Posted on 05/03/2018 2:29:54 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
What would it take to get you to work on the railroad?
A little extra cash? How about a sign-on bonus of up to $25,000?
That's what two major railroad companies are offering in an effort to recruit more workers in what The Wall Street Journal called "a historically tight labor market."
The Journal said BNSF Railway, based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Union Pacific Corp. in Omaha, Nebraska, are filling jobs as the demand rises to ship more products across the western side of the country....
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
Yeah, right.
Not sure if still true but Railroads used to have the best pensions and great benefits. I know in the gas industry most fail the drug test.
[I know in the gas industry most fail the drug test.]
A customer who’s son was talking to a recruiter about getting into Quantico was told that the millennial generation drug use is preventing them from finding worthy candidates.
I suspect the same of any job requiring a drug test nowadays.
They use Railroad Retirement, which is separate from Social Security, so you don’t contribute to SS anymore, IIRC.
I’m guessing a lot of the labor pool is working at Starbucks or other places while waiting for their dream job as a film-maker, writer or fashion designer.
Mike Rowe from “Dirty Jobs” has a video up as a graduation speech. “Follow your Dreams!” He talks about how he wanted to be a master carpenter like his grandfather. He tried and tried and sucked at it. So instead he found something that he was good at - and it was in demand, and he did that instead.
His point was - do something that will pay the bills first, and you can follow your “dream” on the side.
Me personally? I don’t think they have any use for a one-legged man in my condition.
Our Lord Jesus was probably a fine carpenter, but he had other fish to fry, so to speak.
It could be the light at the end of the tunnel for somebody that’s been looking for work.
There is no labor shortage, that’s the Chamber of Crony Capitalism talking.
Come on now, all of these puns are getting us side tracked.
Sounds a bit loco.
Back in the seventies people would kill for a Railroad job.
They hire you and then do everything in their power to fire you, and they wonder why they cant keep people.
And with that bonus you could really tie one on!
Driving that train, high on cocaine,
Casey Jones you better watch your speed
I'd go off the rails for that kind of bonus. That kind of money would be a real kick in the caboose.
“Me personally? I don’t think they have any use for a one-legged man in my condition.”
I actually went and looked at their job board. There were a couple of positions I could do except my training is in a related field. I’ve done a lot of statistical analysis, know how to use the statistics software and have critiqued academic papers for statistical errors, but; my training is as a Technical Services/Cataloging Librarian. Also, I wonder if they’d hire an arthritic 58-year-old who limps?
From what I’ve read there is a shortage of skilled labor. Welders, machinists, pipe fitters, plumbers, etc. With so many more kids going to college on their “free” government loans - being a plumber is beneath them. Why would a railroad offer them a $25,000 signing bonus if there were so many folks looking for a job there?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.