You'll do what yer told, you little &%#$@!!!     CSX likes to picture itself as a company where all of it's employees, customers, and contractors are treated with the highest levels of courtesy, professionalism, and respect. The employees, customers, and contractors know differently....

Webmaster's note: Since I go through the server logs regularly, I just thought I'd take this opportunity to point out that all of the comments in defense of the company seem to come from Jacksonville, while complaints come from everywhere that the company does business. You do the math.

Name: NoMo
E-mail: 
Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A
Posted: 11 March 2010

I saw this and could help smiling.

http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=51064

Made me think of the Ocean Springs girl who came out of the bar and
flashed us every time a train would pass!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for N/A Posted: 10 March 2010 So....where is Danny Spencer now?

Name: MadMan E-mail: Employed as: M of W, for 30+ years Posted: 10 March 2010 Another Wonderful Day on the Baltimore Division! CENTER CITY - March 9, 2010 (WPVI) -- A derailed train car fell as it was being lifted, and the Action Cam caught it on video. Related Content MORE: Send a Breaking News alert MORE: Report a typo MORE: Action News Desktop Alert MORE: SLIDESHOW: Viewer photos When more than 2 million pounds of churning metal tries to come to a screeching halt, something has to give, and the train derailed Monday night just after 10 p.m. at 23rd and Race streets in Center City Philadelphia. Michael Fischette lives along the tracks and watched as the conductor tried to keep the train on the tracks. Crews spent the morning trying to get the cars back on the rail and clear the scene. They had a minor setback when one car toppled over. But they got the job done a few hours later. VIDEO: One of the cars slipped and fell onto its side during efforts to get it back on the tracks Tuesday morning, and Action News cameras were rolling as it happened. There were no hazardous materials aboard any of the 5 cars that derailed. CSX teams had the train repaired and back on its way by noon. The rail lines are used solely for freight trains and the derailment is not affecting commuter trains. Fire officials say there are no injuries and no hazardous material involved. The cause of the derailment still under investigation. (Copyright ©2010 WPVI-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

Name: steve E-mail: hmstoo@hotmail Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 09 March 2010 Hey Skippi! I started with CSX in the 70s and quit in the 90s. Retirement age was changed when Regan was in office. I wasn't eligible for full benefits until I was 66 & 9 months.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for N/A Posted: 08 March 2010 All I know is his wife's name is Jamie and he moved to Georgia from Florida.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 08 March 2010 Would that be Larry McKenzie out of Gentilly...tell me it ain't so?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for N/A Posted: 08 March 2010 Why???????? was Danny Spencer sent back to Indiana from Boyles Yard?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for N/A Posted: 08 March 2010 Who has information on the affair between Lindsey Harrison and Larry McKenzie? Is the Railroad aware of this? They are in both in Georgia, but she came from Boyles Yard in Alabama. Need info concerning their jobs at the moment. She is supposedly on leave??????

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 05 March 2010 Here's another "let me tell you how good we're doing and our future plans to do even better". Maybe this time they'll catch the market on an up tick! http://investors.csx.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=92932&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1398401&highlight= J.P. MORGAN THOMAS R. WADEWITZ 212-622-6461

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 05 March 2010 Lafayette, IN...will there be a conversion? Will Danny become a member of the High Heeled Boys Club? Stay tuned.

Name: Pete E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 March 2010 Heads up Lafayette, Indiana Yards. Danny Spencer is headed your way, and plans on excersizing his Yard Master seniority. The wife has had enough of Danny, and his wild ways. She is going home to the Lafayette area, and if Danny wants to be with his kids, he had better follow. Enjoy

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 02 March 2010 Hey APE 1-10: We sold him a couch, love seat, ottoman and a couple of tables we didn't want that were going to storage or be given to charity. I suppose you think we should have given them to him. That was 2.5 years ago. He has been given enough...since you seem to know him you can ask him. If you're interested I have a circa 1880 Brunswick regulation pool table...I don't believe my step son can afford it, maybe you can!

Name: Jesus Nomo E-mail: Employed as: APE, for Less than 1 year Posted: 02 March 2010 LOL! Nomo said this....... Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 22 February 2010 Hey Con 1-10: Lets get one thing straight...first I'm not your buddy. Secondly, at 28 your not old enough to know the difference between shit and shinola. If you've been in furlough status for four years, why would you hang around the crew room and make yourself mad by watching the old heads tally their earning statements? Or better yet, why haven't you taken a transfer...I'm sure they have been offered. Why are the "young guys" suffering to feed their family? Perhaps you can favor all of us by telling us what kind of trucks they drive and how they live. The old heads can drive those trucks because their families are grown and hopefully off their dole, their houses are paid for. Their expenses are less than a young man with a family. Life is full of choices...you can save and invest money now or you can spend it on impressing your friends. Make the wrong choice now and you'll regret it later. Any one under 30 has never seen truly tough times. Times are tough and will get tougher before they get better, sounds like the regrets are starting. By the way, I have a '01 GMC Yukon and a '99 MB ML450 and the money I've saved on notes, insurance and tags will pay for a nice extended family vacation in Europe this summer or buy one of my Grandchildren a P.A.C.T. contract which will pay for their college education. Like I said, it's their money and they can spend it however they want to. If they are suffering however, do you think it might be because of the choices they made? What he failed to add is that he is full of shit and that he was selling his furniture to his step son not that long ago. The step son that still works for railroad.

Name: rel'd women of B'ham E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 02 March 2010 Great news everyone, yeah!!!!!yeah!!!!!!heah!!!!! Danny Spencer has been fired as a CSX officer, the days of fucking with peoples wifes, chickenshit failures, lying to everyone, stepping on toes has finally caught up with old Danny. Too bad he did'nt get fired completely. Would have been nice to have seen his seniority taken away so he could see what it feels like to be on the other end of things for a change. Ever heard of 'Karma' Danny? well you finally got yours.

Name: getting you from A to A 1/2 E-mail: Employed as: Train Dispatcher, for 20-30 years Posted: 26 February 2010 Just a thought to throw out amongst all you conductors and the few engineers with the UTU. Why don't one of you start up UTU-Sucks.com ??? They are the ones who agree to all this BS

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 25 February 2010 Hey Con 1-10: It has been said before but it bears repeating...become involved in your local, read the Railroad Labor Act and the Collective Bargaining Agreement you work under. Don't be embarrassed to ask questions...the documents are difficult to understand. The old heads are the repository of the knowledge. Frankly the UTU would rather the membership not become educated about them. Knowledge is your best friend and a little can go a long way. Please, whatever you do, take the time to vote and encourage you coworkers to vote. Regardless of the outcome, this vote will impact you for the rest of your careers

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 25 February 2010 Thanks NoMo I've asked that question to several people and nobody seems to know or they say we will get worse if we vote it down , I just wasn't sure how the process worked or the steps .

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 25 February 2010 Hey Con 1-10: Lets put first things first...the vote comes first, every thing else is second. What might happen next is of little or no importance; ifs and buts should have nothing to do with you or anyone else voting or how you vote. The PEB it the very last step in the process and would be years away; and yes their recommendation would be imposed on all parties. However, the recommendations made by the PEB could very well be to members advantage. In the past the UTU has used the threat of a possible PEB imposing less favorable terms than those negotiated to coerce the members into voting for the proposed agreement. If the SSA fails, like the Loco 30+ said, the parties will sit down and renegotiate or fall back on the national negotiations. Should the national agreement fail you would continue to work under the current contract until a new one was ratified or the PEB recommendations were imposed. A strike would last a hour or two before the President issued a back to work order, the UTU would immediately comply, if they didn't the civil fines would commence and the union leadership arrested. The last thing the UTU leadership wants to do is bankrupt their meal ticket or go to jail. Until the union leadership is willing to make sacrifices, the chain of shitty contracts brought to the membership will continue!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 25 February 2010 If voted down could this be forced on us through section notices and stuff like that.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 25 February 2010 Looks like the UTU is bringing out the heavy guns! I may be reading between the lines but it looks like the UTU is telling the membership not to expect much out of the National negotiations and accept what they offer! Why don't we just shut 'em down? By Retired UTU GS&T Dan Johnson We frequently hear from frustrated members, "Why don’t we simply go on strike, shut the railroad down, and be done with it?" I, too, have shared these feelings witnessing excessive discipline, outrageous demands of arrogant managers, and carrier negotiators focusing only on their year-end bonus. But the fact is, it's against the law to simply "shut ‘em down." Before labor or management may engage in strikes or lockouts, each must satisfy numerous steps spelled out by the Railway Labor Act (RLA). In most disputes - defined as differences over application or interpretation of contracts - the RLA requires final and binding arbitration. In the few disputes that can lead to a strike or lockout -- involving collective bargaining over contract amendments affecting wages, benefits and working conditions -- the Supreme Court held that the RLA purposely creates "interminable" delay designed to encourage both sides to reach a mutually-acceptable solution and keep the trains running. Among the lengthy steps is open-ended mediation by the National Mediation Board, and recommendations for settlement by a White House appointed presidential emergency board (PEB). Railroads are deemed so essential to national defense and a healthy economy that even in the few instances where all intermediate steps fail, and a strike or lockout is permitted, Congress usually inserts itself and passes a back-to-work law imposing settlement demands generally mirroring PEB recommendations. We, in rail labor, have learned from bitter experience that our membership is better served by a voluntary settlement -- even if we don’t get all we want -- than having a third party, with no real-world knowledge of our industry, cram a settlement down our throats. Finally, if we ignore the law and "shut ‘em down" anyway, we face fines and civil judgments that could bankrupt the union and result in jail terms for those involved in the shutdown. (Dan Johnson served as UTU GS&T from 2001 until his retirement in 2007. He hired on as a Southern Pacific trainman, Tucson Division, in 1966. He held elective positions of vice local chairperson, local chairperson and legislative representative for Local 807, Tucson, and was Arizona State Legislative Board chairperson from 1975-1983. Brother Johnson was vice general chairperson and general chairperson for Southern Pacific/Union Pacific Western Lines from 1981-1997; and an International vice president from 1997 to his election as GS&T in 2001. He earned an undergraduate degree in government and history from the University of Arizona in 1969, and did graduate studies there in 1969 and 1970.) February 23, 2010

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 25 February 2010 I would check with your Local S/T or LC to find out who is eligible to vote they should have a list. It should be anyone with good standings within the union. Since you're furloughed you should be eligible to vote seeing union dues are waived during that time period. I don't think retirees can vote because when they retire they resign their seniority from the railroad even though they are still considered union members. If the UTU SSA is voted down there would be two options: 1) The UTU and CSX could sit down and renegotiate another on-property contract hopefully with better results. 2) Resort back to the national contract negotiations.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 24 February 2010 do furloughed employs get to vote and is it true that retired utu members vote also what happens next if this contract is voted down , i get different answers on that .

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 24 February 2010 Hey Con 10-20: My comments in response to Hancock's answers to the Old Head Conductor's dissection of the UTU SSA. E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 20 February 2010 There's nothing like a little light reading first thing in the morning! It took less time to read "War and Peace". After reading his defense of UTU SSA agreement...all I can say is "guilty as charged". I see nothing in his responses that would change my mind. The fact that he would respond at all tells me the SSA is in trouble and the UTU is trying to divert the memberships attention from the issues at hand. I found the following exchange quite humorous... "You should remember that the value of an Individual Performance Award of CSX stock depends solely on the value of the stock at the time given and should not be held as a set amount. The actual value of the award could vary widely, depending on the market or forces such as stock splits. If you are serving our country in the National Guard or Reserve, and have weekend duty once every six months, you will never see an Individual Performance Award until you hitch is up. Just CSX's way of saying thanks for your service". Response: "The stock is the stock; it is not based on a monetary value. This is better than the writer’s opinion. CSXT’s policy on serving in the military remains in effect. Finally, the IPA is an addition". If the stock isn't based on a monetary value, what's it based on...good intentions? Here's the kicker..."However, this Agreement will put from a minimum of $18,000.00 to $53000.00 or more in a member’s pocket. And if the national does better on the GWI, it will be more money guaranteed". Let's blind the membership with $ signs! Looks like the UTU is getting desperate. The GC and the UTU considered this a fait accompli, a done deal; leading the sheep to slaughter. They though the membership would follow the footsteps of the BLEt membership. The last thing the UTU and CSX wants is to have the National proposal released prior to the SSA being ratified...they don't want the membership to compare them. Don't be surprised if votes aren't cast from the grave yard! Like the 30+ Con stated yesterday under Safety...I too can't believe the UTU would even allow something like this to be brought to a vote. I truly hope this proposal is soundly defeated then the GC are ousted from their jobs. Perhaps then International would get the message!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 24 February 2010 This has nothing to do with old or young. This is about working conditions that will affect everyone for decades. When the BLE SSA came about some people thought how great it would be to know where and when they'll be working every week under a bid system. Not thinking about what will be lost. Last year when the BLE negotiated the SSA extension they knew there was a possibility it wouldn't pass so they included another opt out clause for 2014. Using scare tactics of the economy and that national negotiations could go on for years. Those same tactics are being used by the UTU. Wether it passes or not isn't the bigger question it's getting people to take 5 minutes to send in a ballot. In a democracy majority always wins. To see a small turnout of voters like what happened with the BLE in 2007 (51%) & 2009 (34%) is troubling.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 10-20 years Posted: 23 February 2010 Who cares about the age group what we need to be talking about is voting this contract down and spreading the word ! Hey NoMo what did you think about Hancocks comment on the contract ; and why haven't we heard about the national . They were goin to meet the 1st of this month to negotiate and there are no updates .

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 23 February 2010 speaking of the bickering between old head and new blood.... thats part of the problem, just like the utu vs. ble..... it should be old + new vs this piece of shit company called CSX. the unions should also stop the bickering and side deals and try to work together to bring better treatment to the union dues paying employees of CSX. Company is getting what they want cause WE the idiots wont stand together.....

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 23 February 2010 Some debt restructuring: http://investors.csx.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=92932&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1393587&highlight=

Name: Furloughed Cubbie E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for Less than 1 year Posted: 23 February 2010 i have been reading the bickering between old head and new blood. What the new blood fails to mention is at the interview they told us the odds of getting furloughed are high and they even made us sign a piece of paper saying we understood this. I signed it and so did all the rest of the cubbies. So i will have to side with the old heads on this one but do keep in mind one thing to all the old heads out there. While you bitch about everything, just keep in mind we will be glad to do your job for less because dammit we just want to fucking work. Bottom line is new blood knew what the hell they were getting into and the old heads need to understand that we just want to pay the bills. Some of us left damn good jobs thinking that CSX was better and got dry fucked by J-ville when they only gave us days and not weeks to turn notices into previous employers which in turned kept most of us from going back to our old jobs.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 23 February 2010 Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 22 February 2010 Hey Con 1-10: Lets get one thing straight...first I'm not your buddy. Secondly, at 28 your not old enough to know the difference between shit and shinola. If you've been in furlough status for four years, why would you hang around the crew room and make yourself mad by watching the old heads tally their earning statements? Or better yet, why haven't you taken a transfer...I'm sure they have been offered. Why are the "young guys" suffering to feed their family? Perhaps you can favor all of us by telling us what kind of trucks they drive and how they live. The old heads can drive those trucks because their families are grown and hopefully off their dole, their houses are paid for. Their expenses are less than a young man with a family. Life is full of choices...you can save and invest money now or you can spend it on impressing your friends. Make the wrong choice now and you'll regret it later. Any one under 30 has never seen truly tough times. Times are tough and will get tougher before they get better, sounds like the regrets are starting. By the way, I have a '01 GMC Yukon and a '99 MB ML450 and the money I've saved on notes, insurance and tags will pay for a nice extended family vacation in Europe this summer or buy one of my Grandchildren a P.A.C.T. contract which will pay for their college education.XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Heck man you left out the best part. The Harley Davidson, and the Trailer house double wide!!!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 23 February 2010 Hey Loco 30+: Sounds like the same old song...just a few more slots to bid on. Instead of bidding on jobs at your home terminal you'll have to bid on jobs in your seniority district. Seniority is king, the best jobs go to the most senior men. If you happen to work at a desirable terminal you may be displaced by a man who rather drive 50 or 60 miles to work a afternoon job rather than work grave yards at home. Of course that has always been a possibility, it now becomes a probability. In any event the dreaded F9 board will no longer be a seasonal visitor rather a permanent guest. The youngest men will reside there until they have enough seniority to hold the shittiest job in the shittiest terminal in the district. I wonder if the F9 board will be by terminal or if they'll go to a district wide board? In any event, if I were at the bottom of the roster I would be tuning up the resume and looking for other employment while my seniority ripened. If I was on the cusp of holding a job at home, I might preempt being forced by relocating to the shitty terminal. There's no point in postponing the inevitable and it would save money and stress further down the line and limit you to one relocation. Down here Gentilly was considered the shittiest terminal in the district. When I first hired out I was forced to New Orleans. It was 135 miles from my front door to the yard office; it took 1:55 to make the drive. Although I didn't like it, I found the yard, people and city enjoyable. Pensacola would be considered the best but unless you had 2 years of service you couldn't hold anything. I found a nice apartment about 5 minutes from the yard just on the dry side of the revetment. With utilities it still cost $750 a month. Either move your family or make the move with enough men to share the expenses and keep your share small. The RR is hard enough and will put a strain on families and marriages even under the best circumstances. Being separated by a couple of hundred miles for 10-12 days at a time for a couple of years spells disaster. In any event, if I had less than 3 years of service I would start formulating "what if" scenarios. Even if the UTU SSA doesn't pass CSX's employment/labor relation philosophy is evolving...mutating is a more like it and they will be increasingly hard to deal with.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 23 February 2010 CSX allows bad behavior with their frieght train emplowees. they leave their job to meet their girlfriends to run on their spouses then call the other person on the job this i they going in the waycross yard . I know this happien from when CSX was in fernandina bch. fl. to waycross ga. this is a safty issue they cover for each other engineers and conductors. this happiens alot with the ones from age to and they are still there. they are a safty problem.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 23 February 2010 NoMo What I used was some what exagerated but not really. The bid system has 85 slots. Engineers in my area have to protect a seniority zone of 234 miles which includes 5 yards. My point was some people are bidding on jobs that they couldn't hold unless hell froze over then want to bitch when they're forced to other terminals. If the trainmen get this bid system life will drastically change. They too will have to protect every job within their seniority zone. The fall back is if no one bids on a job it can be awarded to the youngest man who didn't put in enough bids. If I had my choice of putting extra bids in for jobs I don't really want that might require that I drive 70 miles to work it's better than be forced to drive 234 miles. It has already happened. Never say they can't. The railroad doesn't care about any hardships. Once you're in a bid system it's all about putting in the right choices from #1 being the best down to #85 being the worse. Just because a persons terminal only has 14 jobs there might be 71 other jobs within the zone. Most cases where people were forced away from home they've been lucky to get a weeks vacation or PL days till the next round of bids.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 23 February 2010 Hey Loco 30+: It seems to me that having to bid on 85 jobs is excessive. Unless you're at an ultra-large terminal; in the case of an engineer, there aren't that many jobs at their home terminal. Does the SSA force engineers to bid on jobs outside their home terminal? Trying to recall, in Mobile there seemed to be maybe 14 yard (Pre RCO) or local jobs, 8 assigned runs, 10 pool slots and another 20 or so slots on two boards. The Mobile boards protected New Orleans. That's 52 slots the engineers could bid at their home terminal and that's before Sibert went remote. That would leave 33 slots the engineers would have to bid outside the home terminal. The UTU seniority district went as far as Birmingham; I'm not sure how far the BLEt district went to. However, I do know it went to Pensacola (60 miles), Flomaton (60 miles), Montgomery (170 miles) and New Orleans (135 miles). In any event, being forced on a job other than a TV at an away from home terminal would cause a severe financial hardship. I'm I correct that CSX does not have to provide a room or meal allowance on jobs that are forced? Have engineers in your District been forced or can they bid down? The UTU has a 30 mile rule...I wonder how the union and carrier will reconcile the conflict if the UTU SSA's bid system is similar to the BLEt's and it passes? I guess engineers are subject to flowback, so there is someplace they can go...the ground service employees have no such protection regardless of whether the UTU SSA passes or fails. I think the tales of woe haven't even begun!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 23 February 2010 Cond 1-10 The young is suffering? What do you think we haven't been in that situation? I can assure you we went through furloughs and difficult times on the railroad. It's a matter of sticking it out or leaving. There are no other choices. I don't think people would be bitching about getting laid off from other jobs more than they do about the railroad. No one owes you anything definitely not those still working. What you're looking for is a hand out. Go paint a sign go to the nearest interstate on ramp and say you'll work for food. I'm with NoMo if you've been furloughed for 4 years why are you hanging out in the crew room. Apparently you know how to get another job seeing your F150 ect...was paid off before you hired out. What NoMo stated was correct. In 2008 & 2009 we saw newbies just marked up buying new Cadillac Escalades, F150's, Mercedes, BMW's ect...even though we warned them not to buy anything big within 5 years till they establish seniority. I've lived in the same home for 23 years I drive a 2007 Dodge Charger I got from the credit union which was a repo. Most of my peers don't live high on the hog like ya'll think. All we think about is getting to retirement age.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 23 February 2010 C&O Joe I'm on the Huntington Division just like you. I've even quoted you on this site and a few others that the union helped those in training that were let go. That was the union in action taking care of it's people even though they weren't technically in the union. If people would get involved with the union it would open up their eyes to see it's not all cut and dry that everything has to go through the proper channels. All I see is those few who occasionally attend meeting have their own agenda and not the locals/divisions as a whole. Bitching moaning they didn't get their claims paid that CSX forced them outside the home terminal because they didn't put the max 85 jobs on their bid sheet ect...When it comes down to issues that affect everyone that can't seem to form an opinion. The unions good or bad needs people to get involved or just go with the consequenses from non-participation.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 23 February 2010 Lloyd It appears you read more into what I wrote that what it was. It's time for those who have the majority voting power to step up to the plate. That would be anyone with less than 20 years on the railroad. My generation doesn't have voting power anymore most of us will be gone in the next 5 years. You talk about being a veteran that's commendable and you should be proud to have served your country. It still has nothing to do with the railroad. Other than like myself I was hired because of my military service. All I stated was this generation has to get involved with the union for it to survive. This defeatist attitude will be it's downfall. There isn't any such thing as voluntary furloughs if there was it wouldn't help it would be a temporary fix. You think because we are up in age we have tons of money in the bank. Most of my generation is just getting to the point to aggressively save for retirement. We've helped put our children through college helped them make a fresh start in life ect...it never stops them comes the grandchildren. If you can't take advise from the generation before you then you're a fool. I've never stated this new generation had everything handed to them on a silver platter that was you. You're the biggest complainer when CSX has tried to help out by offering transfers. You find the negative side in everything. Yes, I come on this website everyday. Sometimes I post sometimes I don't. All in all it's my 15 minutes. I'm in the process of retiring. There ya' go I helped put a man to work that most likely would still be furloughed. The time will come when one morning you'll wake up to find ya'll have become the oldheads. I was 32 years old when it happened. Then when it happens the next generation can whim and moan about how greedy you are. Most people I know young an old aren't voluntering to run up it's more of a case that CMC gets them on the phone and forces it. That has been going on way before you and I were ever born. It's not new.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 22 February 2010 Hey Con 1-10: Lets get one thing straight...first I'm not your buddy. Secondly, at 28 your not old enough to know the difference between shit and shinola. If you've been in furlough status for four years, why would you hang around the crew room and make yourself mad by watching the old heads tally their earning statements? Or better yet, why haven't you taken a transfer...I'm sure they have been offered. Why are the "young guys" suffering to feed their family? Perhaps you can favor all of us by telling us what kind of trucks they drive and how they live. The old heads can drive those trucks because their families are grown and hopefully off their dole, their houses are paid for. Their expenses are less than a young man with a family. Life is full of choices...you can save and invest money now or you can spend it on impressing your friends. Make the wrong choice now and you'll regret it later. Any one under 30 has never seen truly tough times. Times are tough and will get tougher before they get better, sounds like the regrets are starting. By the way, I have a '01 GMC Yukon and a '99 MB ML450 and the money I've saved on notes, insurance and tags will pay for a nice extended family vacation in Europe this summer or buy one of my Grandchildren a P.A.C.T. contract which will pay for their college education. Like I said, it's their money and they can spend it however they want to. If they are suffering however, do you think it might be because of the choices they made?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 22 February 2010 Hey buddy! My f-150, my home and everything else I own was earned threw the hard work before I ever came to CSX! I am 28 years old and I can tell you right now that you are full of shit. I work in Erwin Tn and am in my 4th year of Fourlough status. I see so much bullshit that I want to puke right there in the crew room floor. The guys that have 20 plus are so greedy that all they do is calculate there earnings. I see young guys suffering to feed there familys whil you old fuckers are driving the nice trucks and sports cars and have fat ass wallets and have to jump on a train and listen to your bitching! I see 30 plus men mad because they are so caught up in there greed they think you are taking there job from them. When you go to work next time look at what kind of vehicle your hopping into!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 22 February 2010 Hey Joe: Not all short lines are bad to work for. The Alabama State Docks Terminal Railroad paid their Engineers and Switchmen $2-3/hour more than CSX did and this was 5 years ago. No RCOs and the only jobs on Sunday were extras. 80 miles of track, mostly yard and 7 switchers and they couldn't stand CSX either!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 10-20 years Posted: 22 February 2010 How craft workers fall into to management positions: http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2010-02-17/

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 22 February 2010 Hey Lloyd: I can't speak for anyone but myself...you're right, each generation is different largely due to the efforts of the preceding generations. I hate to paint everyone with a broad brush but look around the different terminals you work. Cadillacs, Z-71s, F-150s, high end sports cars. Most but not all are owned by 20 somethings. Employees that are new or have just a year or two on the RR. It's not only CSX but other class Is, IIs and IIIs union and non-union alike. This is not unique to the RR either...check out the parking lots of the industries you work...there are a lot of really nice late model cars and trucks, some with nice boats behind them as well. Now I will venture to guess that 99% of the people couldn't afford vehicles or boats like this on the incomes they earn, whether it be from CSX or ExxonMobil and reasonably provide for a growing family and their future needs. The ones that can, live at home with their parents. The rest are either living well beyond their means or have inherited money and using it to fund these luxuries. Either way I don't care...it their money and they can do with it as they please. The point I've tried to make is the high paying jobs on the RR, Steel, Auto and Coal industries have come at a cost. The cost being participation by the membership in the union and a say so in their own affairs. Over the last 20 years the wage increases and benefits won by prior generations has slowly eroded...why? Because the current membership either doesn't care or won't take the time to participate. Mark my words...in 20 years the RR contract employees will either be the elite of the working class in America or they'll be at the bottom of the food chain fighting for crumbs with the rest of the bottom feeders. It all depends on the individual members being a part of something bigger than themselves. For the ground service personnel, the time is at hand to decide which it'll be...will a few decide or will many?

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 22 February 2010 Engineer 30+, I don't know how it works everywhere, but I know the suspended Trainees on the C&O and L&N established seniority in Atlanta so any transfers that come in will follow them. The catch is that their not promoted so the still have to fill the 60 day probation period. The company could terminate each one's seniority if they wanted to. The training agreement calls for not less than 16 weeks of continuous training, so when they started suspending them we naturally cried foul. CSX acknolaged we were right and said they would finish training them and immediatly terminate them upon promotion. We worked it out that they could suspend them as long as they retained employment. The union quite literally saved their job but they're on here everyday talking about how bad we fucked them, as if we could have forced them to let them stay marked up. Lloyd, I agree with you, I've always felt that we are our own worst enemy. I could spend all day giving you examples of men cutting their own throats. I've had guys call me hours ahead of time to tell me shit they were gonna do to get in trouble. Then they'd do it, call me wanting me to get them out of it, and cry foul about how they got fucked by CSX, even though they knew ahead of time what would happen. I once had a guy call me and chew my ass because he was working off the F9 board and he got hit with union dues. I got to looking and he worked 19 days that month! But the union fucked him. I know this isn't the same context you were using but you know what I mean.

