Ok, so I'm an idiot low seniority engineer qualified employee with a BS in Business Management. (that can't spell without spell check). I just read an article in a train magazine where it was quoted as saying the railroad has and will have problems filling the magament positions due to a lake of qualified people entering college interested in railroading. OK what about their employees who already have the degree, familiarzation with railroading AND EXPERIENCE. No we hire these people that don't even know what a switch point is.
Here in Detroit, Conrail had trouble getting current employees to take a mgmt job because either the employee would more than likely be taking a pay cut, wouldn't consent to being transferred to another city, or was too well liked that he wouldn't make a "good boss". Many others like myself wouldn't want to give up the luxury of regular hours, days & days off to go back to working when & where they tell you just like being back on the extra board where your time is not your own. I personally could not give up that even though I have been asked many times over the years to join the ranks of supervision- I've got 34 years experience as a tower operator, train dispr, yard master & chief dispr to go along with having "A Certificate of Transportation" from the College of Advanced Traffic (something the NYC demanded of any employee who wished to be promoted) as well as a BS Degree in Legal Administration. Most of the employees joining supervision are coming from the ranks of the M/W dept.
It seems to me that the RR (CSX anyway) doesn't make a managment job enticing enough. I come from the construction industry where a supervisor's job was one which was awarded to the hardest working ,most knowledgeable individual. With it came extra pay and benefits. It was a Promotion. Here at CSX I have had opportunity to move into staff positions but, for me, it is better to stay a craftsmen.Until they come up with a better way they will always have the trouble of their best men always refusing to move up. It is a shame that they cannot take advantage of a thirty year man's experiences and fairly compensate him for it. Mike
I'll try again.............When you work in railroad management and reach your mid 50's you'll receive "an offer you can't (meaning dare not) refuse" to walk so they can hire someone that doesn't know a boxcar from a gondola for half your salary. NS did this a few years back (everyone over 55 out), The Car Management Department had 36 employees, of which 34 were over 55. NS had considerable trouble managing its car fleet for a couple of years! In my case, the company managed to lose all its traffic. First, the parent sold off its manufacturing division to a partnership that bankrupted it and shut it down. Then CSX stole our largest customer in spite of a pledge not to raid its short line connections' customers and an ironclad contract. So, it was retire on disability or pound the pavement. [ 17 March 2001: Message edited by: Gregg Mahlkov ]
