted you guys in at 7.  Guess they never got the message over to orientation LOL.  After tomorrow you will be 7-3

On the job, not John lol

On 11/29/2017 at 4:59 PM, moussaberte said:

One last thing have you guys did electrical work yet or just flaging and what not and if you guys did go electrical what have you been doing?

Forget about being an electrician for this position.  They make that loud and clear.  You are a helper.  You flag trains when they trust you to do so.  Maintainers do any electric work there is.  You carry stuff, set up work lights, block and clamp switches (you'll find out what that is).  Other than that the maintainer touches the equipment.  That's his responsibility.

One day if you go to maintainer school then you can put your electric background to use.  Now it's all about learning what you can on the John to make yours and the maintainers day easier.

6 hours ago, moussaberte said:

So let' say I'm already working and the list comes out and people start getting hired from that list is there a possibility that I might lose my job if I'm not high on that list?

I would never say something is possible.  What I will say is I think it's highly unlikely.  Even if for some crazy reason they didn't get to your number, no I don't think they let you go from what I hear down there.  I don't think the MTA gonna put the time and effort into hiring somebody they feel is qualified and then spend the money to train that person just to send them packing for no reason at all.  Would almost be counter productive to why they are doing all this in the first place.  The Union and one of the instructors both said there have been "provisionals" that stayed provisional for 20 years down here.

So I would never say it's not possible because I am in no position to do so.  I would say it's not probable.  I am in that position myself and I no longer have the fear and the worry that I had before.  That's the best answer I could give you.  I think at this point it's all on me if I want to stay employed by the MTA.  Im good with that.

On 11/8/2017 at 7:46 PM, gotransit said:

I filled out the Transit Electrical Helper #8606 in Oct. The deadline was Oct.24th. I will let you guys know what happens.

It was 7 months that I waited.  Then all of a sudden you get an email to show up for the Saftey Proficiency Exam.  Once you get called for that you are on your way.  About a month and a half from when you take that test at 180 Livingston Street

So here is an update after 1 week of signals helper school.

Temp/Provisional.  Only until they generate the list for 7609.  Education Experience test was your civil service test.  Once they make the list you will be hired permanent off that list.  They are hiring a LOT of people.

So all good there.

Instructors are very nice people.  Make you feel at ease.  Very good atmosphere.  So glad I jumped in.   

There is a passage in the book they handed out today that has me nervous a bit.  

"Provisional Employment never becomes permanent"

"To gain permanent status Provisional employees must take and pass the appropriate exam and be appointed from a certified list"

"Provisional Employment should not extend beyond 9 months"

So obviously the last part has me scared you know what.  Gotta find out what that means tomorrow when they go over that section.

I have no problem taking the test, problem is even if they announced a test tomorrow typically it takes YEARS before they call off a list.  

I'm excited about the opportunity but this provisional section kinda took the wind outta my sails a bit.  Especially when I thought the HR ladies answer put the issue to rest.  That there was just no list yet and that's why I was temp and that once the list was established that's when you would become permanent.  That doesn't seem right to me now

On 11/5/2017 at 10:39 AM, Dave2836 said:

There are guys down here who were provisional for decades, but as long as there is a need for the position, they will still have a job, provided they don't improperly perform their duties.

Dave, why on earth don't they go permanent?

On 11/3/2017 at 12:44 PM, Dave2836 said:

Not saying you can't get into elevator escalator, but you have to meet the qualifications for the elevator escalator TEMM OPEN COMPETITVE test when the next NOE comes out, file for the test, take the practical, wait to be called, then go through the hiring process again.

And yes, once you complete your training service as a Signal Maintainer Trainee, you will become a signal maintainer without having to take further tests, as per the NOE for #7609.

Again, if you are temporary, it is temporary until otherwise notified.

My suggestion is if you like the culture down here, then become permanent first and figure it out from there.

Oh I definitely want to be in the MTA Dave, it's why up front I'm taking a pay cut just to get in as a helper.  Just the whole Temporary aspect has me nervous.  I'm hoping becoming permanent doesn't become a long drawn out process.  Anything Temp for too long can't be good.

Once you complete signal maintainer trainee, which I don't think I am because that is a higher pay rate I think I am just signals helper, is Signal Maintainer a permanent position?

On 11/4/2017 at 7:35 AM, tprashad0719 said:

I never took a safety proficiency assessment as yet, I took the Practical for Signal Maintainer in april 2017 and received a letter to come in which was OCT 2017, so basically the way you got in was with a resume ? never took a written or practical as yet? or they want with your education and experience only?

You took the Maintainers test.  We are all coming in as Helpers.  Sounds like you are coming in at the higher level.

Anybody else put in for the Light Maintainer a few months ago?  I did.  I asked the H.R. woman if I could take that test still and she laughed.  She said of course, why wouldn't you.  It's more money.  And I wouldn't have to do all this paperwork over again.

The way I look at it, I think unless you are a complete screw up why would they invest this much time and money into hiring you if they just wanted to get rid of you quick.  They aren't gonna waste time and money training people to get rid of them just to do it all over again.  That would t make much sense.

On 11/3/2017 at 12:27 PM, Dave2836 said:

The practical comes when you apply for the promotion or open competitive position for either light maintainer, transit electromechanical maintainer (E&E or V&D), power distribution, power maintainer, eletronic equipment maintainer, or telephone maintainer.  Those are permanent positions.

Little tidbit, if you have not been drafted into Signal Maintainer Trainee, you have the opportunity to get into Elevator and Escalator.  Elevator and escalator SPECIALIST is one of the highest paying hourly positions in Transit.

Electronic Equipment Maintainer is also another well paying position.

On the exam notification it had signals listed as the highest pay rate.  I guess the pay grades change for the titles once you move up from helper?

Funny thing, I passed the practical for Elevators and Escalators.  I got a letter in the mail that said I didn't meet requirements.  You obviously had to have some E and E experience.  I didn't.  So I passed, but no not really LOL.  

But let me ask you a question.  It doesn't say I am a signal maintainer trainee.  A trainee is a higher pay rate at 22 something an hour.  I am listed as Electrical Helper Signals.  How do you get to be a Signals Maintainer trainee?

So here's my story.  I think I sent this experience test in last February maybe.  Forgot about it.  Got a letter late September early October to go for that Safety Proficiency Test lol.  2 weeks ago got the "Temp" letter and to come in for the drug screening.  Did that and of course they tell you that you should hear from them in 90 days.  A week later I was back for the physical.  So needless to say I was going through all the steps bit very hesitant because of "Temp".  The physical paper was marked "perm" and "appnt" which seems like permanent appointment but after being sworn in this Appointment notice does say 5.4.2B Temporary Appointment.  I asked the H.R. lady that swore me in what exactly did that mean.  She said it was nothing and that they just didn't establish the list yet.  She saw my list number and said that was good a good number but that it could change.  She was helpful but Id be lying if I said I wasn't nervous as all hell leaving a good job for something labeled TEMP.  She made it seem like it was nothing to worry about but like I said leaving my job is the part that makes me worry.

By the way, reading rule 5.4.2B doesn't do much to help lol.  There probably is nothing to worry about BUT that one word TEMP is a killer.  I am guessing most are going to orientation with the Union tomorrow?  I would think they will spell it all out for us there.  The H.R. woman did say there wouldnt be another test to take to get to permanent.  Just the list being established.  So I hope we hear be a good employee, show up on time, do your job and after a year you are good to go.