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 22 February 2010 After reading the past few comments I feel like it is necessary for me to chime in. I feel like there are always two sides to a story so let me enlighten the older generation somewhat. First of all, our generations are different. Guys in their late twenties and early thirties live different lives then those in their mid forties to early sixties, it's a fact. Eng +30 you come on here five times a week talking about how everything is handed to younger men on a plate and this generation isn't anything but crybabies. I've got news for you brother, you are flat out wrong. Do you realize how many vets work for this company? Are you claiming these new guys who went served our country want hand outs? You need to get your shit straight. The reason why you don't see a lot of guys transfering is because there is no gaurantee they will be safe where they transfer. You're right, everyone is free to make choices, but some think long and hard before they uproot their own family for a company that is shady at best. C&O Joe, you want to know how to fix the problems? One way to fix the problems is to have guys stop doing extra favors for this company. Some men could take voluntary one month furloughs if they have some cash in the bank. Some people out here work to damn much because they live to lavishly. Our CEO and his minions make too much money also. These shareholders want to make profit so they want to slash jobs. We've got one man running an operation that used to consist of two or three. We also need to implement an early out for men over 55 and that would solve a huge part of the problem. There are always solutions. Some of you on here make it sound like you had it so damn worse than people who are young and working now. Hell, at least a lot of you had opportunities that the new generation may never have. Yeah we have cell phones, the internet, and cool little gadgets these days but we are about to run out of jobs to pay for them. Everyone is different. Just because you lived your life one way or you have your opinions doesn't mean we all should have your mentality. I'm not really being critical of you Joe, but RRJ you could cut people some slack sometimes. I'm a vet myself and I don't ask for any handouts. I put my pants on just like you and trust me, I don't live beyond my means. I go where I have to go for work and I spend plenty of time away from my family. You guys are probably right about the strike. What would it do anyways besides cause all of us more headache? Maybe it would change things if we could actually have a successful one or maybe it would lead us down a path of more misery. All I know is if we don't come together we will get bent over. Now go ahead and be critical of what I say, but remember we aren't much different.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 22 February 2010 Yes, CSX has posted job application's open to the public in certian areas while people are furloughed around the system. They can do it because we don't have system wide seniority. I don't know if anyone besides the one going to Baltimore responded to permanent transfers that CSX offered. He appears to be having second thoughts. All I've read is people bitched about it. Everyone had an excuse. For those that were let go during training these transfers didn't do them any good they don't have established seniority. What is established seniority to make a person feel secure? What's the cut off for not feeling secure? I along with others transferred 30 years ago most of us had at least 3 years seniority. When I look at rosters from where I started there aren't a lot of familiar names of oldheads. Most likely they tried to wait out the furloughes then eventually moved on to other occupations. C&O Joe we read the word strike all the time on here. We read I'll sue CSX or the union. It's all a load of crap. Your the first besides myself to mention the Railway Labor Act (RLA) which prevents us from striking. I don't think to many people on here actually know what the RLA is. Most who have posted here tend to think this is a substitute union meeting. Most have never been to a union meeting. If this generation doesn't get involved they'll be trampled on seeing they now hold the majority voting power. I don't think discussing and posting links of union discussions on this website is good policy. Anyone has access. All you have to do is read the header page on how many hits from company officials have been recorded on this site the same goes for Facebook. The UTU should be required to provide a secure "members discussion area" with protection from outside sources. Like the WWII slogan "Loose lips sinks ships".

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 February 2010 Like most of you I was totally baffled to find they were offering permanant transfers to the WV Coalfields. I've been hearing the last couple of months that they were anticipating the coal market to return to or exceed 2008 levels but I wrote it off as a mix of yard office rumor and CSX trying to impart false hope onto the masses. For me, these transfer postings goes a little way toward assuring me that CSX truely believes this to be the case. We've still got many guys in furloughed and suspended training status but they're saying they'll all be back by the end of april. Looking at the current situation I find it hard to believe but based on my experiance CSX has been fairly good at predicting the market 2 months in advance. I guess only time will tell, but it's the first good news we've had in awhile. I'd be leary of transferring unless I was a real new man though, Our roster is deep as it is and if this agreement passes most could come here in a year of so anyway and have prior rights at home to fall back on if it went to hell. For the sake of conversation, let's hear everyone's solutions to all the problems the unions have. Everyone has a big problem, I wanna hear big solutions. I don't wanna hear the strike crap, everyone knows the RLA prevents that in nearly all cases, I want real solutions to real problems. It's unfortunate that by being bound to the RLA we don't have the same luxaries that many other unions have, but it is what it is. I liked the comment about "the unions allow them to hire people when people are cut off" I see the logic in it, but it's crazy to think they could prevent it. It isn't benificial to either the Carrier or the union to have peope cut off and to think the union is reaping some finnancial benifit from furloughed workers is crazy. I've spend hours and hours trying to help what furloughed guys I could sneak off the furlough list as I'm sure every other LC has. If you want to know what your union does for you talk to a short line guy that does track work, Engineer work, Brakeman work, Machinist work, and every other kind of work 14 hours a day 6 or 7 days a week for maybe half of what we make. So let's fix all the worlds problems right here on this forum, everyone bitchs, let see who has the nack for fixing things.

Name: averagejoe E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 21 February 2010 still furloughed cubby your probalby right about hearing about csx starting to hire again while they have people furloughed. the union does nothing about it though becuase once you are hired you have to join the union or face bieng fired so yes i have said it once and will say it again the union cares for itself as long as they get thier dues they dont care where it comes from csx can hire and furlough as much as they want as long as a certian number of each respective union members are forced to pay dues the unions dont care just like the company as long as they get thiers. people bitch about csx and god knows i do too i dont even work their used to be a dream but i am a very astute young man and after carefull reading i came up with what i just said. as long as the unions get thiers what the hell ever to the members now im not saying do away with the unions im just saying as long as there is enough members in service for the unions to still be profitable there will be no change for the better of the working class men, no strikes, no arguments hell it seems like anymore you feel lucky to have the chance to sacrafice a finger to save a arm so i ask all of you is that the meaning of a union give them a little to sacrafice livelyhood what happens when we run out of fingers then they take the arm and we feel lucky they didnt take the other arm guys there isnt an end im not asking for answers just trying to see if you can see where im coming from im likel the control i look on from the outside read the contracts and weigh the options and the options are as i just stated

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 20 February 2010 Please Read if cut back or flowed back Open enrollment begins November 1 for BLET Short Term Disability plan CLEVELAND, November 2 — Open Enrollment for 2010 under the BLET’s Short Term Disability insurance begins on November 1, 2009, and runs through December 15, 2009. If you are a locomotive engineer working on a railroad that participated in the Wage Rules portion of the national agreement dated December 16, 2003, your coverage under Part A (described below) of the BLET Short Term Disability Plan will automatically continue. Last year, if you opted out of Part B coverage (also described below), then you can opt back in during this enrollment period. If you currently participate and wish to opt out of Part B coverage, you can also do so during this enrollment period. Part A — Non-Occupational Disabilities Effective January 1, 2010, there will be no changes to Part A coverage: • Your eligibility and $40 premium is submitted by the railroad on a monthly basis. • Part A pays $402 per week for non-occupational disabilities only. • Occupational disabilities are not covered. • Each eligible member is insured for $50,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage. Part B – Occupational Disabilities Effective January 1, 2010 there will be no changes to Part B coverage: • Part B is voluntary. Participation in this additional occupational coverage is not required. • The weekly benefit for occupational disabilities is $402 per week. • Each eligible member is insured for $50,000 of AD&D coverage. • The benefit is not subject to repayment upon receipt of a FELA settlement (no repayment after a personal injury settlement). • The benefit is not considered taxable income. • The cost is $23 per month and will be payroll deducted with your monthly union dues. NOTE: UTU members working as engineers are eligible for Part A and may purchase Part B coverage by making an annual payment of $276 to the BLET Trust Fund. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** IMPORTANT: • Eligibility for Part B is dependent on your eligibility for Part A. In order to be eligible for Part A, you must have** ****seven starts in a month with one start as an engineer.************ If you are furloughed to train service and become ineligible for Part A coverage, you must notify the Secretary-Treasurer of your local division immediately. At that time, you have three options: 1. Continue coverage of Part A and Part B by paying $40 directly to the BLET Trust Fund by the 10th of the month and continuing payroll deduction of $23 for Part B. Coverage may only be continued for six months under this option. If you choose this option, you will need to contact the Plan Administrator (information below) for additional instructions. 2. Discontinue coverage of Part B temporarily until you return to engineer status and become eligible for Part A. An engineer, who loses Part A coverage due to no fault of his own, may resume coverage for Part B once he returns to engineer status and becomes eligible for Part A. You must keep the Secretary-Treasurer of you local division informed of your status. 3. OPT-OUT of Part B by completing an OPT-OUT form. If you choose to opt-out of Part B, you may only resume coverage during a subsequent annual enrollment period. If you currently do NOT participate and choose to do nothing, you will continue to be only eligible for Part A coverage. • If you currently do NOT participate and would like to sign-up for Part B coverage during this open enrollment period, or if you do currently participate and would like to opt-out of Part B coverage, you must notify the Secretary-Treasurer of your local division by completing and returning the attached form by December 15, 2009. Your election will become effective on January 1, 2010. • Members who OPT-OUT of Part B coverage effective January 1, 2010, will not be eligible to enroll for the coverage until the next annual enrollment period. Anyone with questions can contact Jim Bradford, BLET Short Term Disability Administrator, at (216) 241-2630, ext. 205, or email: Bradford @ble-t.org. A copy of the opt-in/opt-out form is available below: http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/STD-opt-inout.pdf d if cut-back or flowed-back

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 20 February 2010 Things must be picking up ! http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=CSX&start=20

Name: still furloughed cubby E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for Less than 1 year Posted: 20 February 2010 everybody on furlough board is called back and yet me and the rest of the cubs have not been called. Called J-ville and lady told me it would be next year and another said any day. Do the folks in j-ville not know what is going on? Rumor also has it they are going to start hiring again which i assure you i would file a lawsuit if i am not called back before then. Wow what a company i walked into. CSX rocks!!!!! yea!!!!!!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 20 February 2010 Hey HTL: Glad to know you're still alive and enjoying life. How does the Queen feel about you squiring around the Blue Hairs? It has been a tough Winter, even in Florida...the Bermudas haven't seen much action, which might be a good thing. Tony was so distraught with you leaving he just couldn't stand it and retired. Glad to hear you're enjoying the "good life"...it is a major change in life style which many find to be a difficult transition, evidently you weren't one of them. Thank God for "Blue Hairs".

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 20 February 2010 Damn Pop's posted. Hope life is good? I know it is. Enjoy!!!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 20 February 2010 NoMo Life might of been simpler without all that crap it was a heck of a lot nicer. We actually talked to each other in person face to face. We didn't have 1000 friends on FB like anyone really does have that many. We didn't ride around in our cars on cell phones because we were to lazy to go over their house and visit. Cable TV was new an availible only in certian areas it was 1982 before I got it. If all the bullschidt blew up today we would have a generation that would be lost staring into blank screens hitting worthless key pads/keyboards dazed and confused. HTL, pop's in every now and then. He's enjoying life which hopefully within the next 6 weeks I'll be doing the same.

Name: ht long E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 20 February 2010 helloooo Nomo!!!!!!! wow the first time I check this site out in months and your asking about me!!!!! I'm down here in Fl chasing blue hairs who have big bank accounts because their hubbies worked themselves to death. Its been a tough winter down here the worst in over a decade,not much hanging out at the beach. today Ive read about the lack of life on the RR. and wonder how these kids would handle being housed in a private home along with four other men snoring away and having the owner up at 3 AM cooking you eggs while scratching her arse with the spatula things have changed ....the discipline is terrible I dont know if I could work with a 22 year old TM as a boss. I know several conductors who are past 60 who dont know what they would do after being in the RR workaholic / chasing the buck.....all in all today I look back and cant fathom living the way I did for 40 years but to answer the age old question......Is retirement really that good?......BETTER!!!! lets see what am I going to do today?...........ANYTHING I WANT TOO! In about a month or two Ill pack up and head back north and listen to how terrible winter was......and wait to rake my leaves and return to the palm trees next year

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 19 February 2010 Hey Loco 30+: Outside of it being 30 years ago, life was a lot simpler then...no PCs, cell phones, Twitter and cable was a novelty. There really wasn't a lot to do except work. The men and women that are transferring today are the ones that have committed to a RR career and will retire in 35 or 40 years. the rest will fall by the wayside. Speaking of the B&O and being furloughed for years, what has happened to HTL? I guess those early bird specials a Shuffleboard games must agree with him!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 19 February 2010 NoMo It does bring back some good memories. It wasn't bad we were all working the road so there was activity all the time with people getting called to work and those getting back 24/7. At times it was like Blazing Saddles always a pot of beans on the stove. The most important thing is we did what we had to do to survive. Some of us if we stayed up north would of ended up if we were lucky to work a few months out of the year or worse furloughed for years. In 1987 we had a group of engineers transfer from Cleveland, Ohio off the B&O Railroad some had been furloughed for 7 years. What's happening today isn't new it's happened before.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 19 February 2010 Hey Loco 30+: 10-12 swingin' dicks in a 1 bedroom apartment! That ain't a pretty picture first thing in the morning. Of course if you trying to save money your were eating a lot of beans and rice...so that's what caused the hole in the ozone! For some reason I thought of the movie "Blazing Saddles" with all the Cowboys sitting around the camp fire eating beans and... The very thought of those days has to bring a smile to your face.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 19 February 2010 moving I have to agree with NoMo look at it as an adventure. I remember 30 years ago in 1980 when 40-50 Yankees from Michigan an Ohio transfered to Virginia without a clue. We had groups of 10-12 people sharing one bedroom apartments real Animal Houses no furniture a TV and a bunch of sleeping bags till we could get situated by saving money to move our families ect...most stayed a few went back. You'll find a small percentage in Baltimore who'll resent your moving but they'll be plenty of others who'll welcome you. There's only one person you have to contend with and that is you. You're there for one sole purpose to make money the rest is bullschidt.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 18 February 2010 Hey Moving: The working conditions are what they are. You accepted the transfer and therefore the working conditions. Odds are they won't be any different. The Summers will be cooler and the Winters will be colder. Less rain and lots of snow. There will be people everywhere...more crime and the cost of living will be substantially higher. 35 miles from D.C. 400 miles to Boston...it'll be a different view than what you're use to. There will be new things to see and do, Go in with a open mind...I know there is some trepidation but just think of it as a adventure. You'll be just fine.

Name: moving E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 17 February 2010 i being transfed to baltimore in the next 2 weeks does anyone have any advice, or know anything about baltimore work conditions? PLEASE help ...........

Name: No Ethics at CSX E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 1-10 years Posted: 17 February 2010 I have been with this outfit for 7 years now and have worked in multiple locations. This is the only outfit that will bring or hire or transfer 20 people into a location only to be in the process of trying to eliminate 30 jobs in the same location. And they ask every year on the pod tests "Do you think CSX is an ethical company?" I'll let those with the experience decide.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 17 February 2010 Hey loco 30+: The unions need to learn that you never bring a knife to a gun fight. You will always lose!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 17 February 2010 NoMo What BLE/UTU lawyers? These negotiations are done by the General Chairmen who might have taken courses at the George Meany Center. It's a difficult match with Harvard and Yale educated attorneys. CSX will lose money to make a point. It's not about doing the right thing anymore it's more about winning at any cost. The more you learn about union negotiations the more it becomes baffling. The national doesn't really do anything they might dispatch a VP who is only an observer the main negotiations are left up to the GC's. I've been to many union meeting where both GC's and VP's have attended when asked a question their response is always the same that their function is that of an observer not as a particapant. Even LC's have been thrown back by such remarks. That's why I tell people to get involved with their union by going to monthly meetings we might not be able to do anything about the big picture but we can try to make change locally. A current issue we have is increasing local dues by $10 a month. CSX by playing hardball has drained our local funds with excessive investigations. In January a motion was made for an increase and was seconded. A total of 11 people out of 93 bothered to show up to the Febuary meeting. The previous month a motion was made to allow absentee ballots not one was sent. The vote was delayed till March. I objected the process was being curtailed. If people don't want to get involved then let a minority make the changes for them. How do you get people motivated? The majority today has less than 5 years on the railroad. They like to bitch and moan that's it they don't want to get involved.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 16 February 2010 Hey Loco 30+: What a cluster...it's like CSX is trying to force people out. $7000 doesn't begin to cover the cost of relocating if you own a house. With the real estate market the way it is today, $7,000 probably won't cover the loss on the current property let alone incidental expenses. CSX's lawyers did their job. The question is why didn't the BLTe and UTU's lawyers do theirs? Any one who thinks CSX won't use any leverage they may get out of the Southern consolidation needs a reality check. CSX will cut as many jobs as they can but only when it suits them, which may be years from now! It's Lundi Gras today...Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 16 February 2010 NoMo I don't remember any problems in 2007 with the voting process other than the small percentage of those who voted. The former Conrail territories in the Northeast corridor through their General Chairmen opted out of the SSA going with the national contract. CSX didn't have a single system agreement. Which brings us to what is happening now with CSX shutting down and relocating terminals that way the former Conrail engineers will be incorporated into the SSA with new seniority zones. Terminals in New York will end up based out of Pennsylvania and Ohio. All one can hope for is dove tailing seniority. It's going to be a huge mess. From my own experience we had a big percentage of our freight pools relocated back in 1996. CSX offered no moving packages. The BLE tryed to get CSX to buy our homes and help fray the cost of moving. We lost. The UTU was little more giving those who opted to move would recieve $7000 the catch was the move had to be within a 50 mile radius of the new home terminal. Some had already moved halfway within driving distance for a 2 hour call to be not so far from family they didn't know it wasn't close enough and recieved nothing. It was hidden in the fine print. The high priced CSX lawyers did their job.

Name: skippy E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for Less than 1 year Posted: 15 February 2010 Sweet i sure will be marking "no" on my ballott i was just kinda mad i didnt think id be mailed anything thing or have anywhere to vote

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 15 February 2010 HEY SKIPPY...When you get a ballot in the mail..Mark an x in the "no" box and stick the ballot back in the mailbox...no postage necessary!!!!!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 15 February 2010 Hey Loco 30+: I thought there were similar issues several years back when the initial proposal was voted on and the northern lines rejected it?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 15 February 2010 NoMo I was referring to the BLE SSA extension last year. Those who cryed foul over the votes being counted if they actually were done that Sunday one day in advance didn't send in ballots or sent them out to late. Ballots had to be recieved by that Saturday no ifs, ands, or buts. Either way it was their own fault. There was plenty of advance notice to get it done in a timely manner.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 15 February 2010 Hey Loco 30+: Was it the extension or the initial vote? 50% just won't get it. The 50% that don't vote will be the ones that cry the loudest. It might take a hour to read it. A lot of people just don't want to take the time.They depend on hearsay or the summary to decide on a vote that will effect them the rest of their careers. In regards to being "independent" goes, I just question how "Independent" they can be when some one is paying for their services. With regard to your comments yesterday concerning the bid system and the boards. Unless the BLEt and UTU versions are substantially different...can the BLEt version allow CSX to manipulate the boards the way the old head conductor suggested the UTU version can? The railroads plan decades in advance, they are very patient. CSX's agenda is to put all the contract employees under agreements like the SSA. In my opinion it would be counter productive for CSX to start exercising their rights until all the contract employees are under a SSA type contract. The term "Poker Face" comes to mind. There's something up CSX's sleeve and it not there to help the employees. Hope for the best but plan for the worse!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 15 February 2010 NoMo What happened with the BLE SSA extension the final count of the ballots was to take place on Sept 14th which was a Monday morning. I didn't agree with them counting it on Sept 13th that Sunday but technically it was an accurite vote. Some people waited to the last minute to send in ballots if they weren't recieved by Sept 12th that Saturday it didn't count. Ballots were mailed out at least a month in advance the information packet we already had for at least 2 months. By the time the ballot arrived I had already made up my mind it was mailed the next day. There was no excuses to procrastinate.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 15 February 2010 Don't vote if you think it doesn't matter. What does it take 5 minutes to place an "X" on a ballot then mail it. If an independant agency is hired to count ballots they don't have an interest in the outcome. Voting on a contract is no differant than a presidential election people are to lazy to do it. Why the low percentages in the turnout of voters? A union contract is about your livelyhood your ability to earn a living to support yourself and your family. Like I stated before the union banks on only a 50% return of ballots. That group is either for it or opposed pick your side then place that "X". If a person chooses not to vote then they don't have a right to complain. If you don't recieve a ballot call the LC they'll get you one.

Name: skippy E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for Less than 1 year Posted: 14 February 2010 Thats kinda crappy not telling people where or when to vote seems to me why even bother after hearing all this i know its rigged

Name: Corn-ductHer E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 20-30 years Posted: 14 February 2010 NoMo Maybe he is really Dr. Brown Banana now. I thought he was educated. Sounds like a Kentucky HillJack but again he did go to some Jr College in Alabama so I guess it fits. Be sure to watch his speech on video and you will see he sounds similar to Mr Haney on Green Acres. Just a Dumb Corn-ductHer

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 14 February 2010 Looks like Tony has been awarded something almost as prestigious as the "Brown Banana"!

Name: tony Ingram E-mail: Employed as: Corporate office, for 1-10 years Posted: 14 February 2010 Hello Railroad Fans I wanted to inform you of my new title. So you can address me as I should be. Sorry I had to leave CSX but Mikey and I got into a disagreement. I tried to screw Mona. Should have taken that Viagra pill for breakfast. http://www.ucumberlands.edu/media/release.php?rk=686 I did not need a Harvard degree after all. Dr. tony Ingram

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 14 February 2010 Hey Con 1-10: I understand how frustrated you get. The question becomes what can be done? I believe, based on the CSX statements on 1/19 and the SEC filing of 2/11 it's done deal. The fix is in! There will be paper ballots that have to be returned, or you can vote over the phone. The UTU has retained an "independent" Firm, most likely an accounting firm to verify the election results. If I recall, when the BLEt SSA was voted on, the election results were announced before the election period closed. Additionally only about half of the members voted. The UTU has a fiduciary obligation to represent their membership. If they fail to there is recourse. Look at the SMART agreement, Mike Futhey contested that on a technicality. Although it's not over (legally) it's is for all intent dead. Remember also that Futhey was newly elected and needed to ingratiate himself to the members. Be ready to challenge the results because they will not be favorable. Be prepared for a fight. It will be necessary to seek injunctive relief so start passing the hat. The point is to delay the implementation until the nation agreement is announced so a comparison can be made. Also plan a strategy on charging the GC's. These guys are responsible for the current working conditions!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 14 February 2010 Cond 1-10 Don't get frustrated to the point you don't believe your vote counts. We had a vote sheet with a breakdown last year on the extention for the BLE SSA. Across the system at every BLE division it was the same on average only 34% sent in ballots. The unions expect 50% to vote which they consider a high turnout. Who's to blame? I hear the same familiar retoric "it's already passed why vote" "the unions are corrupt there bought out". Bullschidt!!!! It's attitudes like these that cause the passage of substandard agreements. CSX is comprised of several factions SCL, LN, C&O, Conrail, WM, B&O ect...There are those who'll look at pay increases on runs over 130 miles as a big factor. Which happened in the BLE. The SSA doesn't help locals, yard jobs, and road jobs with 130 mile basic days. You mentioned the 1986 UTU crew consist to this day no one admits voting for it. The same goes for the 1994 crew consist. Those two agreements did away with jobs by eliminating brakemen slots and the locomotive firemen. The fears about the bid system cutting jobs is a myth. The downside is people could get forced away from their home terminal within the seniority zone. Every job gets filled and the lowest seniority might not have a choice. People still mark off the extra board pretty much stayed the same.

