A Question About Time Off

bobjaret Mar 6, 2013

  1. bobjaret

    bobjaret New Member

    2
    0
    4
    Hi, I was wondering if i were a conductor who passed training, had past my test and was on call, if there were a way to schedule time off in advance. If I needed a weekend off in order to go to a wedding is there a way to schedule being off call for that weekend?

    Forgive me, i have very limited knowledge of how the scheduling and vacation/sick time works.

    Thanks.
     
  2. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

    3,527
    2,337
    81
    As far as I know.... no. I was fortunate to work on a short line that ran 5 days a week during daylight 10-12 hour days. Taking time off wasn't a problem for me, but I was underpaid @ $9/hr and non-union as a government entity vs. "private sector" (CSX, BNSF, NS, G&W, PAL, etc..). Don't they "tell you" when you can go on vacation?
     
  3. bobjaret

    bobjaret New Member

    2
    0
    4
    My understanding is that this is a union job.
     
  4. k3ndawg

    k3ndawg TrainBoard Member

    123
    7
    16
    The short answer, is probably. Once or twice a year, no problem. Make a habit of it, like every weekend, and your gonna start getting in trouble for it. Everyone gets a couple personal leave days, and you can always layoff sick if you REALLY need the time. :) BNSF has different contract details than UP, of which I'm a rookie conductor, and of course each service unit will have different rules as well.

    It's not a straight answer, but I hope I helped.
     
  5. Burlington Northern Fan

    Burlington Northern Fan TrainBoard Supporter

    452
    657
    27
    you can lay off 5 days a month and 2 weekend days a month LOS(sick)/LOP(personnal)/LOF(fatigue) use that one as a last resort, and not got into to much trouble. but this is on a rolling 3 month cycle. Don't get into the trap of laying off all the time.It takes three monthes to get the first layoff to fall off of your record. but there are ways
     
  6. rch

    rch TrainBoard Member

    349
    825
    32
    You could also try marking up to a yard job, local or road switcher that has weekends off. Odds are pretty good you will get bumped off it, but it might work. You might also have one of your friends who drew better seniority than you bump you right as the weekend approaches so you can take your 48 hour bump.
     
  7. Charlie

    Charlie TrainBoard Member

    1,910
    183
    39
    Just an FYI for anyone who is a newbie railroad employee... If you lay off for any reason during your 60 or 90 day "derail" period, you may be let go. If you must lay off sick you had better go see the doctor about your illness and be prepared to produce a note from your doctor when you mark back up.

    Also take caution with that 3 month lay-off thing. You will have to have 3 complete months with no time off since you took that last day of lay-off. I got bit by that thing once, but we beat it out since the "inquistors" failed to show up within a "reasonable amount of time" after the the scheduled meeting time so me and my local chairman left. At any rate I was found guilty in absentia but no punishment was meted out. I was retiring anyway so I didn't give a hoot.

    As the one poster said, bid on a job that has weekends off. If you win the bid and work the job, just dont answer the phone when the weekend comes. If you get bumped it will probably be just prior to the start of the job. When you get bumped your union agreement should give you 48 hours to place before being force assigned. If you can afford it, take the time off, It's free time although it may cost you money in lost wages. I knew guys who knew how to ride a bump and could catch good paying jobs and get bumped after a day or two and take time off and watch the board for another plum job.
    With a little seniority you can learn the tricks and make it easy on yourself. That's how I got that good paying commuter train job, it was a real worker and none of the old heads wanted it for that reason but it paid well and had fabulous days off. (every Sunday and every other Saturday and every holiday)
    Good luck!
     

Share This Page