Milano

There are no regular shoes or boots allowed. They're all work boots, composite toe or steel toe. They do have a pair of work shoes which some people seem to like, but they have the same specs as the work boots for electrical resistance, slip resistance and all that. Each title has different footwear, so if you're getting advice from somebody, be sure it's a conductor. Supervisors will pull you from service for incorrect footwear. They might send you home and cut your hours for the day. You don't have many options other than two different hats, two different winter hats, two different ties, and three different shirts. Then there's cargo pants or dress pants. The polo shirts are 19.99 If you'd like to order extra for the summer. The pants and dress shirts are cheap. And they feel cheap. Get yourself some good name brand undershirts from Calvin Klein or Tommy Hilfiger so you don't have to feel that terrible material against your skin.

Have you ever worn work boots before? They're average like most others. You can not buy whatever you want, you have to buy something that meets the MTA specs and then need it approved, new in box, in person with a supervisor. Steel toes are not allowed with the exception of the CAT boots. Don't ask me why, I don't make the rules, I just read them. MTA authorized unform is whatever unipro provides you. This is a filthy subterranean job, not a fashion show. If you're lucky, some terminals have uniform donation areas. Usually people retiring or cleaning out their closet from when they used to be thin will leave clothes behind. Some of the older issue stuff is allowed if you can find it. I find the old VF imagewear dress shirts to be more comfortable than the current issue stuff.

People do this at their own risk. MTA issue cargo pants are authorized. You may not be allowed to sign into (or out !) of work if you're not wearing MTA authorized uniform. Dispatchers enforce this. And they will call the Superintendent to see what to do with you when you show up in the wrong stuff. Cleaners are the biggest challenge to this rule. They seem to wear whatever. They might even be allowed. I don't know, I never spoke to a station supervisor about it. I'm not sure what their dress code is.

First day is orientation. Are they doing it in person these days? For COVID we did ours online... You'll want some kind of a bag. Not necessarily a duffle bag. You're going to have a lot of paperwork to transport. They will eventually talk to you guys about bags, and I'm still not convinced a duffle bag is necessary even though I know it's written in 10 places. I brought a small book bag from day one. Then I bought the kaka bag. Tell you what though, that bag attracts the attention of TSSs and dispatchers when you hit the road. Not because it's the wrong kind of bag, but because they know you're new when they see it. I would buy something else if I did it over again. 😂

Here's a big tip as you're posting.... Don't listen to the TSS or the training conductors 100%. find the bulletins yourself. School car has a lot of scared straight tactics, and some of these conductors been here so long their information is out of date. Not (necessarily) their fault, even though they should stay up to date, a lot of bulletins come out and it's easy to miss one. And part of me wants to tell you to sit corrected, not stand corrected. 🤣

They're only going to list things that you're allowed to have. Don't worry about it You can order anything on there. In prior jobs and this one, I've been wearing caterpillar boots (steel toe for NYCT) for over 13 years and find them durable and comfortable, although they usually need a different insole.. Get whatever you think you like, but make sure you return it fast if you don't like it.... I made the mistake of ordering a second set (tried a new brand) and waiting too long and now I just have a pair of boots sitting here that I hate. Our TSSs were easy going on the boots.. If you do get a pair you don't like and you need to return them, talk to them and tell them. Don't just show up the next day in tennis shoes because the transit boots hurt your feet. Lol talk to them first and they'll let you know how to approach that.

You have the bulletin for this? I've yet to hear this one. Some conductors fall asleep standing up.

For many, this job is a long term investment with many many short term sacrifices. It does suck to lose that vacation, but you'll never pay a doctor's bill again - among other things.

Drug test only for for 90 days. Pre-employment packet also only good for 90 days, so you'll possibly do another pre-employment. There's a few guys here who went through this, I'll let them answer the specifics.

Just keep in mind you're allowed only 2 latenesses in your first year. School car will have you in all 4 boroughs and if it's like mine, the regular days were 3-11pm and Fridays were 5-1am. Tests and practicals were 7am. I did 2 hotel stays during school car before my tests because it wasn't enough sleep on most days.

They'll put you on a specific tour. AM PM or MID. you'll probably stay on the Tour... But PM for example can start at 1 pm or 8 pm... So it's not really that reliable, and they'll find you the latest jobs the day before you're off. I prefer the CAT boots. The backpack is whatever. I have the Kaka bag but I'm looking for something smaller.

This is a 24 hour business. You can literally end at any time of day. You might start at 13:11 and end at 22:58 or start at 3am and sit around on board, get a job at 10am and work until 6pm. Everything and anything can happen in your day here, but they won't let you go past 16 hours. Best is when you end in far Rockaway but your car is at 207 Street Manhattan and you can't get there because the switch is broken in Brooklyn. 🤣

When you get that PM job that ends at 2:00 in the morning in Queens and there's no train running you back to New Jersey, you'll be driving

The schedule is probably the most complicated thing to answer. We report to yards and terminals. Theoretically you could be ordered to work anyplace at any station (platform jobs, etc) but first you'll report to a yard or a terminal. You'll go everywhere. For me, uptown is closer to my home. I had about 50% uptown work when I started, then I was everyplace, then I won a bid (regular job that someone vacated) so I worked that, then they sent me everyplace again, and now I've been uptown much of the time with a random Queens thrown in) Trains and buses are always your best bet when you're on probation because if the train or the bus is late, your lateness will be excused. Of course, you can't jump on a train that was scheduled to arrive at your starting location 2 minutes before you were supposed to start. If the train was supposed to get there 8 or 10 minutes before your starting time and it was late, and they'll excuse it. You'll make your own decision on driving or not depending on what job they give you for the day.