Name: skippy E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for Less than 1 year Posted: 13 February 2010 Where do you go to vote is the ballott sent in the mail or is it at a union meeting?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 13 February 2010 To no-mo. just had to vent, frustrated cause voted no on smart merger along with ever co-worker I've talked with, which and passed until overturned. Voted no on previous (06) agreement, and same as before passed with flying colors although everyone said that they voted against it. And now up for grabs the quite possibly the most detrimental agreement to trainmen since the 1986 agreement. I think there is something to worry about. And to everyone out there eligible to vote, Know that not voting counts as a yes vote!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 February 2010 Hey Con 1-10: It's already been posted...if you have something constructive to add, please do it; otherwise please do us all a favor and stop re-posting it. It has been read and I hope understood. The author obviously knows how CSX and the UTU works. Knowledge like that comes from years of experience on the RR and active participation in the union. I hope his insight inspires more members to become active in the union; after all it's a young man's railroad and therefor up to them to decide how they want to work!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 13 February 2010 Consolidated Southern Region Agreement Dear Fellow UTU Members, We stand facing a choice on whether to vote for or against a new agreement. A union is a faternal organization, a body of brothers and sisters working towards a unified goal. We are, however, scattered across the southeastern United States, separated by both miles and the hectic work schedules railroaders face. I saw a need to help overcome the many obstacles preventing opinion sharing in the ratification process, That’s why I have created this blog where you can insert your ideas and let your voice be heard by other members. What follows is a little about me and my opinions. They are just that, opinions based on what I have read of the agreement and my past experience. I am an old UTU member and very proud to be an employee of the former L&N Railroad. I was, in my time, very active in the union and am well versed in the jobs that union officers are required to do on a daily basis. I have also seen, in my thirty-five years of service, exactly how CSX operates. I come to you, not to sway your vote one way or the other, but to share with you my concerns regarding the proposed Consolidated Southern Region Agreement. I know that you have, or will be, bombarded with hard sell and scare tactics to get the agreement ratified. I beg you to please read the agreement and make a decision on your own, a decision not based on the cries of doom you will hear but on the face value and intent of the agreement and the alternatives which have not been mentioned in detail. My biggest concern is the impact on newer employees. It seems that CSX's plan is to cut costs by cutting their manpower needs, reducing the number of train service employees on the payroll, and by squeezing all they can out of the employees that remain. Their attack on the UTU's junior members is nine pronged and all nine involve CSX's desire to increase profits, control our lives, and make us what they feel would be perfect employees. The first prong of the attack would come with giving CSX the ability to use utility employees where ever they want. Any place they must work two man jobs because of topographical issues, they will change them to one man jobs with a utility man scattered here and there. The L&N Crew Consist Agreement prevents them from doing that and we have kept many employees working as a result. That will change with this agreement and the impact (furloughs) will probably be seen as soon as they figure out where they can make the switch. The second prong involves the removing of up to 20% per year of the protected employees from the blankable positions they now hold. Presently there are senior employees holding blankable brakeman/helper positions on preferred jobs, allowing junior employees to work as the conductor/foreman. CSX will simply pick those preferred jobs as their first 20% and force the senior employees off the assignments. Unless there is another preferred job blankable position available for the displaced senior man to go to, he will go to a preferred conductor/foreman position. The result will be that the junior man is furloughed. Even though that senior employee is being a good guy by keeping a junior employee working, the agreement's Side Letter 8 makes him out to be a bad guy by withholding the increase in road switcher rates for everyone at that location (Art 45 C) as long as he is holding a blankable position. I am shocked that a side letter would be signed that pits members against members and destroys solidarity. The third prong is EBS which, as they learned when they implemented it with the engineers, will reduce the number of train service employees needed at a location by doing away with practically all displacement time. There will be no claiming vacancies and seniority moves on any day other than a JAD. There will be no staying displaced for a while to catch your breath from working. You will be expected to work the days of the assignment taken or forced by EBS, take paid leave (P/L D/V), or be subjected to the attendance policy. Consider the total time that employees have been in displaced status over the past month at your location and the extra employees that worked while they were displaced. The need for those additional employees will go away when EBS is implemented. The fourth prong is CSX making it financially punitive for an extra board employee to mark off (loss of one week guarantee and Individual Performance Award) for unpaid leave. If no employee on the extra board ever marks off for non-compensated time off, they will need fewer extra board employees. The fifth prong is aimed at employees on regular assignments in an attempt to keep them marked up. The threat of loosing their Individual Performance Award for a six month period could make an employee not take any unpaid leave. No unpaid leave means no extra board work and fewer extra board employees needed. The sixth prong involves yards where the standard five day work week is replaced with a 12/3 and 10/4 work schedule. Although you were told that any implementation of the 12/3 and 10/4 schedule would have to be mutually agreed to, there is no language in the agreement that would require it. I would strongly suggest that, if it were the intent of the agreement to require a mutual consent, a side letter is signed detailing what exactly would be required before a five day work schedule is changed. Even though the immediate impact of going 12/3 10/4 would be slight (1 job loss for every 15 converted), a person on one of the 12/3 positions will never mark off because CSX will stick him two ways. The first is where his pay from the previous days worked will drop from the guarantee of 13 hours and 20 minutes to the time actually worked at the straight time rate. If the poor guy worked 12 hours the two days he worked he would be paid 24 hours for he week, losing 16 hours of his guaranteed 40. Pretty stiff for making off one day. Second, if he takes a P/L day off, they will take a full two P/L days from his allotment for the one day. With 11 personal leave days per year, he could only take five days off before ran out. The five days he could not take off would be a week of starts for an extra board person. The seventh prong is CSX gaining the ability to work a yard job any time of the day or night. Yard extra board employees would have to remain available for call twenty-four hours per day and not, as it is now, just during calling times. If CSX were to call outside the historical calling times, the extra board employee would have to take the call which might just happen to be a road trip. The eighth prong is that yard extra board employees would have to remain available and work after they had made their five straight time starts for the week. Before this agreement, any such overtime work would be voluntary. After this agreement the work would be mandatory. The ninth prong would be forcing the implementation of Furlough Retention Boards. I know of no L&N property that has implemented a FRB since the side letter was signed, and for good reason. Most Local Chairmen know it is simply a CSX tool to have an extra board to supplement an extra board. Rather than put the poor guy on normal extra board, why not just string him along at almost minimum wages, save the guarantee, and keep the real extra board cut to the bones. Being attacked from nine directions, the junior employees cannot, and will not, fare very well. It's simply a matter of CSX applying the agreement if it is ratified by the membership. The collective bargaining agreement would rule and the furloughed employees would have no recourse. That would be only if the agreement was voluntarily ratified. You all have heard the threats of the agreement being forced on you by a cram down if rejected. Why didn't CSX simply serve a coordination notice at the onset? The answer is simple, and green, MONEY. There is a volume of documents that provide employee protection and benefits in just such cases. If the membership voluntarily agrees to a single agreement of their own free will before a consolidation notice is served, it would be handled like any other collective bargaining agreement. Under those conditions, the adversely affected employees would fall prey to what they and their fellow members had agreed to. However, if CSX serves a consolidation notice, any employee adversely affected by the coordination could claim protection as provided for by New York Dock. Rrather than the agreement tossing the new employees out with nothing, they might enjoy some of the many wage and benefit New York Dock guarantees. That just might get them by until the economy recovers and enough older employees retire. Those protections would also apply to working employees who are forced to lower paying jobs, forced to move to another location, have their home terminal moved, or other ways. There are other items in the agreement that cause me concern which you should consider. Even though it wouldn't apply to post 85 employees, there are no provisions in the agreement for air hose pay (currently $2.09 on the L&N). Those payments will no longer be made if the agreement is ratified. An employee on a five day job who works 244 days a year (less 5 wks vacation and 11 PL days) will lose $509.96 the first year. That being the case, his lump sum payment would really only be $490.04 each of the two years paid as he would have earned the $509.96 of that money anyway that year. If the employee earned $200.00 per day, that loss would equate to a 1% cut in pay each year after the lump sum payments. It's just a shell game. The change I would hate the most would be having to start my vacation on Saturday to match up with JAD and EBS. As it is now, we can mark of in conjunction with our off days. Unless you can hold a job with Saturday and Sunday off, you go from a nine day vacation to a seven day vacation. Who the heck wants to observe two off days, come back and work one day, and then start seven days of vacation (Wed & Thu off days). Even though you were told that there will be no extra board guarantee deductions for RSIA additional time off, that too is another shell game. Read Note 3 of Article 37. An employee on is on an extra board that is guaranteed $850.00 per week. The first week of the pay period he earns $1400.00 and works seven days in a row. His last start brings him back to the home terminal where he starts the second week by observing his rest day and two additional RSIA days off. After the RSIA days off, he works three times and earns $600.00 for the week. He would be due $250.00 in guarantee, right. Wrong. CSX would apply his earnings the first week that were over the guarantee amount ($650.00) to the second week's earnings in computing guarantee and he would get nothing. CSX wants a weekly guarantee but wants to calculate it as a bi-weekly guarantee when it suits them. I'm sure you, like me, have some local agreements that are near and dear to your heart. Many provide additional pay and more favorable working conditions. If ratified, two General Principals of the agreement would apply. First would be that "The following rates, rules and regulations will govern the pay and conditions of employment of Conductors, Trainmen, and Yard employees." The second is that "The parties acknowledge that this Consolidated Southern Region Agreement also replaces any and all local agreements, past practices, and arbitral jurisprudence that are in conflict unless otherwise agreed as provided for in Side Letter 9" will take effect. Read Side Letter 9 and Moratorium Provisions C. Any local agreement CSX decides is in conflict would be history, subject to the DRC and arbitration if needed. If you are on a pool that now gets held away after less than 15 hours, it raises to 15. It is unknown how CSX will attack local agreements, if they will go after local guarantee rates, special arbitraries, or whatever else they can get away with. That battle is yet to be fought and it will be uphill all the way. Who knows what will actually happen. To date, trip rates have never went down, only increased with wage increases. This agreement requires that the trip rates for road switcher/mine runs be reviewed and adjusted every six months for the first two years (Art 45 E). Do you really think they will be adjusted up? Should there be a change in operations, CSX can use their "experience" to decide a new trip rate for the members. That seems more than a little scary. The proposed agreement does not alter the existing national agreements, only system agreements (see Moratorium Provisions C). One of the National Agreements that will remain intact is the 1986 National Agreement that denies arbitraries to post 1985 employees with the following – Section 5 – Duplicated Time Payments Duplicate time payments, including arbitraries and special allowances that are expressed in time or miles or fixed amounts of money, shall not apply to employees whose train or engine service seniority is established after the date of this agreement. What I have seen so far gives me heartburn in two ways. The first is that the post 1985 members are being promised all of the arbitraries included in the agreement and CSX will refuse to pay them, You could see CSX claiming they are duplicate time payments and not applicable to post 1985 employees by the 1986 national agreement which was not changed (see Art 31 Sec 3 E 3, Art 36 A D Q2, and others). The second is that the agreement takes what had been contract violations, which resulted in penalty payments that were payable to post 1985 employees, and makes permissible with an arbitrary (duplicate time) payment to be made to the employee. For example and as it is now, a post 1985 yard employee who leaves the yard to perform pusher service submits a claim (8 hrs) for the agreement violation and the claims have been paid. Article 38 H changes that by making it permissible in an emergency and allows an arbitrary payment of one hour or time/miles. Not only will there be less pusher assignments but the claim could be reduced to a one hour arbitrary and possibly not even paid to a post 1985 employee. Just like the 12/3 10/4 yard schedule, I would suggest that you get a side letter stating that all arbitraries in the agreement are payable to all employees, both pre and post 1985. CSX would have no problem of providing one if that was their intent. You should remember that the value of a Individual Performance Award of CSX stock depends solely on the value of the stock at the time given and should not be held as a set amount. The actual value of the award could vary widely, depending on the market or forces such as stock splits. If you are serving our country in the National Guard or Reserve, and have weekend duty once every six months, you will never see an Individual Performance Award until you hitch is up. Just CSX's way of saying thanks for your service. Please consider the above and again, demand a side letter be signed that will assure that going to a 12/3 10/4 schedule is mutually agreed to and that all arbitraries listed in the agreement are payable to all train service employees regardless of their hire date. If CSX refuses, then you will know what their plan might be. These are my thoughts, and I encourage you to share yours with the others here. Stay safe, your Individual Performance Award will depend on it, and make sure you send your ballot back in to be counted. Just an old railroader.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 February 2010 I forgot to mention the analyst for Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc., John Larkin issued an upgrade on CSX after the conference.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 February 2010 In my post of 2/9 I stated..."Is it a secret or does the Union and CSX already know the outcome of the vote and just trying to contain the damages?" In the SEC filing made yesterday after the Stifel Nicolaus Transportation & Logistics Conference it was stated..."This expectation is supported by strong volume and revenue growth, including export coal shipments that could approach 30 million tons this year, and strong operating ratio improvement as well." http://investors.csx.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=92932&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1376783&highlight= In CSX's 1/19 statement announcing the fourth quarter financial results it stated..."Fourth quarter revenue of $2.3 billion was 13 percent down from the prior year. This was driven by a 7 percent overall decline in volume as growth in the intermodal and automotive sectors was more than offset by declines in coal and merchandise. In addition, lower fuel prices led to decreased fuel surcharge recovery. Despite these factors, core pricing remained strong, reflecting high service levels and the overall value of freight rail transportation." The statement continues..."The economy continued to show modest, sequential improvement in the quarter," said Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "CSX worked aggressively on gaining operating leverage and further strengthening the fundamentals of our business for the future." Finally it states..."In 2009, CSX put forth a decisive and effective response to the challenging economy while simultaneously building for the future," said Ward. "Our performance is a clear demonstration of the resolve of our organization and the talents of our people." Is it me or does there seem to be some ambiguity in the statements concerning coal. Is 30 million tons a record? The way it's written would make you think so...but wait, coal shipmemts have declined according to the 1/19 release. Improving ratios result from growing your revenues while maintaining your costs or reducing your cost while revenues are flat or declining. It appears to me, based on those recent statements, CSX fully expects the UTU consolidations to pass. Of course if they dont there is always the disclaimer about foreward looking statements!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 12 February 2010 This might explain part of the bump up! Form 8-K for CSX CORP 11-Feb-2010 Regulation FD Disclosure Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure. At the Stifel Nicolaus Transporation & Logistics Conference, Oscar Munoz, CSX's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, today indicated the company expects to deliver double-digit earnings per share growth for 2010. This expectation is supported by strong volume and revenue growth, including export coal shipments that could approach 30 million tons this year, and strong operating ratio improvement as well.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 12 February 2010 Lets see what a little skillful manipulation can do for the price of your stock. CSX closed up $1.98/share or 4.60% with 7,810,605 shares traded. The average daily volume over the last 3 months has been 4,062,510 shares. Do you think the dividend increase announced yesterday, just before Munoz spoke, was coincidental? Insider trading probably accounts for the additional trading...check the SEC filing in several days to know for sure!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 12 February 2010 Our union general chairmen are just a bunch of railroad puppets, there is no way the could've asked for 90% on this shitty contract unless somebody is filling up their pockets. Hope they enjoy their blood money

Name: Decide for your self E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 12 February 2010 Consolidated Southern Region Agreement Dear Fellow UTU Members, We stand facing a choice on whether to vote for or against a new agreement. A union is a faternal organization, a body of brothers and sisters working towards a unified goal. We are, however, scattered across the southeastern United States, separated by both miles and the hectic work schedules railroaders face. I saw a need to help overcome the many obstacles preventing opinion sharing in the ratification process, That’s why I have created this blog where you can insert your ideas and let your voice be heard by other members. What follows is a little about me and my opinions. They are just that, opinions based on what I have read of the agreement and my past experience. I am an old UTU member and very proud to be an employee of the former L&N Railroad. I was, in my time, very active in the union and am well versed in the jobs that union officers are required to do on a daily basis. I have also seen, in my thirty-five years of service, exactly how CSX operates. I come to you, not to sway your vote one way or the other, but to share with you my concerns regarding the proposed Consolidated Southern Region Agreement. I know that you have, or will be, bombarded with hard sell and scare tactics to get the agreement ratified. I beg you to please read the agreement and make a decision on your own, a decision not based on the cries of doom you will hear but on the face value and intent of the agreement and the alternatives which have not been mentioned in detail. My biggest concern is the impact on newer employees. It seems that CSX's plan is to cut costs by cutting their manpower needs, reducing the number of train service employees on the payroll, and by squeezing all they can out of the employees that remain. Their attack on the UTU's junior members is nine pronged and all nine involve CSX's desire to increase profits, control our lives, and make us what they feel would be perfect employees. The first prong of the attack would come with giving CSX the ability to use utility employees where ever they want. Any place they must work two man jobs because of topographical issues, they will change them to one man jobs with a utility man scattered here and there. The L&N Crew Consist Agreement prevents them from doing that and we have kept many employees working as a result. That will change with this agreement and the impact (furloughs) will probably be seen as soon as they figure out where they can make the switch. The second prong involves the removing of up to 20% per year of the protected employees from the blankable positions they now hold. Presently there are senior employees holding blankable brakeman/helper positions on preferred jobs, allowing junior employees to work as the conductor/foreman. CSX will simply pick those preferred jobs as their first 20% and force the senior employees off the assignments. Unless there is another preferred job blankable position available for the displaced senior man to go to, he will go to a preferred conductor/foreman position. The result will be that the junior man is furloughed. Even though that senior employee is being a good guy by keeping a junior employee working, the agreement's Side Letter 8 makes him out to be a bad guy by withholding the increase in road switcher rates for everyone at that location (Art 45 C) as long as he is holding a blankable position. I am shocked that a side letter would be signed that pits members against members and destroys solidarity. The third prong is EBS which, as they learned when they implemented it with the engineers, will reduce the number of train service employees needed at a location by doing away with practically all displacement time. There will be no claiming vacancies and seniority moves on any day other than a JAD. There will be no staying displaced for a while to catch your breath from working. You will be expected to work the days of the assignment taken or forced by EBS, take paid leave (P/L D/V), or be subjected to the attendance policy. Consider the total time that employees have been in displaced status over the past month at your location and the extra employees that worked while they were displaced. The need for those additional employees will go away when EBS is implemented. The fourth prong is CSX making it financially punitive for an extra board employee to mark off (loss of one week guarantee and Individual Performance Award) for unpaid leave. If no employee on the extra board ever marks off for non-compensated time off, they will need fewer extra board employees. The fifth prong is aimed at employees on regular assignments in an attempt to keep them marked up. The threat of loosing their Individual Performance Award for a six month period could make an employee not take any unpaid leave. No unpaid leave means no extra board work and fewer extra board employees needed. The sixth prong involves yards where the standard five day work week is replaced with a 12/3 and 10/4 work schedule. Although you were told that any implementation of the 12/3 and 10/4 schedule would have to be mutually agreed to, there is no language in the agreement that would require it. I would strongly suggest that, if it were the intent of the agreement to require a mutual consent, a side letter is signed detailing what exactly would be required before a five day work schedule is changed. Even though the immediate impact of going 12/3 10/4 would be slight (1 job loss for every 15 converted), a person on one of the 12/3 positions will never mark off because CSX will stick him two ways. The first is where his pay from the previous days worked will drop from the guarantee of 13 hours and 20 minutes to the time actually worked at the straight time rate. If the poor guy worked 12 hours the two days he worked he would be paid 24 hours for he week, losing 16 hours of his guaranteed 40. Pretty stiff for making off one day. Second, if he takes a P/L day off, they will take a full two P/L days from his allotment for the one day. With 11 personal leave days per year, he could only take five days off before ran out. The five days he could not take off would be a week of starts for an extra board person. The seventh prong is CSX gaining the ability to work a yard job any time of the day or night. Yard extra board employees would have to remain available for call twenty-four hours per day and not, as it is now, just during calling times. If CSX were to call outside the historical calling times, the extra board employee would have to take the call which might just happen to be a road trip. The eighth prong is that yard extra board employees would have to remain available and work after they had made their five straight time starts for the week. Before this agreement, any such overtime work would be voluntary. After this agreement the work would be mandatory. The ninth prong would be forcing the implementation of Furlough Retention Boards. I know of no L&N property that has implemented a FRB since the side letter was signed, and for good reason. Most Local Chairmen know it is simply a CSX tool to have an extra board to supplement an extra board. Rather than put the poor guy on normal extra board, why not just string him along at almost minimum wages, save the guarantee, and keep the real extra board cut to the bones. Being attacked from nine directions, the junior employees cannot, and will not, fare very well. It's simply a matter of CSX applying the agreement if it is ratified by the membership. The collective bargaining agreement would rule and the furloughed employees would have no recourse. That would be only if the agreement was voluntarily ratified. You all have heard the threats of the agreement being forced on you by a cram down if rejected. Why didn't CSX simply serve a coordination notice at the onset? The answer is simple, and green, MONEY. There is a volume of documents that provide employee protection and benefits in just such cases. If the membership voluntarily agrees to a single agreement of their own free will before a consolidation notice is served, it would be handled like any other collective bargaining agreement. Under those conditions, the adversely affected employees would fall prey to what they and their fellow members had agreed to. However, if CSX serves a consolidation notice, any employee adversely affected by the coordination could claim protection as provided for by New York Dock. Rrather than the agreement tossing the new employees out with nothing, they might enjoy some of the many wage and benefit New York Dock guarantees. That just might get them by until the economy recovers and enough older employees retire. Those protections would also apply to working employees who are forced to lower paying jobs, forced to move to another location, have their home terminal moved, or other ways. There are other items in the agreement that cause me concern which you should consider. Even though it wouldn't apply to post 85 employees, there are no provisions in the agreement for air hose pay (currently $2.09 on the L&N). Those payments will no longer be made if the agreement is ratified. An employee on a five day job who works 244 days a year (less 5 wks vacation and 11 PL days) will lose $509.96 the first year. That being the case, his lump sum payment would really only be $490.04 each of the two years paid as he would have earned the $509.96 of that money anyway that year. If the employee earned $200.00 per day, that loss would equate to a 1% cut in pay each year after the lump sum payments. It's just a shell game. The change I would hate the most would be having to start my vacation on Saturday to match up with JAD and EBS. As it is now, we can mark of in conjunction with our off days. Unless you can hold a job with Saturday and Sunday off, you go from a nine day vacation to a seven day vacation. Who the heck wants to observe two off days, come back and work one day, and then start seven days of vacation (Wed & Thu off days). Even though you were told that there will be no extra board guarantee deductions for RSIA additional time off, that too is another shell game. Read Note 3 of Article 37. An employee on is on an extra board that is guaranteed $850.00 per week. The first week of the pay period he earns $1400.00 and works seven days in a row. His last start brings him back to the home terminal where he starts the second week by observing his rest day and two additional RSIA days off. After the RSIA days off, he works three times and earns $600.00 for the week. He would be due $250.00 in guarantee, right. Wrong. CSX would apply his earnings the first week that were over the guarantee amount ($650.00) to the second week's earnings in computing guarantee and he would get nothing. CSX wants a weekly guarantee but wants to calculate it as a bi-weekly guarantee when it suits them. I'm sure you, like me, have some local agreements that are near and dear to your heart. Many provide additional pay and more favorable working conditions. If ratified, two General Principals of the agreement would apply. First would be that "The following rates, rules and regulations will govern the pay and conditions of employment of Conductors, Trainmen, and Yard employees." The second is that "The parties acknowledge that this Consolidated Southern Region Agreement also replaces any and all local agreements, past practices, and arbitral jurisprudence that are in conflict unless otherwise agreed as provided for in Side Letter 9" will take effect. Read Side Letter 9 and Moratorium Provisions C. Any local agreement CSX decides is in conflict would be history, subject to the DRC and arbitration if needed. If you are on a pool that now gets held away after less than 15 hours, it raises to 15. It is unknown how CSX will attack local agreements, if they will go after local guarantee rates, special arbitraries, or whatever else they can get away with. That battle is yet to be fought and it will be uphill all the way. Who knows what will actually happen. To date, trip rates have never went down, only increased with wage increases. This agreement requires that the trip rates for road switcher/mine runs be reviewed and adjusted every six months for the first two years (Art 45 E). Do you really think they will be adjusted up? Should there be a change in operations, CSX can use their "experience" to decide a new trip rate for the members. That seems more than a little scary. The proposed agreement does not alter the existing national agreements, only system agreements (see Moratorium Provisions C). One of the National Agreements that will remain intact is the 1986 National Agreement that denies arbitraries to post 1985 employees with the following – Section 5 – Duplicated Time Payments Duplicate time payments, including arbitraries and special allowances that are expressed in time or miles or fixed amounts of money, shall not apply to employees whose train or engine service seniority is established after the date of this agreement. What I have seen so far gives me heartburn in two ways. The first is that the post 1985 members are being promised all of the arbitraries included in the agreement and CSX will refuse to pay them, You could see CSX claiming they are duplicate time payments and not applicable to post 1985 employees by the 1986 national agreement which was not changed (see Art 31 Sec 3 E 3, Art 36 A D Q2, and others). The second is that the agreement takes what had been contract violations, which resulted in penalty payments that were payable to post 1985 employees, and makes permissible with an arbitrary (duplicate time) payment to be made to the employee. For example and as it is now, a post 1985 yard employee who leaves the yard to perform pusher service submits a claim (8 hrs) for the agreement violation and the claims have been paid. Article 38 H changes that by making it permissible in an emergency and allows an arbitrary payment of one hour or time/miles. Not only will there be less pusher assignments but the claim could be reduced to a one hour arbitrary and possibly not even paid to a post 1985 employee. Just like the 12/3 10/4 yard schedule, I would suggest that you get a side letter stating that all arbitraries in the agreement are payable to all employees, both pre and post 1985. CSX would have no problem of providing one if that was their intent. You should remember that the value of a Individual Performance Award of CSX stock depends solely on the value of the stock at the time given and should not be held as a set amount. The actual value of the award could vary widely, depending on the market or forces such as stock splits. If you are serving our country in the National Guard or Reserve, and have weekend duty once every six months, you will never see an Individual Performance Award until you hitch is up. Just CSX's way of saying thanks for your service. Please consider the above and again, demand a side letter be signed that will assure that going to a 12/3 10/4 schedule is mutually agreed to and that all arbitraries listed in the agreement are payable to all train service employees regardless of their hire date. If CSX refuses, then you will know what their plan might be. These are my thoughts, and I encourage you to share yours with the others here. Stay safe, your Individual Performance Award will depend on it, and make sure you send your ballot back in to be counted. Just an old railroader.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 12 February 2010 It's 10:40 EST Munoz Spoke at 8:40 EST the stock price is up $1.82 so far. The BOD increased the Quarterly dividend 9%. http://investors.csx.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=92932&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1386771&highlight= Nothing like a little skillful manipulation to get things moving!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 12 February 2010 Hey Loco 30+: The view certainly is different, especially if you've been on the inside for a while. You spend so much time at work you really don't have time to ponder the dynamics of your union. It is assumed that the union leadership is representing their members best interests, when in fact the leadership is only interested in themselves. I think the change in the union's focus has been so gradual, over the last 20 years, the members haven't realized it. I fear the process is too far along to correct. It's time to start over again. In my opinion, with no more T&E employees than there are and craft consolidation a single well funded union is necessary. Strength in numbers or, if you will, the herd mentality. Of course, it's up to the current union's membership to take the steps necessary to make the change. Unfortunately the herd mentality is alive and well in the both unions...follow the leader. The current leaders are running head on toward a cliff, might need a new Alpha to take control. If you ain't the lead dog, the view never changes!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 12 February 2010 NoMo It's a case of being from the outside looking in. Thing's look different from this angle. When you're at a union meeting a member whose cut back ask a question and the BLE(T) LC states he'll talk to the UTU LC to see what can be done. It goes to what I've stated several times a person should belong to the union that controls their craft. In todays railroad that can change weekly. This poses problems that the unions have refused to make adjustments. Their quest isn't providing a decent contract providing protection ect...it's more about keeping members which means money. I know, I've adamently rejected the notion in the past about any mention of forming one union. I realise now I come from another era of railroading and what once worked isn't working today. The internal an external strife of the unions has hurt the membership. They lost their vision.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 11 February 2010 Hey Loco 30+: Has Hell frozen over...have pigs flown:)

Name: Who Dat Who This E-mail: Employed as: Corporate office, for N/A Posted: 11 February 2010 http://www.newser.com/story/80540/craigslist-pimp-get-25-years.html?utm_source=part&utm_medium=inbox&utm_campaign=newser

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 11 February 2010 When a union loses it's focus it's time for change. Unfortunately the negotiating powers for the trainmen an engineers are recognized by the carriers on old standards UTU for trainmen BLE for engineers. Those from other crafts joining the opposing union is just a symbolic gesture. Everything from claims, contracts ect...are still left up to the controlling union. Seeing times they are a changing maybe cleaning house is in order. This year for the first time in the BLE history the membership will vote for their national leadership. Already emails are being circulated from General Committees using scare tactics to curtail the voting process. I will admit it could be a difficult situation not having access to the candidates and the west coast having the majority voting power. The past practices of GC's having complete voting power hasn't worked. The BLE made fun of the UTU when Ex-President Boyd and former President Little were convicted and incarcerated for bribery only to see our own BLE(T)presidents were just as corrupt. We've read for quite sometime of those on here looking to form new unions it's a new generation. It's happened before the UTU isn't that old if memory serves me right the UTU has only been around for 36 years compared to the BLE which has it's roots going back to 1863. With the climate changes in railroading with forced dual craft seniority maybe it is time to join forces. I'm begining to see the problems associated with it when people ae bounced from craft to craft without knowing who the hell is providing them protection.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 10 February 2010 Hey Con 1-10: We all understand how important this is. We read all the topics so it's not necessary to repeat the posts under each topic!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 10 February 2010 hey loco 30+ plus years you are right about the ns contract . CSX wants this bid system bad , if we vote this down they will want to go back to the table . The younger men need to realize the bid system will cut 10% of the work force , so back on the street you go.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 10 February 2010 Hey Loco 30+: Yeah...it must be top secret stuff, NSA or CIA type negotiations. Hostage negotiations...yeah, that's it. The UTU and CSX are holding the ground service personnel's standard of living hostage. What really dumbfounds me is the UTU has left their membership out of the loop. If the union had a modicum of common sense they would had each affected local form a committee to determine what is important to them and make recommendations to their GCoA which could be incorporated and presented to the carrier. Not that the carrier would agree to all the recommendations; but the final proposal would be better for all parties and would most likely pass with ease. Why? Because the membership had a opportunity to participate in the process that directly impacts them. As it stands now, the membership is pissed and distrusts the UTU even more now than before...probably more than they distrust CSX. The UTU leadership is its own worse enemy...instead of including the membership in the process and making it a positive negotiation; they have excluded them and it becomes a negative. A house divided. My Grandfather use to tell me "cooperate and graduate". Looks to me like the UTU needs a few more lessons!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 10 February 2010 That's a good question NoMo. Why didn't the UTU inform the members of negotiating this SSA the past 3 years? It's no different than the BLE it was kept secret. I know a lot of engineers regretting their decision to vote for it the first time. They see the stagnant wages compared to the 14 1/2% increase from the national they could of had on Jan 1st if they rejected the extention. When the BLE negotiated the first on property with the NS with these productivity bonuses the members rejected the first offer it was renegotiated with a better contract. If CSX wants this and the members vote it down they'll do the same. If they don't nothing lost the UTU will continue with the national. Someone has to make a stand.

Name: me E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 09 February 2010 just got the call to move to baltimore from florida panhandle is b-more working or being sent home ? please let me know i will be moving my wife and five kids to a new place and i need to be working...thanks in advance............

