Strike on BNSF?
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- Railroadfan...fan
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Strike on BNSF?
Earlier in the month, BNSF recently released a new attendance policy which I think is just pathetic because the railroad is full of riches already thanks to Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffet. Supposedly starting February 1st each worker will get 30 points but would be erased if they took holidays, weekdays and weekends off. This has led to major issues between BNSF and the Railroad unions. Over 17,000 workers have threatened a strike until things get settled. BNSF have said that this attendance policy is supposed to help workers but it is really not. Let's say you have a family emergency to deal with and you have to take time off to deal with it, will BNSF care with this attendance policy. Nope you still get points erased. As if things weren't bad enough on BNSF Railway, Schneider one of the largest trucking/intermodal service has already gone to arch rival Union Pacific which is supposed to take effect on January 1st 2023 and rumors have said JB Hunt is going to do the same thing. Here is a video about it listed below talking about the supposed strike thats gonna happen. Sad times we are living in the rail industry. I thought BNSF was the smarter one compared to CSX, UP and NS. Guess not. Eventually it'll be one huge railroad in the country if things dont get better.
Video I found regarding the strike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnHhk7l ... oeHooligan
Article https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/loc ... 2747411b8c
Video I found regarding the strike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnHhk7l ... oeHooligan
Article https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/loc ... 2747411b8c
- GTW Dude
- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: Strike on BNSF?
So BNSF basically implemented the Chinese social credit system into their workforce?
Re: Strike on BNSF?
A judge has deemed the potential strike illegal. Government in bed with big business again.
https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... ce-policy/
https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... ce-policy/
Re: Strike on BNSF?
Court grants BNSF Railway a restraining order blocking railroad unions from striking
Seriously. At this point, the government need to step in because things have gotten absolutely out of control.
BNSF previously had a thing where train crews were allowed up to 5 weekdays and 2 weekends a month off.
IMO mandatory minimum requirement for ANY job that involves being on call 24/7 across ANY industry:
- Minimum of 5 weekdays (paid) and 2 weekends (also paid) per month off
- Minimum three paid sick days per month. Additional sick days must also be paid if the employee has a doctor's note. Prohibit railroads from reprimanding for calling in sick.
- Days off for fatigue-related absences as needed (no more than 50% pay cut)
- Anything else as needed. Pilots get protected by the FAA; railroaders need the same.
And while they're at it, raise the 10 hours off between calls to 12 hours.
Class 1's really need to realise that all of these excessive regulations they're forcing onto their trainmen is eventually going to backfire on them. By doing this they are literally destroying themselves from the inside out. Railroading is an extremely safety-sensitive field where even a single wrong move can get people killed, not to mention that often times dangerous goods (flammable, oxidiers, corrosive, explosive, radioactive) are transported by rail and these trainmen are responsible for the safety of themselves and everyone around towns and cities whenever they pass through such areas. As if the Lac-Mégantic and Hinton train wrecks weren't enough.
Seriously. At this point, the government need to step in because things have gotten absolutely out of control.
BNSF previously had a thing where train crews were allowed up to 5 weekdays and 2 weekends a month off.
IMO mandatory minimum requirement for ANY job that involves being on call 24/7 across ANY industry:
- Minimum of 5 weekdays (paid) and 2 weekends (also paid) per month off
- Minimum three paid sick days per month. Additional sick days must also be paid if the employee has a doctor's note. Prohibit railroads from reprimanding for calling in sick.
- Days off for fatigue-related absences as needed (no more than 50% pay cut)
- Anything else as needed. Pilots get protected by the FAA; railroaders need the same.
And while they're at it, raise the 10 hours off between calls to 12 hours.
Class 1's really need to realise that all of these excessive regulations they're forcing onto their trainmen is eventually going to backfire on them. By doing this they are literally destroying themselves from the inside out. Railroading is an extremely safety-sensitive field where even a single wrong move can get people killed, not to mention that often times dangerous goods (flammable, oxidiers, corrosive, explosive, radioactive) are transported by rail and these trainmen are responsible for the safety of themselves and everyone around towns and cities whenever they pass through such areas. As if the Lac-Mégantic and Hinton train wrecks weren't enough.
Last edited by mach69 on Wed Feb 02, 2022 11:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Saturnalia
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Re: Strike on BNSF?
The problem is that the railroads and unions made deals with the devil (the other side) to get what they want. The railroads forked over cash, and the unions forked over quality of life.
Now both are kinda screwed because there’s no more of either to give up.
Now both are kinda screwed because there’s no more of either to give up.
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- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: And just when things couldn't get any worse...
"Seriously. At this point, the government need to step in because things have gotten absolutely out of control."
I agree with you 100 percent. These railroads have lost it with so much. It's not even PSR Railroading with BNSF, its literally Hiz Wiz railroading with this attendance policy..
I agree with you 100 percent. These railroads have lost it with so much. It's not even PSR Railroading with BNSF, its literally Hiz Wiz railroading with this attendance policy..