I understand. There are, unfortunately, a lot of unions out there who suck. My wife was part of a hospital union that was terrible. I had friends in a teamsters union that was equally bad. Not all unions are alike. Ours has it's own share of problems and infighting - but it's certainly still worth it. Unions as huge as ours, with people as diverse as you can find in a place like NYC - it's always going to be an uphill battle to try to please everyone. We have 24/7 representation here, there's always a rep on duty ready to answer questions. Even the higher ups such as vice presidents and chairpersons and vice chairs are easily available. The biggest complaint I hear from other unions - they have no reps or the rep wasn't able to get back to them in a timely fashion or the rep did a bad job representing them.... I haven't had this issue here. Reps are people, tho - and I'm sure some are not as good as others. We do a lot of complaining around here - but we have a lot to be grateful for, as well. As a new person you'll see that it's obvious some of our coworkers been here so long they've forgotten what it's like to be in a private sector job without a union. They complain about things that make this extremely obvious - and those are the biggest smack talkers. They're usually not wrong tho!! You damn right someone needs to pay me for the 4 minutes it took to walk over to the office and sign out!! 😁

You're told wrong by people, and you can't not be a member of TWU100 and work for NYCT afaik. This whole thing that the union is not for probationaries is false and it's the first thing the union will tell you when you meet them on day 2. Apparently - this is a popular thing people get told when they start here. It's not true. They can absolutely help you not get fired, but it's a bit more of a difficult battle. Regardless of how good your work ethic and luck is, you're going to have run-ins with supervision. You're going to write documents about incidents that occur on your train, and the union will help you navigate those situations so you don't write something dumb that can be used against you later. You're going to have questions about benefits and time off and the union will help you understand that. You might sit in a broken chair your 3rd week in and bang your head - they'll help you with the paperwork and hospital visit and everything that comes with that. You're going to be late one day and a good union rep will help you with that. (You're allowed 2 lates and terminated on the 3rd during probation). You're going to have rude or downright nasty supervisors and the union will help you with that. You're going to have unsafe situations, assaults (God forbid) and other things to deal with, and the union will help you with that. You'll need to book off for a funeral one day and the union can help you figure that out. Or maybe simply you'll forget your keys one day and a union rep will meet you with a set. We're out 9 months and my class has dealt with all these issues. Also, if you select the most popular plan for medical, the dental and vision is through the union only. They also arrange family day and a lot of other activities every year. Hope this helps.

For all of you just getting into the class, welcome. There's going to be times ahead where the schedule and the things expected of you are going to make you question your decision. Push through. This is worth it. I'm 9 months in, and it gets better, then it gets worse again, then it gets even more better... Stick with it. This is a great place to be. Also, reach out to the union as much as you need. If you guys could see my call log with my union rep of choice, you would think I'm crazy. 9 months and probably at least 50 phone calls. I trust my rep to give me the correct answers on things. Make meetings if you can, as well. There's a lot more to this job and the potential of this job then just getting a paycheck at $25 an hour to start. Be involved with your union if you can attend the meetings. This is a lifestyle and a culture and an endless sea of possibility if you're active and engaged in the processes of what makes this whole thing function.

You don't live in CT NJ or Upstate NY without one

At least he can stay with his mother

I mean, some people are undoubtedly thinking they'll lose a $200 pay day plus parking and tolls costs to sit at 180 all day long... But IMO it's worth the gamble, even at this point. Just do it, folks... Try to make that day your day off if your current job will allow it.. But do go!

People died from COVID-19, moved, got better jobs, became incarcerated, got married... Lots of things happened in 7 years lol. It's not a big surprise when you think about it . 😁

Highly encourage safety glasses. And gloves. I actually like the cloth gloves with the rubber dimples on them more than the new black ones they hand out. They fit tighter for me and they feel less restrictive . As long as you have glasses that cover the side of your eye as well as the front, go get your own if you're not comfortable with what MTA gives out. The ones they give, the standard ones, they have a weird glare for me and they give me a headache... I found Nemesis and Maverick safety glasses to work very well for me. I believe one is a Kimberly Clark product the other one is a 3M product. Just Google for it.

I believe it was a lottery and done randomly

Call up and see how fast you can reschedule before you make a decision. If they can give you something the day you come back or something like that, or earlier go for it. But if they're not going to bring you in for the OPA for three more months, that might be an issue.

It's an offer, none of those people had to take the position. MTA's job is to fill open positions, not care if you went cleaner or conductor. I don't know how they pick and choose but the regular hiring for cleaner was a lottery