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 09 February 2010 Get your vasoline ready boys!!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 09 February 2010 NoMo you are 100% correct.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 09 February 2010 Hey Con 1-10: I'm not suggesting anyone vote for the UTU version of the SSA; just that the membership read and understand it. I thought the BLEt SSA was a lousy deal when it was released. If I recall correctly, the SSA was ratified with somewhere around 50% of the members returning ballots. If I had to venture a guess, I would think that a large percentage of the yes votes wish they voted no. If I had a vote, I would vote no, too many unanswered questions. The GCs and the LCs will tell what a great contract it is...that's their job. If it's such a great deal why are the affected GCoAs and CSX not willing to wait until a national agreement is reached so the members can compare them side by side? They won't because they both know the SSA can't compete with the national agreement. If the Union has been negotiating a SSA with CSX for three years, why haven't we heard about it before a month ago? Is it a secret or does the Union and CSX already know the outcome of the vote and just trying to contain the damages? The membership better set their differences aside and stand united, regardless of age or time of service, because the UTU and CSX are getting ready to cornhole the membership!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 09 February 2010 That's right No Mo if u make over your guarantee . Last half I did beat my guarantee but this half I'm not , so if this contact passes and I need off for a emergency I loose my Guarentee. Plus a 6% pay raise over a 5 year period that starts 2012 ; if u get in trouble (not only stayin marked up) you loose your stocks ! We don't even get a bonus until 2013 !!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 09 February 2010 Hey Con 1-10: Years ago when I worked the Extra Board, in yard and road service, if you marked off you lost your guarantee. So how it it any worse? Only difference is no more time floating. Even if I marked off, I always had enough starts to beat the guarantee. Thankfully the boards were full of employees more interested in not working than earning a living. I guess nothing changes!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 09 February 2010 VOTE NO !!!!! THE UTU TOOK THE ENGINEER CONTRACT AND MADE IT WORSE FOR US . MARK OFF ANY TIME DURING THE WEEK AND LOOSE YOUR GUARANTEE NOT JUST THE WEEKENDS. IF U READ THE SIDE LETTERS YOU CAN SEE WHAT EACH GENERAL CHAIRMAN GOT FOR THIS CONTRACT. LETS STAND TOGETHER AND VOTE NO !!!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 09 February 2010 CSX train blocks Fla. houses CALLAHAN, Fla. -- A Florida woman, 66, said she has to crawl between two railroad cars to go anywhere from her home after being trapped by the cars, according to UPI. Aretha Brown said a train parked 40 cars on the tracks that run in front of her Callahan house Dec. 27 -- and just left them there, the Jacksonville (Fla.) Times-Union reported Saturday. Brown said she must crawl under the cars even to go to her mailbox, or else walk 20 minutes to get around the train. She struggles to keep her Sunday best clean when she goes to church. It's very difficult making her way under the train with a bag of groceries, the newspaper reported. "My house is falling apart and I can't get anyone to come and make repairs because they won't climb under the train," Brown told the Times-Union. She said she banged her shoulder crawling under the cars and it hurt for weeks. Brown said her parents bought the old white house more than 30 years ago. Her sister and niece, Mae and Rita Hailey, lived in an adjoining house before they moved out in frustration a few weeks ago. Her brother, Frank Cheavers, still lives in the adjoining house. "I really don't think anyone would want to buy this," she laughed when asked if she would sell the homes. Mae Hailey said she asked CSX Transportation to move the cars, or at least disconnect them in front of Brown's house, but the railroad declined to do so. CSX preferred to locate a new destination for the train, and also intends to build an access road that would permit Brown to reach the street without having to cross the tracks, CSX spokesman Gary Sease said.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 09 February 2010 The UTU was negotiating this SSA 3 years ago. That didn't surprise me. I overheard a conversation from the VP at CMC in JAX in 2008 that the trainmen would be in the bid system within a few years. I'm not a fan of on-property contracts it seems this is the route the unions are going. They're taking away power in numbers. Biggest obsticle from my own experience with the BLET SSA is people today aren't willing to sacrifice and go the distance for 2-3 years with national negotiations. It's a generation of "we want it now" from microwave dinners to cell phones to cell phone internet and music videos ect...Where has patience and determination gone? Those with decades left to work have the voting power. I can bet like the BLET SSA extention last year only 33 1/3% of the UTU membership will bother to send in ballots. The other 66 2/3% will bitch about it. It's not a matter of wether you like the unions or not it's about a contract that you'll be working under for the next 5 years. It's about the ability to make a living. The engineers are jumping for joy the UTU screwed the trainmen worse than we got it. No pay raises till 2013 no productivity bonus till 2013 only a $1000 bonus on July 1st for two years. What did the UTU sacrifice to make such a deal? That's what I'd be asking.

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 08 February 2010 Joshua/Nomo...hey facts are facts. If you have little time left, this contract sounds pretty good. Problem is, if you have more than 10 years left on the railroad it will only go down hill. Once the railroads see they have the unions by the balls (which they already do) they will do whatever they can to grab the upper hand. IT WILL TAKE A STRIKE TO MAKE THINGS BETTER No matter how you look at things. It has gotten to this point. Our unions have failed us and that is the honest truth. We can sit here and play the blame game all night about which union, but they both play an equal part in doing their share of stuffing their own pockets while the men on the ground get shafted. It's the way the world works right guys? The little guys get screwed while the people with power have the advantage? It's the same reason our whole economy is in shambles. People with power make the decisions, and people with power get greedy. The question is..who will be the man who finally stands up and says enough is enough? Who will gather a group big enough to take a stand? It will take someone who has nothing to lose, nothing to gain. The little man needs a voice, who will finally do something about it?

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 08 February 2010 Hey Joshua: You're not going to have much of a life regardless of which contract you end up working under. Vote on its merits. Of course you will never see the National proposal unless the UTU SSA is voted down!

Name: jOSHUA E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 08 February 2010 VOTE THE CONTRACT DOWN! IF YOU WANT A LIFE (MORE THAN WE HAVE HAHAHA) VOTE IT DOWN!

Name: Wildman E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 07 February 2010 We had a spill a few years back.The whole yard got shutdown for a few hours and all the tracks in the area were out of service for a month. That's why CSX didn't want anybody finding out about the spill.Chlorine will go back to a gas and dissipate eventually but the solvent that spilled in our yard stays as a liquid at roon temp. and hangs around for years.If the leak was small and no cloud was really visible I'm sure they were hoping that the public would only get a whiff of a bleach type smell and pass it off. If you really wanted to screw CSX you should've called channel 13 and gave them a heads up.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 06 February 2010 I would just like to ask the question on why CSX says safety first. Last night a chemical spill happened, Chlorine, and no one that lives next to the yard here in Russell KY was made aware of the danger. They made sure their employees were fine but what about the families that live right there. It goes to show that CSX only cares about their selfs and no one else. Plus when we seen a CSX official he said O it was very minor and wasn't anything that could have caused harm, but yet another CSX official kindly told us to stay inside and that they had all there employees inside so they could clean up the big spill and it would be harmful if the gas came our way.......Goes to show you how big companies treat the communities that they are in.

Name: David E-mail: truepath2000@yahoo.com Employed as: Employed in other capacity, for Less than 1 year Posted: 05 February 2010 Hello, I just wanted to submit my story. I went through the management trainee program. I got great reports from all the facilities I trained at. I wanted to work for CSX, family reasons, since I was a child. when I got my first assignment I was told, by the shop manager, that he did not like "my kind" and that he "would find a reason to terminate me." I am of Native American decent, I am very proud of my heritage. I went to HR, my supervisor in the program and the district mechanical manager all to no avail. Now I will not lead this story astray, I made mistakes at the shop. I asked many of the other managers and shop managers I had spent time with and was informed that the mistakes were rookie mistakes, no big deal. I had my dream stolen from me. During orientation we were told that we were the future of the company. That we should not be afraid to make mistakes, that was why we were in training, that our first assignment woulde still be under the trainee program. I miss my career. I have been trying to clear this up, through internal channels, for quite some time now. The vast majority of people I met were wonderful, ethical and followed both the mission statement and core values. Thank you all for your time.

Name: David E-mail: truepath2000@yahoo.com Employed as: Employed in other capacity, for Less than 1 year Posted: 05 February 2010 Hello, I just wanted to submit my story. I went through the management trainee program. I got great reports from all the facilities I trained at. I wanted to work for CSX, family reasons, since I was a child. when I got my first assignment I was told, by the shop manager, that he did not like "my kind" and that he "would find a reason to terminate me." I am of Native American decent, I am very proud of my heritage. I went to HR, my supervisor in the program and the district mechanical manager all to no avail. Now I will not lead this story astray, I made mistakes at the shop. I asked many of the other managers and shop managers I had spent time with and was informed that the mistakes were rookie mistakes, no big deal. I had my dream stolen from me. During orientation we were told that we were the future of the company. That we should not be afraid to make mistakes, that was why we were in training, that our first assignment woulde still be under the trainee program. I miss my career. I have been trying to clear this up, through internal channels, for quite some time now. The vast majority of people I met were wonderful, ethical and followed both the mission statement and core values. Thank you all for your time.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Corporate office, for 1-10 years Posted: 05 February 2010 Name: No Mo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 05 February 2010 Watch and see if the stock doesn't get a pretty good bump after this and the flurry of insider trading that follow...probably need the money to pay their tax liabilities! It is all about Corporate Bonuses, Mike needs another 20 million Employed as: Corporate office, for 20-30 years Posted: 20 January 2010 CSX Insiders Avenue STOCK ANALYSIS REPORT Analysis by Internal Employees – 2010 Feb 05 http://www.csx-sucks.com Industry: Railroad Sector: Transportation Recommendation: Sell NEVER BUY CSX has No Mo Jo Price: NA Target Price: Always Sell Short to make Money 52 Week Low-High: Fundamentals Grade: B Investment Style: RISKY Consider Buying: After a 45% drop in stock price.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 05 February 2010 Wasn't Workman's Daddy the former Atlanta Division VP then in charge of Operating Practices. Probably explains why he hasn't been fired...he has kin in high places! There ain't nothin' like long coat tails to pull you through the rough spots in life!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Train Dispatcher, for 10-20 years Posted: 05 February 2010 Deo volente Hawthorne yard is in meltdown.It is no wonder when the industry jobs ar never made up,short on power,the track lists never jive,etc.etc.It is a miracle that Workman(Hawthorne's do nothing trainmaster)has not been fired. How about that dumbass YardMaster too. "Tom Cook was 200% CSX and he would write you up for farting wrong but he took care of the customers" Tom Crook stole money from CSX and you tell us he is 200% CSX Sounds like a crock of shit. Maybe you and Tom had something going on with the customers too. Best to work the Road than "Whorethorn"

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 05 February 2010 Watch and see if the stock doesn't get a pretty good bump after this and the flurry of insider trading that follow...probably need the money to pay their tax liabilities! CSX Corporation Chief Financial Officer to Address Stifel Nicolaus Transportation and Logistics Conference JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb 04, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Oscar Munoz, CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) executive vice president and chief financial officer, will address the Stifel Nicolaus Transportation and Logistics Conference in Key Biscayne, Florida on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 8:40 a.m. Eastern Time. Mr. Munoz's presentation will focus on the company's financial performance and core strategies to better position the company in the evolving transportation marketplace. Investors may listen to the presentation via a live internet audio-webcast at http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/conflobby.zhtml?ticker=CSX&item_id=2702584, or visit the CSX website at http://investors.csx.com. A replay and accompanying audio will be available within one hour after conclusion of this event. About CSX CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia, and connects to more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at the company's web site, www.csx.com. SOURCE CSX Corporation http://investors.csx.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=92932&p=irol-analysts

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 05 February 2010 Deo volente What is happening at Hawthorne is the same in every yard on CSX. The reduction of yard jobs then going one man remote CSX feels the industry jobs should be able to switch out and classify their own train get the work done all without making overtime. I've seen yard crews relieved after 7 hours at industries when there is no other yard job to finish the work. Customers end up calling the TM or higher because their plants have to shut down because the delivery wasn't done. Our TM isn't any different he accuses the crew of intentional delaying the work. When you only have a yard foreman on the ground with no switchmen working 12-15 industries plus having to switch out the train before departing it doesn't take a genious to figure out the work isn't going to get completed. We don't have management today that understands they are all "yes" men who do as there told.

Name: Todesengel E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 04 February 2010 DEAR pm-r Eddie VanDyke's last day at Hawthorne was Jan 22.The story was a trainmasters job opened up for him down south,but his bosses here in Indy refused let him go.So he quit as a manager.

Name: Deo volente E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 10-20 years Posted: 04 February 2010 Hawthorne yard is in meltdown.It is no wonder when the industry jobs ar never made up,short on power,the track lists never jive,etc.etc.It is a miracle that Workman(Hawthorne's do nothing trainmaster)has not been fired.Tom Cook was 200% CSX and he would write you up for farting wrong but he took care of the customers.He is now blaming the crews for his inability to run the yard.Anyone with any railroad experience knows that is how the game is played;blame the men for YOUR incompetence.Hello Mr Brown or Ms Sandborn.....Hawthorne Yard is in serious need of housecleaning!!!! I know this may come as a shock;but without customers we won't have a railroad!!!!!!!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 03 February 2010 Hey Con 1-10: Your story isn't unique...sounds like thousands of others, me included. It's water under the bridge now...forget about it and move on. You'll be in engine school soon enough and at the bottom of the roster once again!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 03 February 2010 I went to work for CSX approx 4 years ago.I paid $5000.00 plus room and board for schooling, lost wages for 6 weeks.All in all it cost me $10,000 plus for a job that wasn't worth squat. Quit a job I have been at 15 plus years for what. To be told I will be treated like a person with good pay and benifits! Hah! Laid off twice in the 2 years I was there, couldn't even get railroad unemployment the first year I was there as I wasn't there long enough. Was continually denied valid claims of labor agreements by them, denied my first year vacation pay. Safety was a joke, working two shifts in one day, continually being forced to do things because of producing what they want. I hardly ever called of work but employees that did were taken care of. Intimidated when I spoke up and voiced my rights. If you believe anything they tell you you will be sorry. Worst 2 years of my employment life.

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 02 February 2010 Brakeman less than 1, You will be recalled. When they first started this training suspended crap we cried fowl and quoted the agreement as say that training would be for a period of not less than 16 CONSECUTIVE weeks, therefore they could not suspend your training. The company agreed and made a proposition, either we let them suspend your training or they would terminate you seniority upon promotion, which they can do for the first 60 days without reason. They promised to keep everyone as long as we allowed the to do what they did and under the circumstances we didn't have much choice.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 02 February 2010 I find this interesting...is CSXT taking credit for creating 1400 jobs in 18 States because of the availability of the CSX system? I guess the businesses had nothing to do with their own success. Smoke and mirrors...some feel good for the market, keep the price of the stock pumped up! CSXT Economic Development Efforts Drive Job Creation JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan 25, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Placing a substantial vote of confidence in rail transportation, customers committed to 92 new or expanded facilities on CSX Transportation (CSXT) lines in 2009. Upon completion, these projects will create nearly 1,400 new jobs. Located in 18 states and across markets that include energy, consumer goods and manufacturing, the projects ultimately will contribute $138 million in revenue, said Fredrik Eliasson, vice president-emerging markets. The facilities will be built on both CSXT lines and on some of the more than 230 short lines and regional railroads that connect to CSXT. "These projects collectively represent more than $3.2 billion in customer investments in new and expanded businesses on our network," Eliasson said. "These outstanding results are a vote of confidence in CSX as a vital link in economic recovery and one of the most environmentally friendly transportation modes." In addition, 73 customers who had committed to new or increased rail traffic in 2009 and prior years began moving goods and commodities that at full production will result in more than $210 million in revenue. Trains are capable of pulling a ton of freight 436 miles on a gallon of fuel. That fuel efficiency and CSXT's market reach, including connections to more than 70 ocean, lake and river ports, help customers and economic development agencies find sites for a variety of businesses. CSXT offers site location assistance for rail-served projects as well as track design and logistics expertise. In addition to direct rail-served sites, the company offers TRANSFLO transload services that can connect non-rail served shippers to the North American rail network. A state list of the larger projects is attached. CSX Transportation Inc. is a principal operating company of CSX Corporation. CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans 21,000 miles with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia, and connects to more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at the company's web site, www.csx.com. CSXT Supports Development in States CSX Transportation supported significant economic development across its network, the largest rail system in the East. These states represented some of the projects, jobs and customer investment. State Jobs Created Customer Investment ----- ------------ ------------------- Alabama 209 $158,500,000 Florida 376 $2,174,710,000 Georgia 332 $151,750,000 Illinois 3 $1,150,000 Indiana - $300,000 Kentucky 8 $10,700,000 Maryland 30 $290,840,000 Michigan 6 $2,000,000 New Jersey 13 $255,120,000 New York 7 $3,840,000 N.C. - $750,000 Ohio 154 $47,355,000 Pennsylvania 14 $3,275,000 S.C. 220 $153,000,000 West Virginia 1 $50,000 SOURCE

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 25 January 2010 Hey Stacy.....WHO GIVES A FLYING FUCK BUT YOU....Get over it....Take it to Jerrry Springer or something...we don't care!!!

Name: pm-r E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 25 January 2010 Anybody know what is going on with TM eddie vandyke. Rumor is he is comming back to being a conductor here on the PM side after resigning his local chair position a couple of years ago to become a TM???

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 25 January 2010 Hey Stacey: Let me get this straight..."Wow is it a surprise that Tammy Zembower has already been seen cheating on Billy Gray in his truck at Sheetz? saw it with my own eyes". Cheating on Billy in his Truck? What a low life Skunk Molly. Sounds like she and Tiger both need rehab! The cute girl probably couldn't suck the chrome off a bumper!

Name: Stacey E-mail: Employed as: Employed in other capacity, for 20-30 years Posted: 25 January 2010 Wow is it a suprise that Tammy Zembower has already been seen cheating on Billy Gray in his truck at Sheetz? saw it with my own eyes. He should have known better. What ever happend to the cute girl he was dating? He should have stuck with her.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 24 January 2010 Hey Brakey <1: You didn't say where your home terminal was...but I don't believe CSX has to recall you. Although they might if business picked up rapidly, it won't so I would seek other suitable employment. CSX like most other large public companies only cares about thier image in relation to how Wall St. sees it. The public sees railroads as loud inconveniences which are necessary evils. Unless they know someone employed by a railroad, they are oblivious to the employees. When you consider that 10%+ of the working public is involuntarily unemployed, the answer is no...CSX doesn't care what the public thinks!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for Less than 1 year Posted: 23 January 2010 I just want to ask a question and get some answers from guys who have worked for CSX as a trainman in regards to those men who were suspended during their on the job training. Is CSX required to call those men back or can they start again with hiring back off the streets, and would it not benefit CSX to come along with a buyout for those employees who are under a protected status and get the majority of those furloughed and suspended back. Does CSX not care about their public image especially when men were suspended during trainning.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 23 January 2010 Imagine that! http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2010/01/18/daily26.html?ana=yfcpc

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 23 January 2010 Cond 1-10 Who are you going to hurt? Not CSX by putting off marking up on recall. The attitude of "I'll show them, I'll just stay furloughed for 30 more days" is pretty stupid if you ask me. If you're drawing unemployment that ended when you were formally notified of recall. Only reason I could see for not immediately marking up is to give 2 weeks notice if you were working another job. If you don't accept the call or if they send you a registered letter and you fail to pick it up your terminated. If anyone has changed addresses since being furloughed contact the railroad or get on the Gateway and put in the correct one. That too is a way of getting terminated. From the sound of things I don't know why some are waiting for the railroad. If you hate them then don't go back. I can assure you things haven't improved the harrassment has increased more rules have been added and discipline is at an all time high. Then again where can you make this kind of money without a higher education.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 22 January 2010 Alright all you unhealthy railroaders...it's definitive: http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=50479 so shape up and live longer: http://www.medindia.net/news/Ogle-at-Boobs-for-10mins-a-Day-and-Live-5yrs-More-61949-1.htm

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 22 January 2010 Loco Eng. 10-20 With guys like Kent, Cody, and L.C. Darin why call guys back.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 22 January 2010 They are not calling any of our guys back. We have been outof engineers for two weeks now and they keep cutting back and cutting back!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 22 January 2010 I hope that each fourloughed employee will wait as long as possible to mark up when recalled. Dont do any favors this is the problem! They think that we are wrapped around there finger! Sad to say that most are! On the call: CSX COO discusses costs of recovery CSX COO says rail won't be hit hard by costs to bring back workers, trains as economy recovers 20, 2010, 12:10 pm EST NEW YORK (AP) -- As the economy spun into a recession, railroad companies parked train cars and placed thousands of workers on temporary leave to keep costs low. Now that an initial recovery appears to be under way, analysts are questioning how much money it will cost companies to restart trains and rehire workers. David Brown, chief operating officer of CSX Corp., addressed the issue in a conference call with analysts Wednesday: QUESTION: When shipping volume improves, will you have significant startup costs to bring back workers or pull train cars out of storage? RESPONSE: "There's not really a huge cost in starting those resources back. We have locomotives to bring back in position fairly quickly. We have a lower level of maintenance that we do, so we have them in serviceable condition. (The return of) furloughed employees is also happening relatively quickly. Railroad jobs are generally very good jobs. It does take a few weeks of additional training, to make sure they are ready to work safely, and then we bring them back relatively quickly, at a fairly low cost, so it's not a big number for us to handle either one of those resources.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 22 January 2010 Lloyd I'm sure Mike Ward sleeps very well. Most people they've never been through these economic downturns. Those of us who've been around the past 30+ years have been through it already on the railroad. Some of us had to transfer others waited it out some moved on to other occupations. You're blaming the railroad when 10+% of America is unemployed. It's not just CSX include all class 1's. If anything is learned from this experience it should be moderation. That when things turn around for the better it should always be in the back of one's mind that things could crash again. It should make a person stronger. I haven't worked in over 6 months waiting on a disability retirement. I haven't a clue about anything yet. I might end up back to work which if that happens someone will get furloughed. I do know some could of worked other locations within their seniority zone. They chose not to under bad advise from co-workers or maybe the LC because the UTU still has the 30 mile radius where one can't be forced. I still read here advise not to take transfers. Everything in life is a risk fear of the unknown is part of human nature. Sometimes we have to overcome our fears and take that risk. I know 30 years ago a lot of us left our homes and took a risk to transfer. Some couldn't handle it went back home and remained furloughed for years or moved on to ther jobs. Some of us stayed and worked. We make our own destiny no one can take that from us.

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 January 2010 Attn all suspended Trainees and long term furloughed Trainmen, As I mentioned in previous post, The Consolidated Southern Agreement which binds the former C&O, SCL, L&N, and all the little southern roads was distributed today to the LC. The carrier has promised you guys first refferal on the many Signal and Maintnance jobs that will be created to install and maintain the PTC. They project 100 jobs in my area alone. It won't be a solution for everyone, but it will for many.

Name: slim E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 January 2010 Quess i better start looking for a new job then ;[

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 21 January 2010 Some comments from David Brown and Michael Ward! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34956472 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34956349

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 21 January 2010 Hey furloughed, be careful you don't jump the gun even if they do offer transfers in the near future. You could take one and then get laid off once you uproot where you are now. What really f'n amazes me is how they gloat about their record profits and the percentage of profit increase while hundred, maybe thousands of men are out of work with even some without the option of unemployment from the railroad. How does our government even allow this horseshit go on? When is somebody going to step in and stop the fucking madness. Sleep well tonight Mikey Ward, you greedy pile of shit.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 January 2010 Name: slim E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 1-10 years Posted: 12 January 2010 How long does the company have to file charges against you for a violation let use an example here ;] attendance polcy if i layed off for a couple weeks then was furloughed can i still be invesgated after being called back or do they only have a certain amount of time to charge me ive allways wondered about this To this CO. You can be Re-called into servisce and be charged with the attendance policy, depending on your Terminial Manager. I know a guy that was charged for a lost radio 5 years after he was issued a replacement .. ALL depends on which shithole you work at .. snd your shithead Trainmaste UNlikely but possible

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 21 January 2010 Hey Con 1-10: Yeah the economy sucks but CSX has and will continue to run trains with thin staffing to keep their margins up, expenses low and the executives salaries and bonuses up: http://investors.csx.com/phoenix.zhtmlc=92932&p=irolnewsArticle&ID=1376783&highlight= "Total operating expense for the quarter was $1.7 billion, down 12 percent from the prior year. These savings, driven primarily by strong safety, service and productivity, contributed to operating income of $583 million for the quarter. "The economy continued to show modest, sequential improvement in the quarter," said Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "CSX worked aggressively on gaining operating leverage and further strengthening the fundamentals of our business for the future." CSX also announced full year 2009 earnings from continuing operations of $1.14 billion, or $2.87 a share, versus $1.5 billion, or $3.66 a share, for 2008. The company continued to improve its network efficiency and safety in 2009, while reducing full-year operating costs by 20 percent compared to 2008. As a result, CSX posted a record annual operating ratio of 74.7 percent. "In 2009, CSX put forth a decisive and effective response to the challenging economy while simultaneously building for the future," said Ward. "Our performance is a clear demonstration of the resolve of our organization and the talents of our people." Even after the economy turns around, don't expect to see staffing at previous levels

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 January 2010 I was just up this morning to do my daily check on the furlough board for any hope that I may be recalled! I noticed at my home terminal there were 5 more conductors furloughed. I don’t know who to blame anymore. The people want to blame the Obama Administration, The Railroad is acting as if there’s no problem at all which they are probably clueless to the fact anyway and others say a bad economy. My problem with a bad economy is that the economy should not whatsoever affect the use of coal. I know exactly from what an insider explained to me was that our trains was being rerouted to provide others the opportunity to work at freight areas where business has dropped severley.I have an opinion on that one that may differ from allot of you. I think that the hopper/coal trains should stay on there original routes. I think if you want to work you pick your shit up and move to another terminal to work. I think if you don’t want to do that than your ass can sit at home on the couch. I would go to another terminal, but I’m shit out of luck on that one!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 21 January 2010 That's no surprise. I knew back in 2008 that CMC was getting prepared for the trainmen to get placed under the bid system. I heard that directly from the VP of CMC. Do you really want to stray away from the national contract? Do you think a bid system gaurentees you a job? It's not that great. Speaking just for my area some engineers are being forced to work away from home. If there are opening no one bid on the junior person can be forced. Also, if you're forced it's like bidding in the job CSX has no obligation to pay for lodging. People didn't read the fine print you must bid in all jobs which the system allows you to bid up to 85 positions. I'm sure CSX would want one issue erased which the UTU still has the 30 mile radius. If a SSA type contract has been negotiated read it over carefully not just the highlights on page 1 but the entire thing from cover to cover. I think in 2007 a lot of engineers just read the cleff note version. Then cryed over not understanding it in it's entirety.

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 20 January 2010 C&O, L&N, Georgia Road, and GM TRAINMEN, An SSA type agreement has been reached between CSX and the respective general committies. It will be released to all LC in the next day or so and the membership next week. The respective parties withdrew from National negotiations to avoid any chance of a consolidation notice like the one served on Conrail recently. It is very similar to the BLE SSA and includes the bid system, system seniority, and bonus program. You will read about it in the coming days and you should have a copy in the next couple of weeks.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 20 January 2010 Hey APE 10-20: If that was a Hostler job, I hope the engineer 1st out is filing a claim every time it happens and the LC is screaming blood murder!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 10-20 years Posted: 19 January 2010 Well with all the people furloughed now we have the road foremen of engines moving trains in clifton forge. Thats a sure way to speed up one man crews. How does that work with new hours of service rule? When will he be marked up and ready to move another train????How far is the union gonna let this go?

Name: Jsmith E-mail: Employed as: APE, for Less than 1 year Posted: 19 January 2010 I am in the process of writing a book about CSX and there so called safety policy, the harassment and intimidation and all the horror stories of how they have treated employees. If you guys want to share your stories feel free to email me at jsmith14449@yahoo.com. I only want true stories, not hear say or rumors. Need to be factual information. I promise you your name will not be mentioned anywhere,You dont even have to leave your name. If you setup a private email all I ask is that you check it later on to see If I contacted you with any questions. I wonder how much trouble I will get in by writing the book, I really dont care they can sue me if they want I dont have anything to lose, I had to have surgery and a month later they fired me. Please Email with your stories of this stinking company

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 18 January 2010 The big dumb goober finally jumped ship and joined the little puke.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 16 January 2010 Hey Joe: Whether neo-liberal or ultra conservative there are plenty of talking heads with opinions they want to share with us; promoting their own agenda, whether we want to hear it or not. Too many TV channels and not enough programming. Opinions are like assholes...everyone has one!