Re: And just when things couldn't get any worse...
The unions are now complaining to the federal government about this, asking them to "immediately investigate all carrier attendance policies that refuse to provide exceptions for fatigue-related absences [or illness-related abscences.]"CSXBOY wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 9:28 pm"Seriously. At this point, the government need to step in because things have gotten absolutely out of control."
I agree with you 100 percent. These railroads have lost it with so much. It's not even PSR Railroading with BNSF, its literally Hiz Wiz railroading with this attendance policy..
With BNSF's Hi-Viz policy being the most important thing of concern here.
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- The Conrail Guru
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Re: Strike on BNSF?
CSXBOY wrote: ↑Tue Jan 25, 2022 2:58 pmEarlier in the month, BNSF recently released a new attendance policy which I think is just pathetic because the railroad is full of riches already thanks to Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffet. Supposedly starting February 1st each worker will get 30 points but would be erased if they took holidays, weekdays and weekends off. This has led to major issues between BNSF and the Railroad unions. Over 17,000 workers have threatened a strike until things get settled. BNSF have said that this attendance policy is supposed to help workers but it is really not. Let's say you have a family emergency to deal with and you have to take time off to deal with it, will BNSF care with this attendance policy. Nope you still get points erased. As if things weren't bad enough on BNSF Railway, Schneider one of the largest trucking/intermodal service has already gone to arch rival Union Pacific which is supposed to take effect on January 1st 2023 and rumors have said JB Hunt is going to do the same thing. Here is a video about it listed below talking about the supposed strike thats gonna happen. Sad times we are living in the rail industry. I thought BNSF was the smarter one compared to CSX, UP and NS. Guess not. Eventually it'll be one huge railroad in the country if things dont get better.
Video I found regarding the strike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnHhk7l ... oeHooligan
Article https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/loc ... 2747411b8c
Yes, Schneider is leaving, but they were a small part of the BN intermodal network. JB Hunt has been partnered with BN for well over a decade, possibly two, and frankly a lot would have to go wrong for them to leave. BNSF takes the intermodal network seriously and there are daily calls between BN and JBH to ensure that JBH’s needs are met.
I’d be curious to know if there’s even a rumor at all or if you’re just saying that. Please provide your source so we can see where this is coming from and judge it, because I’m 99% sure it’s false.
the contents of the above post are my opinion and mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
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- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: Strike on BNSF?
I honestly dont know. I was told by another railfan about the JB hunt rumor. But it could very well be false. Not everyone in this community is 100 percent accurate when it comes to accuracy regarding trains
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- The Conrail Guru
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Re: Strike on BNSF?
100% guarantee it’s false.
No kidding.
the contents of the above post are my opinion and mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
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- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: Strike on BNSF?
Time for all the big rr's to be broken up back into what they were originally, or given to shortlines, who know how to take care of their people and customers. All of this is getting totally ridiculous. Maybe a nationwide version of Conrail would do the trick, as these mega rr's cannot seem to function correctly.
Re: Strike on BNSF?
You really trust the government to do it? They can't even run themselvesjoeyuboats wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 2:40 amMaybe a nationwide version of Conrail would do the trick, as these mega rr's cannot seem to function correctly.
Re: Strike on BNSF?
Conrail was the king at not serving customers it did not want.
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- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: Strike on BNSF?
So, what do we do? We have the trucking industry, that cannot get enough good drivers to function correctly, not everyone of the rail customers is located on a navigable waterway, and a railroad that boasted that We Can Handle It now can't handle it. UP now stands for Utterly Pathtic.
Re: Strike on BNSF?
If the trucking industry treated it's drivers better they would not have a driver shortage.
- redcrumbox
- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: Strike on BNSF?
If more freight found it's way back to the rails this would decrease the overall impact of the driver shortage.
Old EMD’s are the gift that keeps on giving.
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- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: Strike on BNSF?
Of course, having Susie Homemaker as CEO of BNSF cannot possibly be a good thing. Whatever happened to a person who hired in, and then worked their way up the ladder, learning about railroading from the ground up?? Just because you have a degree from college does not mean you are qualified to hold that position.
Re: Strike on BNSF?
Kathryn Farmer started as a management trainee in 1992 and has been with BNSF for 29 years.
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- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: Strike on BNSF?
Has she ever rebuilt a switch, or worked as a switchman in a yard somewhere, maybe when the high temp for the day is -25, as it is in the Northern plains, or done anything like that? I doubt it, yet she is going to tell railroaders how to run trains.Oh, and she probably has weekends off, and get to come into work and leave when she wants to. Please spare me the violin music for this woman.
- DaveO
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Re: Strike on BNSF?
The job of a manager is to manage, not do physical labor.
None of what you mentioned has to do with managing.
Spare me the macho attitude.
None of what you mentioned has to do with managing.
Spare me the macho attitude.