worstatit t1_iylz3c0 wrote
While not surprised about Toomey, I'm unsure of the inner workings of this issue. Are these workers allowed a large number of vacation or personal days that must be used if they call off sick? Seems unusual that rail work has a reputation as good employment, yet no sick time? Why would they fire experienced workers for being sick when they're begging for new hires? Why does this contract affect six different unions? Seems more complex than the headlines and articles, though I hit a paywall on this one.
106473 t1_iym76oo wrote
My friend works for bnsf, their sick days and personal time is so messed up it's actually quite sickening that they have to deal with it. They work of a strike system of every time they call off, even if it's for legitimate reasons.
worstatit t1_iym8d02 wrote
So it is quite convoluted? Though I understand a need for reliable employees in an industry of this type, there should also be safety concerns involving sick people at posts involvingpublicsafety, aside from employee welfare. Seems the special rules developed over the years for this industry did not help it's employees.
IamSauerKraut t1_iymiwx7 wrote
Gotta keep commerce alive and products moving. It's not just about the rail workers. Harry S Truman knew this to be true.
worstatit t1_iymnoqs wrote
I agree, but don't see why they should be required to work if legitimately sick, under threat of firing? Like I said, I'm not aware of any of the intricacies involved with this issue. Are they afraid of wildcat sick out strikes or what?
IamSauerKraut t1_iymu6jr wrote
Personally think it is absurd for any employer to not provide sick time but rail workers are in a different category (along with firefighters and police) where being on the job is necessary beyond the employer's and employee's desire to make money. The sick time should have been voted in as part of any legislative resolution.
worstatit t1_iymvp3n wrote
Yes. Police and firefighters definitely are given sick time in every case I'm aware of.
NinjaLanternShark t1_iynpv4j wrote
If you want to know more, research "precision railroad scheduling" in your news outlets of choice. It's railroad's version of "just in time" manufacturing -- basically squeezing every dollar of value out of the railroad that you can.
This means if train A is scheduled to go from city B to city C, it absolutely positively can not be delayed, or the effects will keep rippling for days, because there's no margin or buffer at all.
That's why they're fighting sick days so hard. If someone calls out sick with no notice, it costs the railroad way more than the value of that person's salary for the day.
Of course, they could fix this by hiring more people, but, PRS is why sick days is such a sticking point.
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