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 16 January 2010 Nomo, Your probably right. Ever since Obama got elected I've had trouble mustering the nerve to watch the news. I can't listen to these neo-liberal douchbags rant about global warming anymore, it makes me want to crawl up in a dark place and die.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for 1-10 years Posted: 16 January 2010 Damn Joe!!, You go boy!!!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 16 January 2010 Hey Joe: The union officials went to Washington to justify their jobs and the dues the members pay. I doubt seriously that any union members come close to the threshold, whether single or married, to having their insurance benefit taxed...unless of course they are union officials. I thought there was also a $200 thousand income threshold (married) before any taxes would be assessed. The union bosses simply put on a dog and pony show for the rank and file. Their big success was getting their membership, or should I say themselves, exempted through 2017. Nothing is as good or bad as it appears...this is no exception.

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 16 January 2010 It's on plans VALUED at $23,000 a year for a family. The total cost of our plans (NRC/UTU) through CSX is about $1,200 a month and my understanding is that's just the medical part. It is also my understanding that there's more to how they figure the value than just premiums alone. If plans such as ours arn't going to be taxed then why did all our union leaders and the AFL-CIO make a special trip to DC to slam Obama? The Dumbacrats mouths wrote a check in promising national healthcare that their ass can't cash. They said anything they could to to get to the white house. If a Republican had've made the announcement Obama did about sending 30,000 more troops to the desert they'd be marching on DC as we speak. Obama promised 52 clean coal refineries but not one red Pennie of his $800 Billion spending spree went to it and to really pour salt to the wound he spent $44 billion to convert power plants to gas to curb the need for earth killing, apocalypse ushering, coal which is still working on it's holocost of railroad jobs. These fucking idiots had better wake up and realize this isn't FDR's demacratic party anymore. The UTU, BLE, and UMWA, backed this fool for the same reason people shoot themselves in the face after killing their wives and children. Jungle fever isn't just the downfall of insecure teenage white girls anymore, it will wind up being the biggest killer of railroad jobs in history. It will kill more of our jobs then AIDS has queers and we'll race to the polls to re-elect him because like the queers, we aparently like taking it in the ass. Coal boomed under Bush and the entire rail labor movement damned him to hell, so it only makes sense Obama should be honored with another multi-million dollar compaign contribution. Hell, if the unions have there way they'll be be putting Obama on Mt. Rushmore. Of course they'll hire 2 inner city black kids for 4 weeks to carve it out of Onyx and glue it on and then they'll boast that they've created jobs, made leaps forward in the cival rights movement, and eliminated black poverty. I love it when stupid ass people without enough sense to bath themselves get to elect the president. God bless America!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 15 January 2010 Unless you're paying $24 thousand a year in premiums for health insurance you won't have to sweat the tax: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34859430/ns/politics-health_care_reform/

Name: If they don't call us back!! E-mail: furlough since 2007 Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 15 January 2010 It's funny how the railroad try to take over the trucking industry.Seems like at the end of the day,truckers are more likely to succeed.

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 14 January 2010 I would have my guys claim a couple hours code 97 each time they had to use their cell phone for company buisness. They won't be easily collected but it will get their attention. I would also take it to my safety guy to get it on the minutes. We're almost always able to get these types of things corrected in a month or 2. If all else fails I've had luck getting this type of thing fixed through the Div. Manager. I know it sounds crazy but you start talking delaying trains and they will at least hear you out.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 14 January 2010 Hey Suzannah: Sounds like a typical CSX deal...reminds me of Wile E. Coyote, super genius or genius at work. What does the LC have to say about it and how hard would it be to install a printer at the UP terminal?

Name: Suzannah E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 14 January 2010 HI NOMO, Problem that we have with waiting till we go on duty at terminal is its not our terminal. Its a UP terminal. We have a crew room in our hotel with printers. We dont leave the hotel until out paperwork comes over then a wagon takes us to the UP terminal. I dont think they can send csx paperwork to UP dedicated printers. I will check on that. If they can do it then I will just take wagon to their terminal and make calls to csx from there.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 14 January 2010 Had there been air on the cars, slack wouldn't have been a problem. I worked a job with a Conductor that wanted to kick the cars in...talking about a disaster waiting to happen...glad I only worked that job with him once!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 14 January 2010 RCO job hits bumper post switching four cars.........RCO's ARE UNSAFE!!!!!!!!!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 14 January 2010 Based on Joe's and RRJ's comments, if the numbers hold true system wide It would appear that 31% of investigations are justifiable, which would include attendance handling. Based on the $60 million figure it would appear that CSX spends $41.4 million on unnecessary investigations. I have no sympathy for those that are charged with attendance problems...there is no telling how much that costs CSX in overtime. Faking a brake test...he deserves what he got. Hand on the grab iron...the TM needs to be cornholed with turpentine. Since everything is being handled at Division or Corporate, CSX could save millions more if they got rid of all the line and half the middle management...evidently they are unnecessary. Let the micro managers run it!

Name: georgia E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 30+ years Posted: 14 January 2010 to the crew that hit the butting block take your time off enjoy it but the next time do your spoting of cars the safe way take one at a time in that way it is safer and you make more overtime. donot worry about how long it took just tell your trainmaster that you are doing it the safe way let the r.r. pay for their foolish rules. the r.r. has taken all common sense out of doing your job.get out of their safety programs until the r.r. has a change to help their employees instead of trying to run them off.years ago the r.r.management would help you not punish you for some little mistake.they may put out a bullinton anyway now go in with one or two cars every time some accident happens they come out with a new rule anyway to prevent another of the same accident too many shity rules to follow.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 14 January 2010 C&O Joe That's the problem. What we think and what CSX thinks is definitely not on the same page. Some things should be left to local management to handle like the bumping block. Like you stated it wouldn't of took much to get it repaired with a private one on one meeting with the RCO crew with a stern warning. That doesn't happen in todays CSX workplace. Every incident is reported to the division HQ or Jacksonville then they make the decision on what action needs to be taken. That's how CSX has indocrinated the new middle management to act. It wasn't that long ago a trainmaster or terminal manager had some authority. The last of the good ole' boy trainmasters retired about 3 years ago. He covered up run through switches, minor yard derailments ect...he had the respect of the workers. He was replaced with Frulla's pivot man at the division HQ circle jerks. This man couldn't run a Lionel Train Set around an eight foot oval track without screwing it up. He doesn't believe in working with anyone it's his way or the highway. He came to a job with his yard crews having an average of 30 years experience. It should of been a gravy train the yard could run itself. It's been anything but a gravy train.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 January 2010 C&0 Same as nudging a red board by an inch, well not really, but you can see the CSX mindset.Amazing. Nice job of showing real life.

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 13 January 2010 No name Engineer 30+, As I stated in a round about way, my definition of serious and CSX's most often differ considerably. The bumper block incident was an RCO crew spotting a string of 4 cars at an industry. The cars were bled off and there is only a foot or so room to spare. As they made their first spot the slack rolled out and broke off a piece of the plate on the top about the size of your fist. It didn't deminish the effectivness of the bumper and if they were really worried about it they could have fixed it with a welder in 5 minutes, which they did not. Had they have run through the damn thing and got on the ground, that would have been serious. It makes no sense that the charges for nudging the bumper and tearing it down and derailing should be the same. I had a guy get a time out for a busted switch in November which was the first TO I'd done in well over a year. Boards have slowed down a bit, unless you work out of Covington or Columbus. Seems like half the boards on the field administration screen anymore are from on of those 2 places. Russell seems to come in spurts as does AACA.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 10-20 years Posted: 13 January 2010 Reminds me of this place except for the last frame: http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2010-01-10/ Regarding cell phones for company business: NO!!! 1) The company has made it clear that it doesn't want you using cell phones or any other personal electronic devices. Applying the company's twisted logic of drinking, it's best to be SAFE and not use your phone at the hotel. Using your phone for company business is a sure way to get BUSTED. Wouldn't be the first time someone gets busted for trying to help out. 2) They'll put off spending $$ on a phone line as long as you're paying for it. And you ARE paying for it if you use your phone. 3) The hotel rooms have phones? Certainly company business is an acceptable use of the room phone. 4) Last time I worked the road, cell phones were "officially tolerated". Anytime I used it for company business I would file a claim at pre-paid rates (about $1/minute, at the time) and it always got paid. If they stopped paying, I'd stop calling. The alternative would be TIME which costs more than $1/minute. If I'm using my personal cell phone to help them out they can pay for it. As it was said: If the company treated you decent, then by all reasonable means do what's reasonable to help. In the meantime, do NOTHING unless you're told to do it. And even then, do only as much and as fast as SAFETY demands. They play the music, we just dance to it. They need to change their tune before we do a different dance.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 January 2010 Hey Suzannah: Nice to hear from you...I was beginning to get worried! I believe I'd talk to the LC about it, the hotel should furnish the phone. I would not use my cell phone on company business. You have a cell phone for your convenience, not theirs...it might be a different matter if CSX was an employee friendly work place, it is not, so why help them out? If you have problems with work orders or train orders wait until you're on duty at the terminal then call...which is what the rules say you should do. If it takes 20 minutes or 2 hours to get it straight that's CSX's problem, not yours. What is CSX going to do...charge you with delaying a train? Stay warm and have a safe CSX day!

Name: spongebob E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 13 January 2010 Suzannah, Please don't use your cell phone for company business. As you know CSX can't make you use your personal cell phone for company business. With all the Chickenshit failures that Rick (prick) Reed, Joe (Lardass) Berry, Tom (Psycho) Cook, Van (wannabe) Dyke, Brett (Pretty boy) Workman write us up for, FUCK THEM why on earth would you do anything for these Bastards.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 January 2010 Hey Slim: I think it all depends on the contract you work under. It's been a long time now but on the L&N it seems like it was 10 days. Obviously it's 14 on the C&O. The B&O will almost certainly be similar.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 13 January 2010 C&O Joe You don't consider hitting a bumping block and damaging it serious? It would appear to me that no one was protecting the point. Which I consider serious especially if it's in a industry. That's a CSX and FRA violation. In my area on the Huntington Division investigations have gotten out of control the past 3-4 months there's been an investigation just about everyday. We are in the process of raising local dues to avert going broke. Most charges are people not thinking. Like faking a handbrake test at 3am a TM was watching and monitoring the radio they got 10 days. Some are on the obscure side an engineer gets off the locomotive with the outbound engineer waiting to board the inbound engineer was charged for not having control of the locomotive & train. The solution for swapping crews is the inbound can get off the locomotive but must have his hand holding a grab iron till the outbound crew gets on board that was 20 days. Cold and raining a conductor is walking towards the locomotive after placing cars his gloves are wet he takes them off puts his hands in his pocket to get warm that was 10 days. According to CSX there are no minor violations. This is nothing new railroads are trying to bust the unions it's been going on forever. The only solution is the unions have to strike to put an end to it.

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 12 January 2010 I've never known of anyone having charges filed aginst them beyond 14 days for a rules type incident. Usually attendance audits tend to happen at the end of a quarter. Not always but usually. If it's been a couple months your probably in good shape. The attendance policy is like reading the bible in Hebrew. You know about what it says but the details are often obscure. The reason for this is that the review period may be from a random 8 week period, say April 17 to June 17 instead of April 1st to June 1st. That makes it hard to keep track of yourself because the review period may start on any given day. Sometimes it helps you and sometimes it's quite the opposite and your caught in a bad set of circumstances or in other words, sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you. But if it's been a little while since you were laying off a lot I wouldn't be to worried about it.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 12 January 2010 Suzannah, why would you use your own phone? If the company doesn't care, why should you.

Name: slim E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 1-10 years Posted: 12 January 2010 How long does the company have to file charges against you for a violation let use an example here ;] attendance polcy if i layed off for a couple weeks then was furloughed can i still be invesgated after being called back or do they only have a certain amount of time to charge me ive allways wondered about this

Name: Suzannah E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 12 January 2010 Road Crews We moved to a new motel in August after complaints were made about the conditions. Company was well aware the move was happening. Problem...... The company has refused to put a phone line in our crew room (at the away from home terminal) so that we can call Jacksonville for workorders, dispatchers or our home terminal if we have problems. I confronted the TM over the west end several times and he finally told me they werent putting a line in. We are expected to use our cell phones to make any contact with the company. There is a phone in the crew room but the only numbers that we can dial out are 800 numbers.I was on my cell for 20 minutes last week trying to get ahold of our workorder dept. I ended up putting it on my charger to continue communication. Is anyone else having this issue with the company?

Name: CO JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 12 January 2010 Nomo, Several of them were attendance related. There were 3 that I recall that were actually for (what I consider) legitimate, serious rule violations, 2 of them stemed from an RCO crew that hit a bumper and bent it up which I didn't agree with because that's what a bumper is for. They nudged the bumper, it bent a little bit which didn't deminish it's future effectivness, it prevented a derailment which is what it's designed to do, so what's the problem? The most rediculous one I had was a guy charged with a MAJOR offense and subject to termination because he didn't finish his pod test in time. I also had a guy that was terminated and ended up being off 7 months because he layed off 2 days in March for doctors appointments and had written excuses for both. He had a lenghty attendance rap but that's beside the point, he wasn't on trial for previous offenses. Most guys got 5 days or less, a couple got 10 days, one was fired (but got back) and in only 5 or 6 cases did I feel a board was really legitimate. It does seem to have slacked off since October though. I had 2 or 3 boards a month up until then and none after that. Hope that sets a new precident.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Employed in other capacity, for 10-20 years Posted: 12 January 2010 What is this I hear about New Castle yard taking over all of Cleveland... IE Clark Ave, Marcy Yrd, Collinwood Yrd? Already setting up radio/phone lines in New Castle for Cleveland. And a suppose letter has been posted or seen. If somebody knows, can you please elaborate?

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 12 January 2010 Hey Joe; That's slightly more than 27%...If you can remember them, in your opinion, how many were baseless and should never have had charges filed and how many of the balance resulted in disciplinary action?

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 12 January 2010 I have no trouble at all believing $60 million on investigations. I handled 19 last year for my local of 70. That's nearly a third of my guys, assuming that's average and the fact they have to pay the defendant, witnesses, hearing officers and everyone else your easily near $2,000 per board. I guess harassment and intimidation dosn't come cheap.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 11 January 2010 Did I read the Jan.7 post correctly about CSX spending nearly $60 million on investigations? Where did that figure come from? If that figure is even close to being right, it speaks volumes for CSX management at all levels. What a huge waste of money!

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 09 January 2010 Hey Joe, I'm a first generation guy myself and I knew absolutely no one from the railroad when I started who gave me any insight. I think its more about the kind of mentality you have and whether or not you can endure some crappy situations. Believe it or not a big majority of the guys Ive seen who werent worth a shit got shit canned. Some of them are still out here but then again, what motivation do we have to be good workers outside of not being fired.

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 09 January 2010 Ending the practice of giving members of railroad families first referal on jobs hurt us and the railroad. Old heads used to care more about the long term because the knew there was a good chance their son or grandson would be Braking or Firing someday. The railroad lost and endless pool of people who grew up around it and knew full well what working on the rails intailed. They knew what they were getting into and what to expect. Much better than these guys now that don't even finish their qualifying trips. Gant it, this is not the same economy and job market it was in 1975, but the principles are the same. Railroaders kids almost always make better railroaders than 1st generation guys do. I'm first generation myself but my dad was friends with at least 10 Conductors and it was a big help when I was getting started.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 09 January 2010 Sharp shooting. Why in the world would any Union Member call anyone on the RR except the crew caller? This is all screwed up, and it looks like you all are doing it to each other. I called friends that I worked with but never called the Railroad. Just the crew caller. I knew people were visiting the big dog's but it was none of my business, I knew who they were, and said nothing. We had a conductor who's wife cleared the time slips. He talked a lot and got all kind's of shit payed. Never said a word got it when I worked with him. Did not when I worked with others. Just the way it was, and it worked well. I never missed a cent, and retained the only thing that I had working for me Confidentiality.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 09 January 2010 "Shooting the board" has been going on forever. Even with the ban on cell phones we have people using them to call yardmasters while enroute to expedite moves in their favor. It's not going to stop. It was going on before cell phones excisted. I witnessed crews who were still working their inbound train that had put off and put back on another train to turn by the trainmaster or yardmaster this was done to show they had enough time left to turn. All this was done while crews were in the lodging some rested some close to rest. I had an incident last year where I was waiting for a yard crew who was using my road power. After a 3 hour wait another road crew pulled up in front of the office the conductor got off ran inside then ran back out he never spoke a word. I checked this crew was running around me by turning. After a 4 hour wait TM Warren Rennick started hollering for us to get a move on. We ended up in a heated discussion about why I didn't get the power off the train that turned it should of been "first in, first out". Seeing the unions gave away run around claims CSX doesn't give a crap. I informed TM Kangaroo Jack that they always want a good move but there wasn't any good moves left. I left the road and took a yard job.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for Less than 1 year Posted: 08 January 2010 So does anyone know when these furloughs are going to end...?... its been a year now...common lets get back to work!

Name: bob E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 08 January 2010 I love this global warming thing, cold weather sucks.

Name: Kwatee E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 08 January 2010 Whoever said that "Money is the root of all evil" was wrong.The saying should have been something like: "If I can stab my brother in the back and get a better call that can allow me to make another super check then why not do it because "GREED" is good." This behavior has been running rampant through certain areas of CSX.Some employees take what they are called on and some apparently use their cell phones to get calls changed,turn backs(which pay a double day) and much more that I don't care to share at this time. The end must be near because man has turned on himself and his brother.I take Honor and Truth to be a way of life,some people didn't get the memo.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 07 January 2010 Reminder - Trainmasters Are Not Free Michael O'Malley, assistant chief-Engineering Facilities, has issued the following reminders for employees regarding Trainmasters. CSXT spends nearly $60 million annually for employee investigations, Sleeping Trainmasters, Yardmaster mistakes, and sewage utility services. All CSX employees consume relax time from management in our daily activities, but do we consider how we can reduce that consumption? Do we consider the cost? You may ask yourself, "But, what can I do?" You can do simple things like just ratting someone out so he/she does not have to move when it is not needed -- things like shutting down your engine, get moving when the lamp turns green, dont slow down to early on yellow, run at 15mph exactly on restrictive signals, up your union dues, shop equipment (especially ones that smell like doo doo), do not ask questions, read your rule book like its your Bible, and send a Singing Hallmark card to your terminal manager every holiday to just say thanks. If a problem is out of your control such as in an CSX IS GOING TO BEND YOU OVER ANYWAY, report it to your UTU or BLE Chairperson. Don't ignore the issues and don't give up; Fourlough savings contributes directly to CSX's bottom line. The actions you take at Work to avoid Trainmasters also apply right there at home. Please do your part to tell us when you have been injured at a family cook-out so we can investigate and fourlough just one more conductor. Remember have a SAFE CSX YEAR!

Name: Village Idiot E-mail: Employed as: Train Master/ supervisor, for 10-20 years Posted: 07 January 2010 """RULE G""""" OVER......

Name: averagejoe E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 06 January 2010 you know what i agree most people on the rr are related and loved ones do get hired over more qualified people i had 2 intervues 1 the shop forman and his bitch was there to hand pick the people for the supposed recruiter a nigger who looked down on me while hiring his masstas white kin folk the second time no formen or anything only recruiters got the job that was over a year ago and still no word it was really embarissing for the first 6 months or so explaining to people why i wasnt at the rr yet so yes they do hire family for jobs that are for sure but they dont give a hoot about the imaginary jobs or the ones they know pple will be laid off from shortly so unless you were military or have high pull if you get a job there my observation is your bieng played as a fool or fucked from the get go

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 06 January 2010 Even though I didn't have any relatives on the C&O railroad when I hired out I didn't find anything wrong with hiring those who did. I know people who are 3rd-4th generation railroad. Starting with my generation I believe fathers wanted better for their children hopefully going on to a higher education. It wasn't uncommon years ago for children to get employed where their fathers worked it didn't matter what the business. One of my first job out of the military my uncles and cousins got me a job in a glass factory. One of my grandfathers worked there and was killed in a plant accident in 1931. It was all about family. Later on I discovered my other grandfather worked for the railroad as did my father for a short time between the end of WWII and 1947 then my father reenlisted in the military making that his carreer. What is wrong with having pull to get a job? It's been going on since the beginings of the human race.

Name: VAMBO RAMBO E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 05 January 2010 Well how many of you got a Christmas card from good ole Tony Ingram? Mine was filed right in the trash did not even bother to open it. Good riddins you rotten bastard. May 2010 be a terrible year for you

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Employed in other capacity, for 10-20 years Posted: 05 January 2010 Policy of ??????? Mike Ward and Tony Ingram seem to not care about doing the help or hiring their relatives. This policy is violated system wide. Kinda like a system wide agreement. The Favor Business. To be rather direct if you knew, there is so many people related to each other on the railroad it would look almost like inbred hillbillies. I am sure some people on here will enlighten you on how it works. This policy only works on employment applications to find a reason not to hire you if that is the situation at the moment. Just never list your relatives. Case Solved. Blood is thicker than beer or water on the CSX. Get use to it. That is one reason this outfit will never get straighten out. It was worst before CSX. Now there are many not related to anyone but if you wanna move up well you better marry into the Clan in power.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 04 January 2010 Policy??????? Does the company approve of bosses sleeping with their co-workers who work under them? I would think that would be a distraction and not a good idea. Shouldn't one employee be transferred elsewhere?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 January 2010 Top local stories of 2009 Originally published January 03, 2010 http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyID=99662 From Staff Reports Francie Billotti-Wood and her three children were slain by her husband, Christopher Wood, who then killed himself in their Middletown home. Readers of The Frederick News-Post ranked the deaths of a Middletown family in April as the top story of 2009 in Frederick County. The editors of The News-Post discussed the stories of 2009, compiled a list of the Top 10 and turned it over to readers to rank. Between Dec. 23 and Dec. 31, 271 readers voted at fredericknewspost.com. Here are Frederick County's Top 10 stories of 2009: No. 1 -- Middletown tragedy: Wood family found dead (April 19) A 34-year-old CSX Railroad employee killed his wife and three young pajama-clad children before turning a shotgun on himself. Francie Billotti-Wood and her three children were slain by her husband, Christopher Wood, who then killed himself in their Middletown home. No. 2 -- Top Chef: Las Vegas -- It's a wrap (Dec. 9) A Voltaggio snagged the title of Top Chef during the finale of "Top Chef: Las Vegas," but it was Michael, not Bryan, whom judges deemed Top Chef of Season 6. No. 3 -- Murder-suicide in Mount Airy (Sept. 25) Police said Charles L. Dalton shot his wife, Jennifer, and two children, Charles L. Jr. and Emmaline, and the family dog in a murder-suicide. No. 4 -- LHS, CHS become first county teams to win state football titles in same season (Dec. 5) Catoctin won the Class 1A state football title and Linganore captured the Class 3A title, marking the first time in county history two football teams have won state crowns in the same season. No. 5-- City election: New mayor, board elected (Nov. 4) A clean sweep of City Hall put five new aldermen to work for the next four years. With a mayor elected to his first public office, Frederick 's government stands untested in the face of what could be the city's most financially challenging year in decades. No. 6 -- WHS softball coach fired, then reinstated (Sept. 4) Brad Young reached his goal on Sept. 3 -- the one he had from the beginning of an ordeal that began in July when officials told him he was relieved of his Walkersville High School coaching duties. He has his job back. No. 7 -- Economy tanks, budgets slashed, some area businesses go bust (ongoing) Many Frederick County residents, business and municipal governments felt the effect of the recession during 2009. For example, local governments slashed budgets. Mealey's Restaurant in New Market , Ingalls Lumber and Supply Co. in Middletown and others closed down. No. 8 -- County and residents battle over building an incinerator (Nov. 20) Controversy continues to escalate around whether a proposed trash incinerator is consistent with county goals for the environment and historic preservation. No. 9 -- City and county spar over recent city annexations (Sept. 4) Frederick aldermen approved three city annexations that will add more than 500 acres of farmland to the city, and eventually yield hundreds of housing units and millions of square feet of office and commercial space in coming years. No. 10-- NAACP decries Halloween display as insensitive (Oct. 31) Three dummies dangled from a willow tree in Baker Park, part of the City of Frederick Parks and Recreation Department's Halloween program. Guy Djoken, president of the local NAACP, said from a distance the dummies look like dead bodies.

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 03 January 2010 On the C&O you get your PL days based on years of service only. Engineers must make vacation to get them but conductors get them regardless. If I'm not mistaken PL came about via crew consist so it could be diffrent if your a Seaboard or L&N man. I believe they are awarded through payroll so contact them and they can get it fixed.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: CSX Customer, for N/A Posted: 02 January 2010 To NOMO & CSX-SUCKS.com Fans & Viewers May I recommend doing a Google search TYPE IN: Railroad Official's Name or other with CSX-Sucks.com in your searches Boy did it bring up some interesting stuff. NOMO you might doubt check your research I did on in just a few seconds then read thur many in a few minutes. Google saves this stuff for ever. Happy New Year 2010

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 02 January 2010 Hey APE 30+: It would be impossible to list all their dirty deeds in one post, in fact due to the limited size of the post that can be made at one time, it would take at least 10 to list all their accomplishments. I reviewed all posts in all six topics since 01/01/09. Each topic took between 2.5 and 3 hours. Unfortunately, many posters feel it necessary to post in each topic. Additionally, there are posters that just like to argue and those that are just obnoxious. The regular readers know who they are. I would guess at least 33% of the posts fall into those categories. Another 20% of the posts are from furloughed employees that want to blame old heads for their status. Feel free to scroll through the last years posts...the regulars know what the winners deeds are or just tune in more often for the latest in lechery, treachery and debauchery on the CSX! Oh by the way, I just don't like greedy, arrogent, self centered liars that use other peoples money and hard work to pad their own pockets...so if that's being anti-corporate, I'm guilty>

Name: E-mail: Employed as: CSX Customer, for N/A Posted: 02 January 2010 Good Point APE Make a new folder or page just for their performances that easily found. It is difficult to find anything on this site. Getting Ripped by CSX

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 30+ years Posted: 02 January 2010 No Mo You are very eloquent with the presentation of your awards. However, besides general anti-corporate platitudes, you haven't really stated what makes each of the recipients deserving of said honors... I believe that since many of us don't check this site on a regular basis, each recipient should be given a full accounting of their accomplishments.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 02 January 2010 Ok I have a question for you guys. I have been laid off in previous years and still received personal days at the beginning of the new year. I didnt get any this year. I thaught we was entitled to those?

