TR-00 wrote:It's a bad break that the classes were furloughed, but it is exactly what is faced by young employees on most railroads... No one gives a gold plated promise of eternal employment.
understood,
but when I sat down with the personnel department prior to accepting the offer, I specifically asked if there was
any chance of this happening. I was told almost word for word... no way! transit is one of the biggest railroads bla, bla, bla. We have never had a furlough since our inception bla, bla, bla. it won't happen.
Many of us in the unions fought long and hard against the furloughs, and also to have NJT provide other employment offers. NJT can not simply "create" jobs. You have been offered placement wherever there are openings (including in the bus division).
No one's asking them to create jobs... I've personally spoken to
many engineers who both work regular jobs & the list. All have said how busy things have been over the past year. Many either being called to work on their relief days or getting as many as 8 starts. I am far from an expert, but that to me doesn't sound like there's an ample supply of engineers.
Now is the time to stop feeling sorry for yourself
There's no one feeling sorry for themselves... I'll be back in my old craft (not railroad) on Monday if I so desire. Making more money, without the bullshit.
While you are at it, take the time to contact your state assembly representative and state senator and demand that they approve a budget that provides NJT with the funding needed to fulfill its mission.
That my friend is what annoys me the most. I refuse to be (as I can clearly see that we are) a political pawn in someone's army. Transit has the money. There spending it hand over foot all over the place. Say for example they allowed the final classes to continue. There were less then 30 who were furloughed.
Assuming there was in fact no work, and all 30 were sucking up the guarantee. (which by the way I highly doubt would be the case)...your talking roughly 1.3 mil annually for the salaries of all 30. Once promoted roughly 2 mil annually. What's Transit's annual budget...750-800 million? That's roughly .0025% of their annual budget. Substantial to be sure, but
far from disastrous. Engineers are unique in the sense that if there not there, the train doesn't move...period. Conductors, and the rest of the crews can be moved up if one of them aren't around, that's not the case with engineers. All the more reason I see to keep us around. Transit is a HUGE company with fat all over the place...in non-commuter affecting positions/areas. It seems to me that the money saved by furloughing us could easily be recouped in other areas (like just a tiny bit less art on the walls in Secaucus)
At any rate, and to get back on track... I'm not pissed that it happened per sea, I bothered by only 2 things.
1. As I mentioned, It is not unreasonable to assume that we
are in fact pawns in someone else's battle. (look we don't have any engineers...send us more money)
2. We (I specifically) was assured that there was
NO possibility of this happening.
Like you said though...that's the way the cookie crumbles. I will move on and be successful, Either in this profession or my previous. Transit however potentially lost 30 or so quality people whom they sent as many as 9 months training.