Training pay is based on union agreements, and depends on the service unit/ negotiated earnings. I know that in that in the past, OJT pay was the same as classroom pay, without the extra money covering your food expenses as it does while in BIT class. You are paid for the days you work. So if you don't get called daily, you won't earn the money. I think I ran nearly every day with the exception of a couple days. We were hard on the boards when I was a BIT doing my OJT. We were out nearly as soon as we were available to be sent. I remember my first call, the crew caller asked if I was supposed to be available to be called out or not, because we had just been marked up at midnight Sunday after getting home from class Saturday. I advised her I was not sure, she said let me check with the local manager and if I call you back, I will tell you where you are going. If you don't hear from me again,enjoy the rest of your night. I slept. But that crew caller became my friend, she fixed my issues when they arose, and remembered the trips I wanted or needed. I had a few strange issues I like to explain for new hires.
1st. Always watch the boards, check them from home after you are called and make sure you are attached to the train/crew you were called for. I had the issue that a new crew caller called me to go North, but gave me the wrong train ID, when he realized what he had done, he called back and gave me the new ID. When I got to the terminal, I found the crew I was supposed to be with, and told them I was on with them. They said no man your not, we didn't see it. I looked up myself on the system and the silly caller had put me down as missed call because evidentally he didn't know how to clear me from the first train which he had placed me on, or he left me on the first train not sure. So I walked into the manager's office and told him after I had called the crew caller at the desk and was told they couldn't remove it. I got the oldest guy there I think, and he didn't seem to like me. When I told the manager he pulled it up, and said there is nothing there now, they must have removed it. I advised him I wanted to let him know in case it hurt my record.
2nd. As with issues above, always check your status/location. I somehow was ghosted in the system I was told. I was actually placed with 2 conductors for a while and they didn't know how to fix it. They had me at the home terminal available for work wanting to put me on a SB, while I was actually 300 miles north of the home terminal rested up waiting to go back home. The crew caller was like we tried calling you at home and couldn't get you. I said that is because I am on the road.
Just my hints and keeping above water in a messed up system.