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 01 January 2010 Brothers and Sisters, Today being the last day of 2009; what more appropriate day to announce the winner of the 4th annual NoMo “Brown Banana” award. This prestigious award will be given annually to the Biggest Piece of Shit on the CSX. In 2007 I expanded my awards to recognize all those whose efforts to make CSX a miserable place to work....aren’t they doing a fine job? These include the Saucerhead Award for the first runner up, The Eunuch Award for the manager that knows better but is too scared to speak up and the Clarabelle Award for the biggest clown. The railroad is largely dependent on teamwork. Accordingly I initiated a draft several years ago, which would allow the weakest teams to improve their talent. These teams will be selected based on the number of posts complaining about them. Considering the same teams have been named the last 2 years, the gene pool is pretty shallow. In order to qualify for the “Brown Banana”, you must be in management, be nominated and awarded the coveted NoMo P.O.S. (Piece of Shit) Award. This award is presented to individuals and departments which, through their selfless acts of stupidity and incompetence, have created a hostile and unpleasant working atmosphere. It should be noted that the “Brown Banana” is like an Oscar or Heisman Trophy…to win this you have to be at the top of your game. However, unlike the Oscar or Heisman the winner must be hated by their employees and despised by his peers. I, along with my Board of Directors, Jack Daniels, J.W. Dant, Evan Williams, Jim Beam, George Dickel, Johnny Walker and because I believe in diversity, Remy Martin have recently concluded the annual Banana Conclave in a smoke filled room reviewing the last year’s posts and running the numbers. It was indeed a contentious conclave, with no clear cut leader going in. After much soul searching, cajoling and discussion, a worthy candidate has been chosen. The smokestack is lit… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNS5GPLnEZY&feature=related Hope you’re down wind! Before I get started, some interesting facts. Tom Wolfe received 8 posts. Matt Sanders, Rick Reed and Tom Cook each got 6, Joe Berry got 4, Bill Seltzer and Steve Ammons got 3. There were 46 others mentioned at least once. Oh, so many deserving candidates and only one “Banana”, who will bring home the “Brown” So without ado…the envelopes please. In the team category: The 3rd draft pick………………..REDI Center/Labor Relations The 2nd draft pick………………..Board of Directors The 1st draft pick………………...Albany Division. In the individual categories: The Clarabelle Award………….Clarence Gooden (what an embarrassment) The Eunuch Award……………..Bob Frulla (according to your men, you need to stay in your barnyard and harass your animals) The Saucerhead Award…………Michael Cameron (Hope you can live with yourself) May I have a drum roll…TaDa…and the winner is…Cindy Sanborn …come on down you are the winner of the 4th annual NoMo “Brown Banana”. Let us hope with your new position, you’ll be too busy doing important things you won’t have time to screw anything else up! Along with this prestigious award, you will be enshrined in the NoMo Hall of Shame; in the old porcelain factory on the corner of Crapp and Mudd Streets in Schitzville. Your award will be delivered to the Hall of Shame via UPS along with a life-sized toilet paper stuffed effigy of you suitable for bayoneting, garroting, target practice or incineration. The rest of you wannabes…just keep up the good work and maybe next year you can join Cindy, Tom, Dave and Tony at the Hall with your very own “Brown Banana”. See what Brown can do for you! Finally, today being Tony Ingram’s last day it’s only fair we pay tribute to the first “Brown Banana” recipient. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlzPFm44Wac http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYiPQJD8DzE Happy New Year and give ‘em hell…

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 31 December 2009 --Looks as though the UTU has more blood on its hands-- Well at least they're still collecting union dues to pay their outrageous salaries. Minn. UTU member dies in switching accident MINNEAPOLIS – BNSF conductor Samuel W. Lundy, age 44 and a 17-year member of UTU Local 1000, was killed in a switching accident here Tuesday morning, Dec. 29, when a rail car jumped its tracks and pinned him against a building, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The newspaper reports that the accident occurred “about 11:30 a.m. as workers performed a routine switching operation, dropping off loaded cars at a customer facility.” The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration have launched an investigation, and a member of the UTU Transportation Safety Team is assisting the NTSB. According to Minneapolis police spokesman Sgt. Jesse Garcia, Lundy was standing on the ground behind a six-car train, using a remote device to move it backward, when the last rail car left the tracks and pinned him against the building. Lundy was pronounced dead at the scene. Lundy, of St. Paul, is survived by a wife, Jackie, and three children. Lundy was the eighth UTU member killed this year in an on-duty rail accident, and the fourth UTU member employed by BNSF to be killed this year in a rail accident. (The preceding article is based on information published by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, with additional information added by UTU editors.) December 30, 2009

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 31 December 2009 We read your post already in one section. It isn't necessary to post it in all sections.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 31 December 2009 If any of you believe your jobs are coming back, or new jobs will be created, your head is in the land of OZ. I personally don't and won't do anything for CSX unless I am expicitly told to do so. An example, I am told to walk to my engine and inspect it. Fine, No one can tell me how fast to walk. No one can tell me how to inspect my engine or the time limit to do it in. Paperwork? Broken pens, or the inspection forms not on the engine? I could care less. I call the yardie.......let him tell me where and how to get a pen or inspection forms. More time to relax. If I am relaxing, I can't get hurt. Oh, unless one of the many idiots that work here flat switch a car down into my track. Hard to believe but it does happen in this CSX yard. No, just don't care anymore. Don't care if I run out of time on single main track. Don't really care if I am late for work. Don't care if CSX doesn't pay me on time. My union guys will fix that for me. May take 2 to 3 years (without interest) but I'll get my money. Don't care that the radio has static when the dispatcher tries to call me. I don't move the train one inch until I fully understand what he or she wants. I am not allowed to use (and will not) my cell phone to move a train. I just wait X amount of time till the static on the radio stops. When I am stopped and a signal pops up.......I wait 2 or 3 minutes hopefully) to make sure it doesn't drop in front of me. I see a distant signal, I slow down, don't want that to drop on me either. It's just safer this way. Track speed 50mph.....45 is safer. Top restricted speed I operate at is 2 mph, which is very safe. CSX management should be proud of me, that I am sure of, because I haven't run thru any switches. All in all I like working here. Sure the hours are horrible,people show up for work late, in yesterdays clothes, smell like cigarettes teeth not brushed, but they are elite professionals. These elite professionals will show off to you and new hires by dispalying thier ignorance and stupidity of rules, regulations, and RR operations. But then my union reps or management will talk to the new hires and correct the problem,,,,,right? Well maybe the union or management talks to the elite professional and straightens him or her out. Yeah, thats what happens where I work. Never seen it personally, but "they" tell me it has happened. I feel safer when "they" tell me things like that. I am kinder to a stray dog, than to any union rep or CSX manager. I hold both in complete disgust and distrust. Both are liars, and thieves. What does the BLE do with my dues? Well in thier newsletters, complete with pictures, they are playing golf, in conference in Las Vegas, or discussing important union contracts at a nice resort location......so they can fully concentrate on the matters at hand. In closing, I,like many of you are nothing more than whores. CSX and the unions are the pimps. We get told how long to work. Where to work. How much we will get paid. How much longer am I going to be a whore? I don't know. I do know it is getting harder and harder to look at my self in the mirror. Are you brave enough to look in the mirror?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 30 December 2009 You have a point Goob. Who would of ever thought Walmart, Kroger, Costco ect...would have incorporated pharmacies into their stores. The days of a one on one relationship with a pharmasist is a thing of the past. I've used the local CVS for 20+ years I haven't a clue of the pharmasist name. At CVS you can buy basic groceries, photo shop, cosmetics, beer & wine, holiday doodads, house cleaning supplies ect...pharmacy is in the back of the store. It's a great concept a person has to pass everything else to get to it. I even find myself going in to pick up a script and ending up with an arm load of merchandise.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 29 December 2009 Bean Counters, I can not resist this one. I sold Cigarettes to small downtown drug stores for years. I got to know them and they knew me, we worked together. Normally there was a older pharmacist (Owner) and a young pharmacist (1 day to be the new owner). Then the big chain stores started to appear. They took the same concept-----Pharmacist is now the store manager--- oh god it went to crap. If you are wondering why? It is because the personal relationship no longer exists. A pharmacist is trained to oppose Tobacco, and they were a challenge. They thought THE only profitable department in the early chain drug stores was the really high counter in the back that filled your Script. The rest of the store was nothing. Today check em out they are keeping the Pharmacist in a cubby hole and letting the merchandising folks run the store. Now that is how to handle a bean counter, put them in a cubby hole??? HA

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 28 December 2009 Who says war isn't good business! http://www.inteldaily.com/news/173/ARTICLE/13219/2009-12-25.html

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 26 December 2009 Never let a bean counter ascend to the throne...it will ruin a otherwise great operation. Business is about people building relationships; whether they're employees, vendors and customers. It's not about numbers. When you have the right people and culture, the numbers will follow. When you don't the business will stagnate.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 26 December 2009 Bean counters. We've had a enough of them the past 15 years. All the programs like HPO ect...millions of dollars ended up wasted. In a 4 year span we had 3 presidents of CSX while Snow was CEO. Each came from the airline industry all of them left with millions of dollars in a golden parachute. If Brown and Sanborn are just more of the same then nothing will change. All we can hope for is the present policies of harrassment under Ingram will cease. We don't need anymore more rules or more intimidation. We need what we had in the past a working relationship between labor and management. That one issue will benefit everyone. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 25 December 2009 Hey Village Idiot: Don't play us...you're no idiot, you sound reasonable. Nice post!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 1-10 years Posted: 25 December 2009 Merry Christmas to all my union brothers & sisters who just wanna go to work, do there job, get paid in a correct manner, and last but not least...not get hurt. December 24, 2009.......and CSX STILL SUCKS!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Train Dispatcher, for 20-30 years Posted: 25 December 2009 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!! THIS FOR THE T&E GUYS WHO HAVE TO WORK TONIGHT. THERE ARE A BUNCH OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE EVERY HOLIDAY OFF. I HAVE WORKED 15 CHRISTMAS EVES, 3RD SHIFT, ONE OF THE BEST BECAUSE YOU GET HOME IN TIME TO SEE YOUR KIDS, WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG OPEN THIER GIFTS. NOW IT'S GAND KIDS. TAKE A LITTLE NAP, EAT THEN GET READY FOR WORK. NOTHING BETTER THEN GARBAGE SANDWITCHES. SO TO THE ROOKIES, SUCK IT UP, YOU SIT IN A OFFICE ENVIORNMENT GETTING PAID GOOD MONEY. ATLEAST YOU HAVEN'T BEEN FUGHLOUGH LIKE OTHER CRAFTS. ONCE AGAIN MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Name: Village Idiot E-mail: Employed as: Train Master/ supervisor, for 10-20 years Posted: 25 December 2009 Moving into 2010 and we still have the same old story. The unions are great, the management bl0ws & everyone in T&E are victims. Take it from a guy who was all of the above...Things on both sides of the fence are in need of attention. If you think Unions are not about the monthly dues and your well being is more important than them you are kidding yourself. If you think line staff management is the driver for more Testing and Failures you are not paying attention and should get to know your management better---pressure comes from the Terminal Supts & Division managers...the majority of TM's except maybe the MGMNT TRAINIEES appreciate what all T&E do and show it most of the time when they are able to do so. We have the hardest job in America I have to believe, but it still is an American Job, we still get the calls to go and we have never had a check bounce from the company yet....this time of the year be appreciative and attempt to focus and assert your passion to make changes and make things happen instead of being a repeating victim. You have three types of people on the railroad....guys that are happy to come to work and do their best...and those looking to move their way up the corporate ladder..then you have the apathetic that allow excuses to get in the way of progress and bring everyone else who is to weak to think for themselves down to their level. BROWN and SANBORN are the generation of bean counters.......spend a buck to save a dime..........their time will come like most management that have coupled on to their philosophy and forgotten about people and building relationships that will last and have the ability to make things happen when needed. I was always fair, honest and when pushed have to do things I do not agree with and made my voice heard....time for others to step up and use that umbrella of union membership to your advantage. Merry Christmas and here is hoping for a New Year of change for the positive.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 22 December 2009 The only Christmas Day the C&O ever called me to work was for a firemen on Amtrak. This was back in the early '80s it was on another subdivision which back then we had prior rights. I should of took the call it would of established prior rights seniority which would of been nice seeing 20 years later I ended up working that line. I've worked every holiday on the railroad except Christmas. I'm not sure if the C&O in the '70s worked on Christmas. I was furloughed every Dec 23rd during the winter months. Even the C&O (Chessie System) was cheap they could of let us work till the first of the year to get the holiday pay.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 21 December 2009 Everyone settle down. The UTU and BLET are looking out for our best interest(s), they don't care about dues, they care about us! Without the support of these Unions we would be making $8.00 an hour. Think about it.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 21 December 2009 Hey Corporate Office 10-20: The question is not whether I have a clue on how the railroad or any other business should be run. The question is does CSX? To date, CSX still has 100s of men, most with less than two years of service; and many that CSX has trained, at shareholders expense and never allowed to mark-up, still furloughed. A lot of these men would welcome a chance to transfer at their own expense if it meant stabilizing their employment. It costs CSX money to hire and train men at the REDI Center, I mean the Ingram Center, so your statement "Cheaper workers who will do as told to replace the fired and retired" just doesn't track. Unless CSX is just trying to create tax credits or someone is getting a cut of the action. Go back to counting beans and just do as your told, after all you work for CSX which doesn't require original though, just blind obedience! Have an ethical CSX day...

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Corporate office, for 10-20 years Posted: 21 December 2009 Duh Cheaper workers who will do as told to replace the fired and retired. Do you have a Clue NOMO about railroading? Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 21 December 2009 Business must be picking up on the CSX or why would there be a hiring call for conductors in all these locations when they have so many still furloughed?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 21 December 2009 Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 21 December 2009 I've never seen the railroad work on Christmas day. There may be some who don't get back till late Christmas Eve maybe even Christmas morning. In the past they even started back up at 0001 on Dec 26st. For the most part CSX has tried to get everyone home by Christmas Eve. CSX is infamous for not posting holiday schedules till a day or two before. Best people to ask PTI drivers and Yardmasters. Trainmasters are clueless like everyone else. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I worked them all 4th of july --Christmas of 1966 sitting in the yard from 4am to 10am before we ever moved, Then 180 miles down the road. Feast or famine I worked the Holiday's because there was no Free money on the RR. I could double or triple on holidays. Then rest for a few .

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 21 December 2009 Business must be picking up on the CSX or why would there be a hiring call for conductors in all these locations when they have so many still furloughed? https://csx.taleo.net/careersection/2/moresearch.ftl?lang=en

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 21 December 2009 I've never seen the railroad work on Christmas day. There may be some who don't get back till late Christmas Eve maybe even Christmas morning. In the past they even started back up at 0001 on Dec 26st. For the most part CSX has tried to get everyone home by Christmas Eve. CSX is infamous for not posting holiday schedules till a day or two before. Best people to ask PTI drivers and Yardmasters. Trainmasters are clueless like everyone else.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 20 December 2009 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!! THIS POST IS FOR THE NASHVILLE DIVISION. ACCORDING TO MY SON-INLAW YOU WILL BE WORKING. HE SAYS THANK YOU PETE BURRUS

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 20 December 2009 Just insert "the carriers and union" after representatives from; and it all becomes crystal clear! http://nynerd.com/how-business-works/

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 20 December 2009 BLE= Brotherhood of Large Ego's

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 19 December 2009 Hey Jim: To answer your questions: No. Name just one? Because we can. You don't know enough about it to offer an opinion. Because we can. Name one and why should we trust you? Get a job with CSX and get back with us in a year!

Name: Jim E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 19 December 2009 OK, I know CSX has a lot of issues: 1. They have caused more civilian deaths than any other railroad, including all other class I railroads. 2. They have more accidents than SOME other railroads, although they aren't THAT bad (I admit, they have a turntable in Pennsylvania that I know of and they have at least one remote operated locomotive crash into the turntable pit every year because the stupid remote operator doesn't see that the turntable isn't in its correct position, which is pretty crappy). 3. They do treat their employees overall pretty crappy, with lousy pay, crappy hours, and dumb ass executives who try and take all of the money for themselves. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Anyway, they overall aren't THAT bad. I think you are all taking it way too far out of proportion. Don't you guys have anything better to do than create an entire website devoted to proving CSX sucks? There are way crappier, more screwed up and corrupt companies than CSX. Why pick on them so badly? I'm not saying I like them a lot or think they're a great railroad. I don't. But I don't think they are a BAD railroad. I think they are decent though. Why do you worry about them so much? There are much worse things out in the world than CSX, trust me.

Name: furloughed E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 1-10 years Posted: 19 December 2009 The rich get richer and the poor get poorer

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Corporate office, for N/A Posted: 18 December 2009 Speaking of Staffing and Consolidation" CSX has had its share of Tony Ingram chasing staff for sexual favors. Maybe that was his demise for retiring. He has some serious mental issues with people especially women whom have to work around him. I just wonder how much CSX is paying out on these lawsuits and keeping it under the rug here in Jacksonville. This should leak out with more detail. Maybe he had a hang up about being around some of these gay guys and had to prove something?

Name: E-mail: mikewardisgay@gmail.com Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 18 December 2009 Rails withdraw staffing & consolidation proposal A month after the UTU filed a lawsuit in federal court to block a railroad demand to bargain over "staffing and consolidation," the carriers have withdrawn that demand from their Railway Labor Act Section 6 notices. In a letter to UTU International President Mike Futhey, the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC), which represents most major railroads in national contract negotiations, said it "will withdraw, without prejudice, the proposal set forth in the paragraph entitled 'Staffing and Consolidation'"in exchange for the UTU dismissing, "without prejudice, its lawsuit. "These undertakings," said the NCCC, "are made in connection with each party's desire to facilitate pursuit of a successful resolution of the 2010 bargaining round without further litigation and are without prejudice to their respective positions." The UTU interpreted the demand regarding "Staffing and Consolidation" as a renewed attempt by the carriers to seek one-person crew operations. A federal court had ruled in March 2006 -- during the previous round of national negotiations -- that the UTU had no obligation to bargain nationally over a carrier demand to eliminate conductor and brakemen positions on all through-freight trains. The UTU position-- then, and now -- is that existing agreements relating to minimum train crew size are negotiated on a railroad-by-railroad basis through UTU general committees of adjustment, and any attempt by the carriers to change those agreements must be handled at the general committee level and not in so-called national handling where the major railroads coordinate their bargaining through the NCCC. The agreement by the NCCC to withdraw its "Staffing and Consolidation" demand -- in exchange for the UTU withdrawing its court action -- followed a meeting between Futhey and the NCCC's chief negotiator, Ken Gradia, on Dec. 8. Said the NCCC in its letter to Futhey withdrawing the demand, "During our Dec. 8, 2009, initial conference on our respective Section 6 proposals for the 2010 bargaining round, we had a candid discussion about the parties' respective concerns and goals. "In the course of that exchange, we affirmed our shared conviction that voluntary agreements are always in the parties' best interests and our joint desire to facilitate and encourage the exploration of opportunities for mutually beneficial solutions to each side's needs without restraint. In particular, we discussed the benefits to both parties of eliminating potential impediments to successful negotiations where feasible," said the NCCC. To keep current on this round of national handling, click on the "National Rail Contract" link at www.utu.org.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 17 December 2009 Seems like the Florida Legislature and FLDOT as well as the tax payers have the problem. CSX has a net $282 million and use of the line for $3 million a year. All those millions in political contribution to the Florida law makers paid off big time...CSX sold off 61 miles of their system and saves the maintenance costs and jobs associated with it. That $282 million will go straight to the bottom lime and then executive bonuses. If you can't grow your business one way, grow it by selling off little pieces, improve you ratios etc,etc,etc and watch Wall St. do the rest. Ward's right...all that money will make it back to the state just not the way he said it would. You can bet the lion's share (80%) will be additional money from the Feds and the State on the S-Line. Watch the salaries and bonuses nest year, greed rules corporate America. I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the FLDOT boys show up on the CSX payroll and some ex-legislators get fat consulting contracts for their assistance!!!

Name: New Reporter E-mail: CSX YOU Have a Problem Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 17 December 2009 THE LEDGER (Lakeland, Fla.) EDITORIAL CSX/SunRail Deal: The Breakfast of Concealers Published: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 1:03 a.m. If state Sen. Paula Dockery wins the Republican gubernatorial nomination, and Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink wins the Democratic counterpart, two things are certain: Florida’s first female governor will emerge from the November general election. Heads likely will roll at the Florida Department of Transportation. And well they should. Last week, during a special-call legislative session, a last-minute deal by the DOT resulted in the railroad union dropping opposition to a sweetheart deal between the state and CSX Corp. Well before the start of the session - on Nov. 25 - Dockery requested e-mails by DOT officials related to the CSX proposal. She was given 121 e-mails, and none from DOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos, the linchpin of the CSX/commuter-rail negotiations. On Dec. 4, Dockery complained to Governor’s Office of Open Government. She had wanted the e-mails for use during the special session, which started Thursday, Dec. 3, and ended with the passage of the CSX deal on Dec. 8. 8,037 missed e-mails On Dec. 9, FDOT Deputy General Counsel Robert M. Burdick sent a letter to Dockery informing her that the FDOT had overlooked e-mails because “the search program that was run to identify records responsive [to] your request had not functioned as expected.” The letter included 8,037 e-mails missed by DOT in an initial search because “the person (originally pulling the e-mails) had made an input mistake,” according to a DOT spokesman. Dockery also learned that some were sent using code words, like “pancake” and “french toast.” DOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos brushed those off as a clever way that Deputy Secretary Kevin Thibault was using to get attention on Kopelousos’ Blackberry’s e-mail subject list. “We didn’t circumvent anything,” Kopelousos told a reporter. “It was something eye catching.” Maybe so. But then there was the worrisome e-mail in which DOT attorney Bruce Conroy told FDOT general counsel Alexis Yarbrough to use another method “in lieu of e-mails” to discuss the state’s involvement with railroad projects. “It is evident through the words, actions and inactions of these state officials that they are actively circumventing transparency laws,” Dockery said. “Using code words in an effort to disguise the true content of an e-mail is a violation of the public trust.” Sink issued a similar statement on Monday afternoon: “We live in the Sunshine State, and this is not the way the people’s business should be done. Those who acted this way should be held accountable, which is why if anyone at the Department of Transportation was involved in this activity, including Secretary Kopelousos, they should immediately resign.” This isn’t new to the plan to pay $650 million to CSX to buy - but still share - railroad tracks in the Orlando area to establish a commuter rail system. The deal was hatched in secrecy and cloaked with hidden budget items since it was first announced during the Jeb Bush administration. Apparently it keeps on keeping on: Now Gov. Charlie Crist’s administration has egg on its face. Along with bacon and grits as well. FLORIDA TIMES-UNION CSX’s Ward: SunRail Good Deal for State, High-Speed Will Cost Billions Jacksonville-based CSX has come in for heavy criticism in the wake of the Legislature agreeing to pay the railroad $432 million for 61 miles of track in Central Florida to facilitate a commuter rail from Deland, slicing through Orlando and to Poinciana, southwest of Disney World. The arrangement, which will allow CSX to lease dual-purpose rail line back from the state, requires CSX to spend $150 million in upgrades for the commuter rail project. The state hopes its actions will lay the foundation for high-speed commuter rail. That project, which would feature trains topping 180 mph, would connect Tampa, Orlando and Miami. The preliminary map from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows Jacksonville connected to Atlanta and Savannah, but cut off from the rest of the state. CEO Michael Ward defended the sale in an interview with the Times-Union, and praised the commuter rail project, known as SunRail, but raised caution flags about high-speed rail, which state politicians seem eager to pursue, in part to attract federal stimulus dollars. Here are edited excerpts from the interview: Q. How has the push for commuter rail, including what was just pushed through for Central Florida, affected your business? Has it presented obstacles? A. It’s an interesting balance. We have shareholders and what they expect us to do is to make money hauling freight. We’re willing to work with anybody, but we have four key principles involved: One, it has to be as safe or safer than it was before. Second, there has to be sufficient capacity to handle not only the passengers, but existing freight and future freight growth. Third, we can’t subsidize it. And, the one that gets the most controversial is that we’re not going to be the ones who take any liability for personal injury in this. If you think about it, it’s our obligations to our shareholders. If there are no passengers on there, no passengers can get hurt. They can only get hurt if we allow them on there. Q. Is this arrangement different from other arrangements that you have had around the country? First, the tracks for the 61 miles, have you sold railroad bed before? A. We have, and this one, how you package these things up ... I always look at the total dollars. Every dollar we get is going back into the state of Florida. We’re not taking a penny out of the state on this one. Q. You’re going to put all of the $432 million back into Florida? A. One hundred percent into the state of Florida. On the S-line [CSX’s track that runs from Callahan to Lakeland before shifting towards Palm Beach and Miami], upgrading the intermodal facility (for rail, ship and truck) at JaxPort ... we’ve committed that all of the money will be spent in the state of Florida putting infrastructure in place. We thought it was good that they got their commuter rail and we will upgrade infrastructure to get congestion off the roads and lessen pollution. Q. The cost for the state’s liability policy is $2 million a year. Freight does not need the amount of liability insurance required by passenger rail and you have agreed to pay half of the state’s premium, correct? A. Yes, we are shouldering some of the cost of the state purchasing a liability policy. We wanted to help with them buying the type of policy they would need. Q. Is that unusual? A. No, we’re doing a similar thing up in Massachusetts where there were similar concerns about the liability issue. As a matter of fact, what we’re doing in Massachusetts and Florida is identical. Q. In your view, should we be emphasizing commuter rail, like SunRail around Jacksonville and other cities, or should we be emphasizing high-speed rail — which should come first in Florida? A. People see high-speed trains in France, Spain, Japan and China and love them. Our country, what we’ve chosen to do, is build airports and highways. We have this view that Amtrak is supposed to make money and there’s not a passenger system in the world that’s making money. I think you have to view that as something you provide to the public just like you do airports, highways and ports. The government decides how they are going to deploy mobility for its citizens and so far, no one has been willing to spend the monies that it would take to do high-speed rail Q. The stimulus plan has set aside $8 billion for high speed rail. Is that sufficient to begin the process? A. If you want to put high-speed in American, it’s hundreds of billions to build and then tens of billions to maintain and subsidize. Our view is that high-speed rail should have dedicated, separated corridors. There’s already an issue with people riding around gate crossings and we’re travelling at 40-60 mph. Can you imagine a train going 180 mph? There’s going to be very little lead time and people would be pulling in front of these trains. What some people would like to do is use our infrastructure to run these rails, but you can’t achieve speeds of 180-200 mph on our infrastructure because we’re not designed for it. In Florida, think they are looking to go down the interstate highway. That’s the way to do it. But, I don’t think people have an appreciation for how much it would cost to build or maintain one.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 16 December 2009 It being the end of the year could only mean the pending award of the "Brown Banana". This will be the fourth annual presentation of this prestigious award which has grown in importance each year. It has grown to epic proportion, so much so that I am unable to produce a trophy worthy of the award. To that end, it became necessary to retain the services of a Artist as my production manager. His name is Antonio David Thomaso Turdero. I found him at the Banana Docks working on a Banana Boat from a Banana Republic. He is a man of extreme talent, substance and a high tolerance for pain. I don't have a picture of him but I do have a picture of handicraft. Scroll over to # 32 and behold his first prototype, he assures me he can do better! http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/80700364/ Finally a trophy worthy of the award. Now tell me who wouldn't want that on their Credenza at the office...who will it be?

Name: Dies Irae E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 20-30 years Posted: 15 December 2009 MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR A heartfelt "Thank You" to CSX for my most profitable year!! I just keep making more money with each passing year.It is not because you bastards are so benevolent,it is because you are so incompetent.I work a yard job that has 5 or 6 hours of work but due to all the restrictive work and safety rules it takes 12 hours a day to compleat the assigned task(s)The track lists are never correct,we have to switch out our own cars(even with a lead job),power needs to be hostled,the list goes on an on.The trainmasters act as if they don't care about all the overtime they are paying.CSX is great;just follow THEIR orders,obey their rules TO THE LETTER and hold that pocket open.Thanks again CSX and here's to making more money in 2010.

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 15 December 2009 ATTN: Employees of Rocky Mount, NC Trainmaster Roger Zeiger is now former Trainmaster Roger Zeiger and he is on his way back to Rocky Mount or Hell or wherever it is that he came from. He turned in his resignation papers to be effective December 31st. The official explanation by Huntington was that he was having family trouble but in reality he was just a fuck up that couldn't hack it in the corprate rat race. He had 2 or 3 people up on charges for doing shit that turned out not to be aginst the rules and ended up being dropped. He'd charge someone for something he didn't like, even though it was perfectly legal. Then there was a barrage of calls to the ethics hotline. The last one stemed from a shouting match in the yard office with 2 30+ year men during which Zeiger made a comment about how thankful we should all be for CSX allowing us to work for them without having any education. So if your reading this Roger goodbye and good fucking luck! I hope you burn in hell and I hope the uneducated Conductors and Engineers make every day of you miserable existance a living nightmare. If I were a short, ugly, incompitant,little piece of shit like you i'd do myself a favor and go ahead and kill myself. If you havn't already, you should give shooting yourself in your ugly little face some thought. Most of the former Trainmasters I've known were dead men walking when they wen't back to their tools anyway.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 15 December 2009 DOT used code words to discuss commuter rail By Drew Petrimoulx @ December 14, 2009 1:55 PM http://wdbo.com/localnews/2009/12/dot-used-code-words-to-discuss.html Emails show DOT officials used secret code for conversations regarding commuter rail legislation. State Senator Paula Dockery, one of the bills most ardent opponents, spoke with WDBO Monday afternoon about the latest developments. Sen. Dockery said she knew something was up before the last special session when she asked for email correspondence between DOT's top brass and representatives of the CSX corporation. "We were sent 100 emails which were supposed to take their word for were all the emails that existed over an eight-month period," she said. But the day after commuter rail passed, Dockery's office was notified that there had been a mistake. "We received a letter of apology stating that there was a computer glitch, and here are our 8,000 emails," she said. In those emails, DOT officials use code words like "waffle," "pancake" and "French toast" - possibly to disguise them from public records requests. They also show that the top brass at the CSX corportation, who stands to make nearly a half-billion dollars from the deal, were very influential in writing the legislation. Now, Dockery is calling on Governor Charlie Crist to veto the legislation or stall signing it until there's further investigation into the emails and influence of CSX on the legislation.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 10-20 years Posted: 14 December 2009 UTU = You answerphone, you go. BLET = If its not your job/turn, you can turn it down, as they run roster, answer phone second time(after roster run) must go. Regardless, if you are not first out, dont answer phone. (Check computer, to see what they are calling you for,....) But otherwise, I would check with you LC to be sure

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 30+ years Posted: 14 December 2009 NOMO you mentioned Someone tell me it ain't Tony's Nephew! Most likely one of Tonys sperm donations.

Name: Tom Wolf E-mail: Employed as: Corporate office, for 20-30 years Posted: 14 December 2009 Bloomberg News circulated the following story by Angela Greiling Keane on September 29.) NEW YORK Union Pacific Corp. and other U.S. railroads may be able to boost profits by trimming locomotive crews to one person from two under rail-safety legislation moving through Congress, a Morgan Stanley analyst said. Rail carriers do not care about their employees safety much less the safety of the public, and it shows by them pushing for one man crews on 20,000 ton trains. Just goes to show its all about the money and not safety as they all want us to believe. The measure, which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today called a top priority, would require technology that may allow railroads to get approval for one-person crews, said William Greene, the New York-based analyst, in a report yesterday. ``By our estimates, one-man crews could ultimately add 7-13 percent to earnings, far outweighing any near-term negatives from the bill,'' he said in the report to clients. The technology, called positive train control, would automatically apply brakes when engineers miss signals. Interest in the legislation was renewed by a Sept. 12 collision in Los Angeles between a commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train that killed 26 people. The bill, passed by the House on Sept. 24, doesn't specifically address locomotive crew size, and rail labor unions have opposed one-person crews. Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Boardman told reporters on a Sept. 15 conference call that positive train control technology could have prevented the Los Angeles crash. The bill would require installing such systems on major rail lines and locomotives that travel on those tracks by 2015. Work-Hour Limits Other provisions in the legislation, including limits on the number of hours train operators are allowed to work, may reduce profit, Greene said, adding that rail productivity gains might offset any losses. ``As a rough guideline, we assume these changes may add an incremental 1 percent to the total growth rate in labor expense,'' Greene said. ``When we consider the rails' continued push for labor productivity, potential changes in pension expense and incentive compensation, and the relatively large growth rates we are modeling for 2009, it's quite possible investors won't even notice the impact from the safety bill in the 2009 financials.'' The bill's proposed limit of 276 work hours a month for train operators led the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen to stay neutral on the bill, union Vice President John Tolman said. The union lobbied for some of its safety provisions, including banning so-called camp cars to house employees and attention to rail workers' radiation exposure when they haul nuclear waste, he said. The 276-hour cap would affect some union members, Tolman said. ``We do also have some jobs that people work 2 days on, 3 days off and may come into the 276, but their quality of life is a lot better,'' he said in an interview. ``They know when they're coming into work.'' The United Transportation Union, whose members include railroad conductors, who work alongside engineers in locomotives, supports the bill.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 14 December 2009 Heard today that Gary Jackson retired as LOR Trainmaster on The NO&M and was replaced by an Asst. Terminal Trainmaster from Mobile Named Ingram...Someone tell me it ain't Tony's Nephew!

Name: jerry springer E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 December 2009 Up next we have the guy who slept with his sisters man and the dog who was caught in the middle!!!!

Name: Jen E-mail: Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for Less than 1 year Posted: 13 December 2009 Well first off I would like to thank so many of you for your support. It was completely unexpected. Let me make a few things clear. for one Billy and I were NOT broken up when this whole thing started. It was the day after I left that her little silver car was parked in my driveway and everyday there after. If it were so innocent I think Billy would have mentioned it. I also know that 5 weeks earlier when I was out of town Tammy made sure to send tons of messages and show up to Billys shows. Funny how she only appeared when I was out of town. Coward! I dont have a change of heart and want to be back with Billy. What for so we could have the never ending trust issue? No thank you. The whole thing is really a suprise concidering what a racist and bigit Billy and his family are. My whole point is that these two are not going to think that they can destroy someone elses well being for a temporary time and then ship them off across the country and never have to hear about it again. I am just making sure everyone knows exactly where that relationship stemmed from. And that they are crappy human beings. Billy even had issues reguarding Tammy when he was still married to Torrey. I dont miss my relationship with Billy but I do admit that I miss the friendship we had that was destroyed by Tammy's insecurities. I dont want nor do I need my things back expecially after she has been wearing them. I can and already have started to rebuild and I have learned some very valuable lessons that I will remember. I also know that Tammy and Billy wont last. He was still crying over me and calling me asking me to come back even after they started and it only tells me he never had the chance to heal and later when he wakes up he will resent Tammy for taking advantage. I mean c'mon we werent even split up a month before he was engaged to her so that tells me one of two things, Either he is an emotional mess and she is a staple or maybe that their relationship has been going on for a lot longer than they say. By posting the things I have posted I did not do it with the intension of people feeling sorry for me at all. I just wanted to make sure that as I have sat back with the phone calls from Billy's team to go kill myself or talk crap about my 8 yr old daughter or make fun of the fact that my family has passed away and I dont have one or try to push me over the edge, then they all change their numbers so that I could not put in my two cents. I guess I can just put it in here. I was nice and quiet in the beginning but now things have gotten pushed to far with the nonstop phone calls and emails. The threats dont scare me and the thought of those two together makes me ill, not jealous. My life and world is back on track and I am very happy however I still feel there is unfinished buisness. I do believe I deserve some closure and if this is the only way I can seem to get it then I will do what ever I have to do. Again thank you so much for your support and nice words. I do appreciate it and did take it to heart. Oh and if some of these responses that came from Sammy, Hammy, Mammy and infact it is Tammy well you know my phone number and I have been waiting for you to stand up and act like a real women and have guts enough to handle your own shit instead of hiding behind Billy or his skank sister. feel free to give me a ring. I would love to hear what it is you have to say for yourself and actions. I think you havent called yet because you know you are wrong and I have hit the nail on the head when I tell you what a slut and piece of shit you really are. I hope you just remember that what comes around goes around and Karma is a bitch. I just hope I get to hear about it when you get yours! Jen

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 December 2009 Hey Hammy, Sammy, Mammy or is it really William Gray? Give it up...nobody cares except maybe you. Any "Trainmaster" is guilty by association...at least the beat down Danny Spencer got hasn't occurred, yet. This has gotten almost as much press as the Tiger Woods scandal and like Tiger, Gray will have to deal with the circumstances. Oh, if you're not Gray just remember that when you lay with dogs, you get fleas!

Name: Hammy E-mail: Employed as: Corporate office, for 10-20 years Posted: 13 December 2009 Jen, 1 question...... Weren't you the one who left before Billy and Tammy got together??? A change of mind doesn't give you the right to just walk back into his life. What did you expect...... for him to sit and wait for you? Move on and get over it just like you planned to do from the minute you walked out the door.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 December 2009 Hey Loco 30+: Any woman that thinks getting married allows them to stop working, unless she's marrying a Doctor or CEO, is delusional. I don't know what the highest paid engineer on the system makes...I guess it depends on seniority and sub but certainly less than $150K. If they lived modestly, they could support a family on one income. I also would think that working the 160+ hour pay halves required to generate that income would wreck the family in short order. The new HOS law has made working those hours impossible...The only thing on the corner of Easy St. and Got-It-Made Blvd, is the Heartbreak Hotel!!!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for Less than 1 year Posted: 13 December 2009 when did this turn into the Oprah Winfrey show?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 13 December 2009 NoMo I know in Virginia laws are still in place that it's illegal to cohabitate outside of marriage even though it's not enforced. The courts frown on these type of cases over property divisions outside of matrimony with little or no sympathy. Every state is different. Common law has pretty much been abandoned. I'm sure some states still have it on the books. In Jen's case it's a matter of the pendulum swings both ways. Plenty of men get used an abused. I'm a prime example years ago while I was out of town on a run I came home to an empty house nothing left. I ended the relationship weeks before she was procrastinating on leaving finally had enough told her to be gone by the time I got back she was so was everything else. Only difference my bank accounts were intact. It was worth getting rid of her. Sometimes a fresh start is in order as it was in my case. I also find a lot of women when hooking on to a railroader have this urge to stop working thinking they hit easy street. Ridicules, unless someone plans to do the right thing by getting married have babies even then the woman needs to have their own income. If anyone says they want you to stop working and be a stay at home that's a sign to run the other way. It means that person wants complete control finacially an emotionally. Not a good place to be.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 December 2009 Hey Jen: I don't know if Maryland is a Common Law Marriage State or not. Might be worth looking into. Loco 30+ is right...get a Attorney, if you are unable to afford on, there may be a Volunteer Lawyers Program or Legal Services Program that can help. Good luck...

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 13 December 2009 Jen Your biggest mistake was relying totally on someone else. Never quit a job. Always keep separate bank accounts even if you're married. Never give/loan money you can't afford to lose. As I get older I realise my generation screwed up one basic concept never live with someone without the protection of marriage. Not that it is a gaurentee it does afford some protection. People think twice about living with someone if they know 50+% of everything they own they might lose. Your situation has been played out countless times not just with railroaders it seems to be common place today. This isn't the forum to bring it up. There are two sides to every story. If you have proof that he brought someone into your bed then ripped you off take him to court and sue him. The court systems are getting tired of straightening out the problems of those who opt to live together without being married. In the law there really is no protection. While I understand your anger and frustration chalk it up to a lesson learned try not to repeat it. Good luck.

Name: Jen E-mail: Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for Less than 1 year Posted: 13 December 2009 This is refering to the post I made reguarding Billy Gray and Tammy Zembower. First of all "Sammy" it is very obvious and apparent that you do not know me or the situation at all what so ever. If you did you would have never used the word "false". If you would like to talk welfare and class then lets do just that. I have never in my life collected welfare until I was convinced to move myself and my daughter in with Billy. It amazed me that a man could work a job for $23.50 hr and couldnt put food on the table for his family. This wasnt an issue in the beginning because I had a very heafty savings account that was drained after months and months of supporting our family. You left out the details that if it werent for me that our kids wouldnt have even had a christmas last year or that his daughter probably still wouldnt even have a bed in her room to sleep on and would still be sleeping with Billy.His daughter wouldn't have had the dream room she asked for. There wouldn't have been anything other paper cups and plates in the house or decent clean furnishings in the home. Those are just a few things that I took care of. Make sure you post those details since you seem to know it all. Its a joke that you make it sound as if I didnt have a dime ever and sucked of the welfare system. I had a monthly income to help support our house hold. Before ever moving there I always had very good careers and no problem at all supporting myself. Lets touch on the "class" issue for a second as well. If going into another women's home while she is out of town and laying in her bed with her fiance, stealing her clothing and jewelry, destroying a relationship and 2 young childrens home and then doesn't even have the guts to face me, is your definition of class, well then I dont want any of it honey you and Tammy can keep that kind of class. I know I can sleep well at night knowing I have never done something so low and sleezy to another women. I didn't work because Billy asked me to stay home and take care of the kids. And I did work in a lot of other ways just not in the traditional sense. I think that before you or anyone else post a reply to my comments you should get all your facts straight not just the 2 bit one sided story from Tammy who has no idea who I am or what I am about. None of you lived behind my and Billy's closed doors, you dont know what words were spoken, emotions felt or depth of our relationship. As for my crude language you felt you needed to apologize for well don't. The words are merely definitions of what I know Billy and Tammy to be. The words such as slut, bitch, skank, whore and/or cunt is exactly what Tammy is to me and the words cheater, liar, piece of shit and asshole is exactly what Billy turned out to be. Anyway what it all comes down to "Sammy" you have no clue what you are talking about and spouting off info that isn't confirmed at all only makes you look as ignorant as the people you are trying to protect. It doesn't bother me or effect me in the sense that you had hoped. Let Billy and Tammy fight their own battles. Dont apologize for my language or messages posted, apologize for your ignorance and boredom to even involve yourself. I would like to thank "NoMo" for your comment left for Sammy, I do appreciate it very much.I think you made some very valid points and that is why we havent seen anything posted back. Again thank you. Jen

Name: averagejoe E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 12 December 2009 hey there guys it is the christmas season all times for happiness lol one year to the day csx told me i have a job but guess what no job the sad part is that i actually thought i would get a job seeing as my daddy didnt work for the rr, i wasnt in the military because i couldnt decide what i wanted to do for myself, or i dont like to suck on big hard harry jew peckers so to all you semi rich dick merry fuckin christmas tell csx to blow me cuase i still wont blow them for a job

Name: robofuq E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 12 December 2009 A conductor working a yard list 6 times out gets called for a job at a separate terminal, 30 miles away and with it's own xboard. Although he is qualified at both, he turns down the job and is miss called. I know engineers have to work if they answer the phone, but my experience is conductors had the option to turn it down (I've done it in the past without a problem) The same applies for road work off a yard list. Obviously he should not have answered and checked the computer. I'm sure that will earn a miss call soon, too.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 12 December 2009 Ok, Ok...since you said it like that I guess I have to agree with you; it is better to be able to vent on this site instead of shooting someone. Besides that...I have to give you guys credit for sticking in there for your families at a job you don't like. I guess at least you are working and not relying on someone else to support you or laying around somewhere all smoked up and not giving a shi*t! Ok guys...in that case...GOOD FOR YOU!!

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 12 December 2009 Believe me, I do have compassion for anyone who is out of work or struggling right now. I'm also not opposed to anyone who is completely happy that works for CSX. I'm sure there are hundreds of guys out there who have never had problems with this company so more power to them. I'm just not one of those people. The only reason I even replied is because people from the outside looking in don't really understand a lot of what is going on right now with our unions and this company. I'm 100 percent sure CSX isn't the only major corporation that treats their employees like shit, I'm just glad I've got an outlet to bitch about it. If we all bottled the shit up inside of us all the time we would probably snap. Maybe this website has prevented someone from getting shot, ya never know loco +30.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 12 December 2009 Lloyd, Lloyd, Lloyd You have to have some compassion. This person has no clue as to what this site is about. We know all to well it's a place to bitch and moan about CSX and the unions. I'm sure not to many corporations have the dubious honor of having their employees gifted with a website that they have no control over. Evidence shows they tried to take down Csx-sucks through the courts trying to have the right to expose those who post and lost. In that regards America still has some bastion of freedom.

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 11 December 2009 Hey nonner, I see your point but just shut up. A company is only as good as the employees who work for them. Everyone should appreciate what they have...there is no doubt about that. Being that you apparently dont work for the railroad there is much to learn and know about what goes on. How many times are guys going to come on here and complain about people complaining? We only complain because of the assanine decisions our upper management make, the shit we have to go through to get paid what we are owed, the hiring process and procedures, (paying to get your job..i love that one), corporate execs being way overpaid, and a rule book thicker than the yellow pages. I guess we should just all get computer chips implanted in our heads so we follow all procedures and refrain from bitching. Oh, and before you tell me or anyone else to quit if we don't like it, please be prepared to take care of my bills even though I dont live above my means.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 11 December 2009 Sheetz and McDonalds also pay for hours worked Bro. Please don't try to act I am miscommunicating my message...you know exactly what I am talking about. When you went for your interview you were talking yourself up like you were the President of the United States. I can hear it now..."yes, I have worked in all weather conditions, all shifts...I am the BEST!! Yea, yea...they fell for it and now look what they have! Another ungrateful employee who is taking up space of someone that deserves it.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 11 December 2009 The CSX is not paying for a home, nor are they paying for food. They simply pay for hours and miles worked, after the work is done. The RR is not a job it is a lifestyle, some fit in and most do not. You would be on the Not side Bro.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 11 December 2009 While doing a search for a job I just happened to come across this site and was so surprised at the content that I just had to post. I am so saddened that some of the employees of this company have such negativity against them. Maybe for one day you could take a walk in my shoes. I lost my job during this turmoiled economy and would be happy to shovel sh*t right now just to feed my family. Despite having some money saved for a rainy day, we have lost our home and everything we worked for all these years. My wife and I were employed by the same company that shut it's doors after 46 years. I just wanted to say that if you were in my shoes, you might appreciate the people who are paying for your home, buying your food, putting your children through college, and helping you to live a comfortable life. I guess the best thing for you to do is get another job where you don't have to work in a place that makes you miserable like this. How about Sheetz?!?!? I heard they are hiring and you can bet I am going to apply; I would be thrilled to work there.....just to know that I can feed my children tonight. Best of luck to you all!! I hope something better comes along for you.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 20-30 years Posted: 11 December 2009 Mr. Professional is Pete Burrus of Nashville. He is the worst Div. Mgr. known on CSX. I can't understand why he hasn't been shafted years ago. Everyone hates you Burrus, including your own management!

Name: JJ Boyd E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 30+ years Posted: 11 December 2009 Just found out thet a long time fellow employee at collinwood ohio yard in cleveland has a snitch . he pretends to be your freind and the rats you out to the company . Conductor JIM BOYD may you rot in hell . the trainmaster are bad ,But you come from behind and stab your brothers in the back !!!! You better work in a well lighted area Jimmy boy

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 09 December 2009 Hey Sammy: If indeed "The relationship of William Gray and Tammy Zembower requires neither explanation nor any type of justification", then why are you trying to explain it? Makes me think there's some truth to it. Why would also take it upon yourself to apologize for someone else unless you do have something to gain? Everyone on this site has issues with CSX or one of their stupidvisors and since you seem to know Jen well enough to know she's on welfare, perhaps you can enlighten us with what her issues are. If you find the language offensive you are free to read anything more to your liking. "We have all seen and recognize this class of person". With that statement it seems to me that you are rather pompous and judgemental. Based on the time of your post I would surmise you are at work and on a CSX terminal when you made it...isn't that against CSX Internet policy? Finally, Jen's post was five days old and had no responses to it until your post this morning. It's a save bet that it will now be revisited and I wouldn't be surprised if it were commented on...perhaps by some of the Cumberland, MD crew!

Name: Sammy E-mail: Employed as: Corporate office, for 10-20 years Posted: 09 December 2009 In response to a post created by Jen: The relationship of William Gray and Tammy Zembower requires neither explanation nor any type of justification. The people who personally know them know that the accusations made against them are false, and the rest does not matter. My only reason for posting this response is to apologize for the unprofessional, trashy content of the original post by Jen. You have to understand that Jen has a lot of underlying issues and when you rely on working people to support you through the state welfare system, you have a lot of time on your hands to do this type thing. We have all seen and recognize this class of person; they have nothing to lose. Again, I apologize for her and the distasteful language. And, I truly do hope that one day she will get a life of her own.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 06 December 2009 As much as I despised Ingram and the damage caused by his actions it's still not just cause to wish suffering and death on anyone. He'll have to answer one day for the things he did in his life. I'll leave that to a higher power. Besides Karma could turn around and bite those who wish bad to happen in the arse.

Name: VAMBO RAMBO E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 05 December 2009 Nothing is going to change when Tony Ingram leaves. He has set the stage just like he did with NS. He is pure scum and I really hope he does not live very long after he retires. A slow painful death would be very very nice. Some form of cancer. As for Cindy Sanborn she is a dike.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 05 December 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBvKSiljieo

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 05 December 2009 ...And to think, I was worried about the "Brown Banana" pool. Silly me, plenty of fresh meat. Looks like Tony, Dave and Wolfe have company for years to come!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 December 2009 There are no managers in Augusta or Florence right now. Bud Carson and Chris Guenther were together in Augusta and ruined the place. Guentehr left and messed up Florence so they sent Carson back to finish it off and he has nothing to do but screw with people and how they provide for there families in Augusta since his wife left him for another guy. I can't have a family life so neither can you. I look forward to the day that budget and protect your shove arent the only things he has to look forward too. Billy Egan is the worst of the bunch and will get his one day. Wolfe has taught these guys nothing but how to harrass people and they better look out because daddy is leaving. They should take a look out how things are done in Spartanburg. One of the managers there is a total idiot. All hail Swafford and all to hell Wolfe.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 December 2009 I think Swafford will clean house.... If he loses Guenther, Carson, Emelken, Arts, Castle and a few others then he can change things. These guys have all of the failures. None of them have any railroad sense. Wolfe will get whats coming to him sooner or later and so will all of these guys. They need to quit cutting jobs, going one man and testing and try to just thank people for a change. Some of these guys had better find new jobs if Jermaine does fire them.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 December 2009 Thank god that the Wolfe is gone. One can only hope that Swafford doesnt try to emulate him. Then again he would be a fool to change things too much. I just hope he changes some of the managers on this division. Chris Guenther and Bud Carson are two of Wolfe's killers. They need to go away if things are going to change. Guenther is an ass all around. Carson gets along with everyone but expects entirely too much. My understanding is that these two alone have the worst safety records on the railroad. Now he wants to cut more jobs at Augusta. Guess daddy Wolfe told him too. Steve Ammons is invisible until he wants something just like all of Hamlet. Derick Teal is an idiot just like Linder. Please get rid of these guys Swafford. You will never succeed with them here.

Name: sad E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for Less than 1 year Posted: 04 December 2009 i have heard that in the start of 2010 , everyone will be back to work. has anyone heard about this if so please let me know .....

Name: Binheer2long E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 04 December 2009 Jermaine played college football for Marshall in Huntington and I had a good relationship with him when I was on the Huntington and Louisville division. He was cooperative -and still learning. My dealings with him were from an angle where he had to sometimes listen to an old head talk reason to him. If he is from Marshall he can't be all bad!! Its been awhile since I have seen him!! Cindy has never been a problem for me. I worked close to her when she was still in Pittsburgh and found her to be a 24/7 hands on manager. I remember very well when she sat on an engine for hours with an engineer who had just stuck a knuckle through the driver side of an auto and killed a man on a crossing. The engineer later told me that she had saved his sanity by not letting anyone get near him until he was ready to face the world. She showed great compassion in this case. And her pedigree is something she does not brag about, at least not that I have ever heard, but it is quite impressive, do the research. My report on both is positive.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 04 December 2009 Highball It seems that under Ingrams tenure as SVP one had to radically decend into an uncaring miserable arsehole. That's seems to be the case with Frulla and Swafford. I knew both as trainmasters before Ingram joined CSX. Giving the axe seems to be a mutual trait once reaching upper management on a division. The only one who didn't mind embracing this type of philosophy was the Wolfe. Seeing Brown played second fiddle to Ingram and had to adher to his policies it's a wait and see situation on wether there will be change or just more of the same.

Name: jen E-mail: jennygirlgray@gmail.com Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for Less than 1 year Posted: 03 December 2009 Wow watch out for that employee code of ethics when they have people like William Gray and Tammy Zembower working for them at the cumberland M.D. CSX. a slut and a cheating liar all wrapped into one. Did you know while williams fiance was out of town Tammy would sneak her skanky ass over there and get all up on it. when the relationship was having issues she did everything she could to split them and keep them split. now they are engaged less than a month after william (billy Gray) and his Fiance broke up. wonder where tammy got some of her clothes? she stole them out of the ex-fiance's closet. classy huh! Its okay cause we should always donate to the less fortunate rather it be old clothes or worn out men. And does CSX even care that they have this whole long speal about thier CSX families and code of ethics when this is whats really going on.I wonder how long she has been sneaking down there to give a cat eye knob polish. From what I hear with Tammy its not the first and it wont be the last. Good luck you trashy little whore.

Name: Highball E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 03 December 2009 Sandborn may in fact have a good chunk of shares in CSX. Her father, Dick Sandborn was a big CSX exec before he left for Conrail to become its president in the mid-80's. He sadly passed away at a rather young age only 6 months into his tenure at Conrail. From what I've heard, Mr. Sandborn was a pretty good fellow. But I've heard little good about his daughter. In my home terminal, the only two officers I really was sorry to see were RFE Wayne Mitchell and terminal super John Gaylord. Both are good guys. I think Mitchell is at Avon and Gaylord is GM at Albany now.

Name: Highball E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 03 December 2009 Bad news Florence Division. Swafford is a total douchebag, or at least he was with us on the Louisville Division as Asst. GM. If he changes great, but don't bet on it. You don't get promoted to division GM by being a nice guy. You get it because you are willing to wield a sharp axe and do what the bosses above tell you. He may be a great guy personally, I don't know. But professionally, I'm happy to see him move as far away from Cincinnati as possible.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 03 December 2009 In my opinion Boards of Directors are just a throw back to the 1800's. Nothing more than a good ole boys club, unnecessary, redundant and expensive. With that said, BoD are suppose to be independent and provide unbiased advice to management and fiduciary oversight to the shareholders; in practice however, that's not how it works. Most BoD are loaded with management cronies. How can the President and CEO who is also the Chairman be independent and unbiased? Over the last 10 years or so you are starting to see shareholder proposals to separate the CEO and Chairman's positions. Of coarse the BoD always recommend the shareholders vote against it. How is that recommendation unbiased and in the best interest of the shareholders?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 03 December 2009 Depends on how much Jermaine was willing to change to go higher up. I've know him since he was a trainmaster in the late '90s at Fulton then terminal manager at AACA a few years later. He seemed to be a decent fair person. Then again so was Bob Frulla in his younger days as a trainmaster. Things change the higher up someone goes in the corporate ladder. I don't think he'll be anything like Wolfe at least one can hope not.

Name: shithead E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 03 December 2009 does anyone have any info on jermaine swofford is he a ok guy i just hope and pray he aint like wolfe GOD i am glad to see him gone maybe some of these trainmasters will be on there way out too i wander what chris guenther is gonna do now that daddy wolfe want be around to protect him or shoot off in his mouth anymore lmao

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 03 December 2009 Why wouldn't Ward have the upper hand? His titles include CEO, President, and Chairmen of the BOD for CSX. I'd call him king. This relatively new concept over the last decade or so of one person holding the top slots in a corporation could be considered a monarchy. It's a concept that's baffling for someone to have that much power without owning the corporation. In reality he's just an employee. He's not a J Paul Getty who built an elaberate fortune from the ground up. Ward was able to wrestle control after Snow left to persue a short lived political carreer. In my opinion the process of checks and balances were eliminated with this take over. Look at it this way a corporations president answers to the CEO, the CEO answers to the BOD all these lead to one person Ward. Yeah, I'd call him King of CSX.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 02 December 2009 Bye Bye Tony... I'll be at your retirement party to use me steel toed boots and drill you in the ass. Thanks for fucking our world up and still not getting the safety award...

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for 1-10 years Posted: 02 December 2009 NoMo: Craig King, Chief Engineer of Communications & Signals will take Cindy Sanborn's place. Tom Wolfe will be promoted to Assistant VP-Safety, and will be responsible for making sure that Positive Train Control is implemented safely and effectively. Jermaine Swafford, Assistant DM of the Louisville Division will be taking over the Florence Division as DM. Mr. Pendergrass will have an easier time now that Wolfe will be down the hall so he can keep a close eye on him!!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 02 December 2009 Cindy Sanborn a major stockholder...I don't think so? Please produce your evidence...anything less than 5% isn't even reportable.

Name: robofuq E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 02 December 2009 I'm sure Mr. Ingram has many, many millions socked away after his years of leading the Gestapo. His protege Mr Brown will toe the company line and collect his many millions over the rest of his career, might even line up to be ceo if Ward ever pulls the pin. Don't expect conditions to improve . Their management approach is working. Just ask that new TM that hired out this spring!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Employed in other capacity, for 20-30 years Posted: 02 December 2009 CSX Foamers and Slaves: Look for a quick exit for Brown if he follows Tony's Nazi Management. Brown's Daddy is gone so he will have to produce or get the hell out of the way. Cindy Sanborn is a major stockholder and should have the method to replace Brown if desired or needed. Ward still has the upper hand at the present I would guess. Brown is in a good position to make things right at CSX but that will not be easy with the damage Tony has done. Mike Ward must have got Tony out or he was going with him. Now it the time to take a stand and end this Nazi Discrimination. Stand up against these people and post on this site. Write your Senators and Congressmen. CSX must follow government rules because they benefit from tax payer dollars. Hold them to the fire. Make the Unions take a stand. not the previous Chicken Shit they did before and while Tony was doing this damage. Let prove Tony is really insane.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 02 December 2009 The King is dead...long live the King! Lets think about Ingram's retirement for a moment, did he retire voluntarily or involuntary? What do we know? Ingram's 62 and could work another 8 years if he wanted to. During those 8 years he could conservatively earn another $16 million. Considering his megalomania, voluntary retirement seems odd. When Ingram hired on he promised he would bring a Harriman to CSX, he has failed to do so. In fact, his only accomplishment seems to be bringing production to a crawl and employee morale, dedication and loyalty to an all time low. The only reason I see for a voluntary retirement is to get out while the getting good...before the whole thing goes down in flames, medical reasons or to save his reputation. Ward is 59 years old, David Brown is 50 years old and Cindy Sanborn is 44 years old. I would look for Ward to retire at 62 if not sooner and Brown to succeed him. Brown and Sanborn will lead CSX, if it's still here for the next 20+ years. Brown's tenure will be what he makes of it. I would suggest that he would be foolish to maintain Ingram's policies; they didn't work for Ingram and they won't work for Brown. Even though he worked for the NS he took his marching orders from Ingram. It is in Brown's best interest moving forward to have the employees fight with him rather than against him. I don't know if Pendergrass is still working, if he is and considering his time and experience he would have been a better choice than Sanborn. However, this now leaves the Northern Region without a VP and new leadership is necessary. Considering the deaths and other accidents that have occurred on her watch, her promotion is a shrewd move...it gets her out of the Northern Region and it lets CSX brag about promoting Females into upper management positions. Perhaps Ward and the BoD have seen the light, lets hope so. I see this as a win win situation except it sure has messed up my thinking with regards to the "Brown Banana" this year!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 02 December 2009 I wouldn't hold your breath things are going to change for the better. I agree with brakestick. Brown was brought over from the NS seeing he had already worked with Ingram. I think they have a lot of the same objectives. Seeing he's only 50 years old that's a lot of years to kick people around. The confusing one is this Cindy Sanburn. So, what do we end up with a bunch of clerks (sorry no disrespect to clerks) running the railroad. Not one of these people ever got their hands dirty working on the railroad. Not one clue of actual physical operations. I'm afraid it's more of the same possibly could get worse.

Name: Brakestick E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 01 December 2009 Name: E-mail: Employed as: Train Master/ supervisor, for 20-30 years Posted: 01 December 2009 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Tony is History. Maybe Brown and Sanborn are smarter since they did not got to the low rate college Tony attended. Time will tell. Good Fucking Bye you Nazi Bastard. Let's not hold our breath, from what I hear ole David Brown is worse than Tony. I know nothing of this Cindy Sanborn, who knows what will happen the first of the year.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 01 December 2009 Hey Steve: Sounds like sour grapes to me...been left out of the loop? Why? Stay West of the Mississippi, CSX gets as far as NO, LA; Memphis, TN; STL, MO. You get the idea...if you can't get enough work out of the BNSF, UP and all the Class II's and Class III's in the Houston area maybe you should consider another speciality. Plenty of plaintiff's Lawyers east of the Mississippi, nobody will travel 400-500 miles to hire an Attorney. You should have more than enough work to keep you and several Associates and Paralegals busy...if you don't you can always advertise like that waxy Robert Goldberg! If you are going to impress railroaders, forget the $5,000.00 Armani suits and the big MB 600's. They are not impressed...hard to tell the difference between a Vega and a 600 series when you smack one on a grade crossing...capisce!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Train Master/ supervisor, for 20-30 years Posted: 01 December 2009 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Tony is History. Maybe Brown and Sanborn are smarter since they did not got to the low rate college Tony attended. Time will tell. Good Fucking Bye you Nazi Bastard.

Name: Steve Gordon E-mail: sgordon@gordon-elias.com Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 01 December 2009 Dear All- I post this link for your consideration and comment: http://www.yardlimits.com/forums/legal-news-announcements/18954-bringing-light-sense-dlc-process.html Take Care & Be Safe.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Employed in other capacity, for Less than 1 year Posted: 01 December 2009 ZOMG Tony Ingram is retiring at the end of december

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 01 December 2009 CSX Transportation Names David Brown Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Names Cindy Sanborn Vice President, Chief Transportation Officer JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- CSX Transportation (CSXT) announced today that David A. Brown will be named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer upon the retirement of Tony Ingram, December 31, 2009. "I am excited about the leadership and experience David will provide. He is well qualified to continue the outstanding work of Tony Ingram and our team in safety, reliability and customer service," said Michael J. Ward, CSX chairman, president and CEO. "Tony plans a well-deserved retirement after nearly 40 years in railroading. In the last few years, he has delivered to CSXT, its customers, employees and communities, one of the most successful operating tenures in U.S. railroading. Among many other accomplishments, Tony has built an exceptional team that will continue, and build upon, his remarkable legacy," Ward said. Brown, 50, has a nearly 30-year railroad career, most recently serving as Vice President and Chief Transportation Officer, with operational responsibility for the railroad's 21,000 mile-transportation network. Brown holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis on transportation from The University of Tennessee. Succeeding Brown as Vice President and Chief Transportation Officer will be Cindy M. Sanborn, 44, who has been serving as Vice President-Northern region, responsible for operations and service. "Cindy is a veteran railroader with vast knowledge of operations after more than 22 years of service. She has demonstrated strong leadership and delivered exceptional results in a variety of field and headquarters posts," Ward said. Sanborn holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Emory University and a master's in business administration from the University of Miami. CSX Transportation Inc. is a principal operating company of CSX Corporation. CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans 21,000 miles with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia, and connects to more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at the company's web site, www.csx.com. SOURCE CSX Transportation Gary Sease, CSX Transportation, +1-877-835-5279

Name: Islam Sucks E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 30 November 2009 Was scrolling back and came across this gem. Ah, yes, over the past six years, Misters Ingram, Brown, & Co. have succeeded in bringing the CSX down to their lowest level of incompetency by mirroring the NS in almost every way. We can now merge CSX with NS and no one would know the difference. We can call it Penn Central II. ==================================================================== Name: ex-con E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 17 January 2004 Well fellas, life on the other side of the fence is no better, come work for the nazi southern, everything you guys are talking about is like deja vu, The ns is by far worse to their employees in my area than the csx is. Although incompetent and stupid, the csx up here is not about pulling their employees out of service like the nazis are. The ns yanks half their workforce out of service for chickenshit things and then wants to know why they don't have any crews to run their trains. They hire a bunch of punks out of college who don't have a clue how to run a railroad and they make them trainmasters who's primary job is to fire people, and then they bounce their stupid asses all around the ns system when they feel the need. Like you're kkk pic says, another traditional southern company with traditional southern values...yeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhaaaaawww. Ever since they took over conrail operations up here, it has been like a circus and to tell you the truth it is kind of funny to watch these dimwits attempt to run this place, doing things the conrail way, a typical flat switching job would knock out 150 cars in 4 hours and go home, now it takes them 8 hours to switch 50 cars on account of the bullshit work rules that the third reich have implemented....ns-sucks.com anyone?????

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 29 November 2009 These guys were not in business to provide work and I don't think they are in business anymore =| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8HcQ1Va6RY

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 29 November 2009 Hey Con 30+: Certainly a classic and one of my favorites. You're right, they're not in business to provide us work, they're in business to make money; whether it's moving freight or selling cars. The problem is regardless of what kind of business it is, moving freight or manufacturing cars, it takes men and women to do the work. Symbionses at it's best...neither can live and prosper without the other. Ironic isn't it that we become the pawns of the oppressors!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 30+ years Posted: 29 November 2009 I don't know if any of you have read Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged). It takes the entitlement mentality to the limit. It is also has a railroad theme. The main point is that the railroad (or Food Lion or General Motors or McDonalds) is not in business to provide work to us. They are in business to make money moving freight. I am entitled to a paycheck for every day I work. That's it.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 29 November 2009 Hey Other: It has taken us 45 years to get where we are today...it well take at least that to reverse the trend. It all begins at home and in school and is rife throughout all social and economics classes. Don't think the "Trust Funders" are any different, they're not, their entitlements are just more subtle. It will take generations to change it. What is really disheartening is it has become acceptable to us as a society...not only are we addicted but our Government is the enabler. It will take more than 12 steps to correct this situation; except Big Brother wants you and he won't stop until everyone is addicted. Reminds me of old Trainman I worked with, Cliff Davis, he retired and moved to Flagstaff, AZ and died a month later...anyway Cliff was convinced the Government was controlling the citizen's minds through chemicals in deodorant and fluoride in the toothpaste...he may have been closer to the truth than he knew, just had the wrong drug of choice!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 29 November 2009 Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 29 November 2009 Hey Other: "Furthermore were does your sense of entitlement come from? What are you owed?" Let me see..."The Great Society" perhaps you're old enough to remember? Welfare, food stamps, public housing, Social Security, WIC, aid to dependent children, unemployment insurance and the list goes on and on. Although most of these programs existed before 1964, they were all greatly expanded after Johnson's reforms and the advent of the "Great Society". Everyone over the age of 45, two maybe three generations, is a child of the "Great Society", that's a huge percentage of the U.S. population. Money talks and bullshit walks, so as long as there are politicians there will be entitlement programs. They may ebb and flow depending on which party is in power but like taxes entitlements are here to stay! ********************************************************************** Oh you are so correct with the above statement, and to that we are a demon of our own creation, and only getting worse in today’s society of me first and something for nothing. No one has a good work ethic anymore and this was created by all of us who tried to provide for our families better than was provided for us! With all the programs that you mentioned above you as well as every one else are entitled to but, with that being said in the private work force what are you entitled to? Like I said before a paycheck? That’s it! I have had a pretty fortunate life provided by myself doing what is expected of me by myself and my family. This has been passed on to my children as well to create a sense of ownership in there future knowing that no one else is going to do it for you, so don’t expect it. Sadly this is not the case in today’s times everyone from GM to my neibores are looking for handouts. This has taken all of the accountability and responsibility out of the decisions we make making it easier to blame someone else when we fail. I sorry I don’t by it. All this attitude does is allow some one else to pay for your mistakes. This also confirms my last post but because I speak of accountability and responsibility I could not possibly be right, it’s always some one else fault that you did something wrong or the decisions you made didn’t work the way you planned… Its time people stand up and are accounted for… and stop crying about it.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 29 November 2009 Hey Other: "Furthermore were does your sense of entitlement come from? What are you owed?" Let me see..."The Great Society" perhaps you're old enough to remember? Welfare, food stamps, public housing, Social Security, WIC, aid to dependent children, unemployment insurance and the list goes on and on. Although most of these programs existed before 1964, they were all greatly expanded after Johnson's reforms and the advent of the "Great Society". Everyone over the age of 45, two maybe three generations, is a child of the "Great Society", that's a huge percentage of the U.S. population. Money talks and bullshit walks, so as long as there are politicians there will be entitlement programs. They may ebb and flow depending on which party is in power but like taxes entitlements are here to stay!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 29 November 2009 Are you all really this pathetic? If you hate CSX this much really make a statement and quit. No; that’s what I thought just a bunch of cowards bitching about a company that you work for, imagine that. I might not be seeing the whole picture here but I know enough about unionized work forces to know that you have it very well if you still have a paycheck in this economy were layoffs and furloughs are the norm these days. Furthermore were does your sense of entitlement come from? What are you owed? I don’t work in your industry but a very similar field, were safety and on the job awareness is of the utmost importance, and if not respected in can have life ending consequences so safety is first and foremost your responsibility! With that being said back to my original questions what are you entitled to? What are you owed? Let me tell you so you don’t hurt yourselves thinking about it…..It’s a paycheck, its that simple, if your work your entitled to get paid, that it. If your looking for someone to blame, I have an idea, blame yourselves. If you read this and listen this is true. When was the last union meeting you were at? Do you even know were the meetings are, on what day and when? This is how you are to blame, no participation in your own labor organization and there for your local officers are elected on a good ol’boys club way of doing things, they are in it for themselves and only themselves, but you put them in there. Do you understand how your General Chairman & Vice General Chairman are elected? Here’s a hint by the people who are in the local positions that you elected. Now these people who are looking out for #1 and that isn’t you have free rein to put in people just like themselves in the next level the labor organizations to which you pays dues, oh I almost forgot offices are probably right next to the companies main offices, correct? I wonder why that is, let me tell you because they can! Because you allow it! Because of your lack of interest in your own local, were you pay dues to, were you don’t care what goes on at…….. So back to what started this rant, just resign I am sure that will fix all of your problems at least with CSX it will. No you won’t do that though; why; because they aren’t handing out 60-70K or more a year jobs every day, that’s why! So bitch all you want to because most of you are just hypocrites coming on here to bitch at how bad you have it working for this company that gives you a paycheck so you can provide for yourself and your family. That’s right I’m wrong, here’s an idea, if it’s that bad were you are get up go look yourself in the mirror and blame him, then get involved locally and do something about it.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for N/A Posted: 28 November 2009 when are we gonna stop fighting each other? and start going after the railroads? do you know you can sue your officals in court for ? or make their personal lives miserable? hey? they wanna fuck with your job and your family ? lets start fucking with them? do it in a way no one will ever know? catch them in any act? go after them in your off time? dont stalk them but? well you get the idea ? you guys that are apes better wake up? officials are not your buddies

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 28 November 2009 CSX Who? Buffett, Railroads, and the Lessons of History http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2009/11/19/buffett-railroads-and-the-lessons-of-history.aspx Alice Schroeder, Special to The Motley Fool November 19, 2009 Guest columnist Alice Schroeder is author of The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life. Schroeder is a noted insurance industry analyst and writer who was a managing director at Morgan Stanley. Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK-A) (NYSE: BRK-B) deal to buy Burlington Northern Santa Fe (NYSE: BNI) isn't the first time Buffett has invested in one of his lifelong interests. His first childhood business was selling chewing gum, and he put money into Wrigley last year. His second was selling Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), and Berkshire Hathaway owns 200 million shares of that company today. Buffett's relationship with the bank Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), another investment, began when his father took him to meet the firm's chairman on a 10th birthday trip to New York City. Does Buffett actually invest out of nostalgia? Certainly, he's a sentimental guy who's fond of the tokens of his past. He's also frequently discussed the importance of a rational temperament in investing. What, then, is the logic behind his choice to so often invest in businesses that predate his own father and even his grandfather? Let's take railroads as an example. When Buffett was a little boy, he had only a small, single-oval train set and used to "drool" every year over the huge, multi-engine railroad diorama that the Brandeis Department Store set up in the toy department every Christmas. One of the fondest memories of his childhood was being taken to Chicago on a train by his grandfather to see a Cubs game. Buffett's hometown of Omaha was dominated by the railroad business; trains became inescapably paired with finance in his mind at an early age. Buffett, as a boy, read biographies of early tycoons like Cornelius Vanderbilt, James Fisk, and Jay Gould, men who fought ferociously to control the Erie Railroad's stock. Another financier who interested Buffett, Jay Cooke, pioneered modern investment banking and financed the Civil War debt of the Union government. Cooke was bankrupted by his obsession to build the Northern Pacific Railway. Buffett also became fascinated by the battle between E.H. Harriman and J.P. Morgan to corner Northern Pacific's stock, which caused the market panic of 1901 and is considered the greatest short-seller squeeze in history. A lifelong student Studying stories like this is one way Buffett has spent a lifetime scraping with his mental lint brush to pick up every tiny fleck of knowledge about any industry that attracts him. These are invariably the basic products and services that many people would find boring, yet to Buffett they are not numbers on a page, but exciting stories out of history peopled by lively characters who are engaged in battles of will and struggles to prevail against powerful economic forces through cycles of innovation, capital creation, and destruction. This kind of learning is one means through which Buffett worked out the larger lessons of the railroad business, which began as a thrilling new technology that connected disparate parts of the world, evolved into a network of profitable monopolies, then fell out of favor as cheap oil and regulators put a lid on pricing power. When Buffett considered investing in electric and water utilities, the history of railroads was a point of comparison that helped frame the decision in his head. When he invested in energy and commodity stocks, his deep knowledge of railroad economics helped him better understand energy distribution. All along, Buffett had been studying utilities and the energy businesses as well, so when he bought an electric utility and two pipelines for Berkshire, that taught him even more about railroads. A simple lesson from railroads For a long time, Buffett had invested in railroads only when they were cigar butts. Then they were deregulated, energy costs began to rise, and railroads became profitable once again. Berkshire first announced that it owned 10% of Burlington in April 2007. Buffett has always said that if he likes a company well enough to own its stock, it means he likes it well enough to buy the whole thing. Eighteen months after the first announcement, that's just what he did. It's interesting that even with an 18-month head start, the rest of us have been scrambling since the announcement to catch up with the many factors that influenced his decision. One of the best and simplest lessons that can be learned from Warren Buffett is to learn things before you need the knowledge. This, after all, is why Buffett invests so often in the businesses he's had the most time to study. Guest contributor Alice Schroeder's biography of Warren Buffett, The Snowball, was just released in paperback. She is a shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway, which is a Stock Advisor and an Inside Value recommendation. Coca-Cola is an Inside Value and an Income Investor recommendation. The Fool has a disclosure policy.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 26 November 2009 This appeared on the UTU web site this morning (11/25), it's enough to piss me off. As usual the UTU is a day late and dollar short, I guess the LC in Albany sent this in. http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=49852

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 25 November 2009 Don't be suprised if the stock goes up a dollar or two after this! CSX Corporation Chief Executive Officer to Participate in Wolfe Research Transport Regulatory Conference Panel JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Michael Ward, CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) chairman, president and chief executive officer, will participate in the Wolfe Research Transport Regulatory, Infrastructure and Labor Conference on Wednesday, December 2, 2009, in Washington, D.C. The panel will discuss their view of the key regulatory, labor and infrastructure issues confronting the railroads. About CSX CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia, and connects to more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at the company's web site, www.csx.com. SOURCE CSX Corporation David Baggs,

Name: Islam Sucks E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 25 November 2009 Tell 'em what you think! This is interesting: http://www.jobvent.com/csx-job-reviews-C1506 Also look up CSX at Glassdoor.com. It is worth noting that the only people who have anything generally positive to say don't seem to come from transportation and probably do not have to contend with the irregular schedule that the rest of us do. They seem to come from the likes of auditors, IT & software engineers, and non-ops managers who work M-F with weekends off and generous salaries. I wonder if they have to deal with management by intimidation and screaming? Or have to fight with payroll or crew management to get paid on a semi-regular basis while being put on hold in call-queue hell? I would wager that these folks aren't constantly E-tested and threatened with investigation for doing their job right like the rest of us. Too bad they did not get more input from more conductors, engineers, yardmasters, clerks, train dispatchers, M of W, Signals, Car Knockers, B&B, or even managers (the ones with common sense) in transportation.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 24 November 2009 FRA denies one-person crew ban WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration has denied a joint UTU/BLET petition for an emergency order prohibiting the use of one-person crews in conventional and remote control yard switching operations. In denying the joint UTU/BLET petition, the FRA, while acknowledging the high-priority safety concerns raised, said it had "no factual evidence to support the prohibition against one-person crew operations at this time. Switchmen, trainmen, and RCOs routinely perform tasks alone, even when on a two-person or three-person crew," said the FRA. Although the UTU has collective bargaining agreements in force with most railroads requiring at least one conductor on each train start, there currently are no federal safety regulations prohibiting use of one-person crews in yard or road operations. Said the agency in denying the joint UTU-BLET petition, which was filed in early June: "FRA does recognize that, since these particular one-person operations are new, we have no prior data with which to compare conventional operations and have little prior experience with these operations. Accordingly, we intend to monitor these operations very closely. While there may be operations where a one-person crew can function safely, there may be other operations that are unsuitable for such operations. "As technology advances, FRA is also aware that the transfer of certain additional tasks and responsibilities to a single individual may result in ‘information overload’ and/or diminished ‘situational awareness.’ We believe these conditions should be considered when changing work assignments or adding new technology. In this vein, FRA recommends that safety impact studies be conducted prior to implementing such changes. "FRA understands that fatigue may play a role in human-factor caused accidents. As the duty tour unfolds, employees tire and may become less coherent. As a consequence, FRA has encouraged the development of fatigue mitigation programs.” The FRA also said that the conductor certification requirement, part of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, “when implemented, will provide additional support for the training and qualification of [remote control operators.]” Concluded the FRA, “Because of the advances in technology, we are seeing significant changes in operations – many that never existed before. FRA will continue to look very closely at these changes when we occur.” UTU International President Mike Futhey said the fight against one-person crews “will remain the UTU's top priority – before the FRA and before Congress. We know, and the BLET agrees, having stated jointly with us in the petition for the emergency order, that no conditions exist where one-person operations are safe.” Click here to read the FRA letter denying the joint UTU/BLET petition for an emergency order banning one-person crews.

Name: Avon Welcome Wagon Committee E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 22 November 2009 Name: Avon Welcome Wagon Committee wishes to Thank the Train Master for the recent posting. Jason Harris's Bio is circulating Avon and the best thing he can do is sit on his FAT ASS and Keep His Cock Sucker Shut. Any Squealing he does will be when his Bosses tell him to squeal like a PIG in there office. Welcome to Avon !!!!!! Avon Welcome Wagon Greeter. E-mail: Employed as: Train Master/ supervisor, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 November 2009 THE LOWDOWN ON THE DETROIT TRAINMASTERS RECENTLY ALL 5 TRAINMASTERS AT ROUGEMERE YARD IN DEARBORN MI WERE PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE BY THE NORTHERN REGION MANAGER CINDY SANBORN. THE 4 WERE ACCUSED OF LETTING CREWS STEAL TIME, COVERING UP RUN THROUGH SWITCHES, DERAILMENTS AND INJURIES. AMONG THOSE ACCUSED WAS JIM HORNER, DETROITS TERMINAL MANAGER WHO IS ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED OFFICIALS ON THE ENTIRE CSX SYSTEM BY BOTH T&E EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS OTHER OFFICIALS. LAST FRIDAY THEIR FATE WAS HANDED DOWN BY DIVISION MANAGER JEFF WHITE. MR. HORNER AS WELL AS TM GORDON WILSON WERE FORCED TO RETIRE WHILE TM JOE TUCKER WAS DEMOTED AND TM BOB BARNHARD WAS ALLOWED TO GO BACK TO CRAFT AS CONDUCTOR. THE 5TH TRAINMASTER JASON HARRIS WAS GIVEN A GOLDEN TICKET OUT OF THE DIVISION TO AVON INDIANA WHERE HE HAS WANTED TO GO SINCE ARRIVING AT DETROIT. SO WHY DID THE OTHER 4 GET FIRED AND NOT JASON YOU ASK, WELL MR HARRIS IS THE ONE WHO STARTED ALL OF THIS BY SQUEELING LIKE THE FAT PIG HE IS TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER ABOUT THE WRONG DOINGS IN DETROIT AND ABOUT HOW HE WAS TIRED OF HAVING HIS JOB THREATENED. MR HARRIS DID MORE COVERING UP THAN THE OTHER 4 TRAINMASTERS COMBINED, INCLUDING TAKING CASH FROM A CREW TO COVER UP A RUN-THROUGH SWITCH AND PERSONALLY COMPLETING TIME TICKETS FOR CREWS. MR.HARRIS SPENT THE MAJORITY OF HIS TIME IN DETROIT SHOPPING ON EBAY AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ESCAPE THE DREADED CHICAGO DIVISION. THEN 2 MONTHS AGO WHILE AT A MANAGERS MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA HE DECEIDED TO OPEN HIS FAT MOUTH AND BETTER HIS CAREER BY RUINING THE CAREERS OF 4 OTHER MEN. THE CSXT MANAGMENT AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WITHIN THE NORTHERN REGION DID NOTHING TO INVESTIGATE MR HARRIS'S CLAIMS. IF THEY HAD THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN WHO THE REAL SHITBAG WAS AND SHOVED THE WHISTLE UP THE FAT WHISTLEBLOWERS ASS. SO IF YOU WORK IN OR OUT OF AVON YARD WATCH YOUR ASS. WHETHER YOUR A UNION EMPLOYEE OR AN OFFICIAL, BE CAREFUL BECAUSE JASON HARRIS WILL STEP ON YOU TO GET TO THE TOP. (OR EVEN JUST TO GET OUT OF YOUR DIVISION) View This Article Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 03 November 2009 In Detroit Jason "Fat Rat" Trainmaster and Joe Tucker got together and ratted out all the crews , They thought they were going tomove up in the company. joe is now the trainmaster in Lima, oh. jason is the trainmaster in Avon, ind. Jimmy horner had to retire, Gordon wilson had to retire, Bob Barnhardt had to go back to conductor. Look out for Jason in Avon, he is a Big time rat with a small brain , who thinks he is marter than you...

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 22 November 2009 APE 1-10 I never endorsed loving CSX. I'm just surprised on how many people hope for this railroad to fail. Even with all the bullcrap it's still a paycheck every two weeks. I've seen more changes in my years than 95% of those who post on this site. You people are just getting the crumbs. You haven't a clue of all the things that have been lost in the past 25 years. All one can do is adapt or quit. The unions won't do anything. Lloyd Striking is a complicated issue on the railroad. Most important block the unions have is the Railway Labor Act which prevents us from striking. An illegal strike could force the unions to pay the railroad all lose revenue which would put a hurt or even bankrupt the unions. The unions aren't willing to take that chance in federal court to see if it was justified or not. If you look at federal courts most judges were appointed during Raygun, Daddy Bush, and Bush "The Shrub". Those are lifetime appointments only to be filled by the president when a judge retires, dies, or is found corrupt. This country finds the railroads to be a vital part of the economy without the railroads running it could collapse. One would think that gives us leverage it doesn't. Even the public will turn against a rail strike. Longest strike I was ever on lasted 4 days in 1982 Raygun then ordered us back to work. Every safety strike lasted long enough to set up picket lines around one hour. It disrupted one shift the railroads already had a court injunction in place. Then the railroad an unions battled in court because the railroads were suing over lost revenue. No easy answers or solutions.

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 21 November 2009 You guys all make great points but we all know our union wont call a strike because they made a deal with the devil a.k.a CSX. If our unions called a strike I'm sure the company would threaten with dirt they had on our unions. I think being in a union is a great thing, if our union reps have a sack that is. I love getting my monthly UTU newsletter to, which shows the big dogs celebrating and all there little ceremonies they have. I find it hard to believe they can be happy about how they let this company shit on guys constantly out here. Facts are facts though guys. Most people out here (not excluding myself) are a little paranoid about taking action out of fear of being fired. Its a damn shame we even feel this way. Hell what's even worse is we even have to be talking about it. I think we all love our jobs but we really do work for some crooked, nazi ruling, low down scum of the earth. When will be the breaking point though?

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 21 November 2009 Hey Robofuq: Here's one you'll enjoy. I hired out in mid 2001, subject to pay progression, just prior to the RCOs introduction. Of course I got furloughed for 6 months that first year. In mid 2002 I came back to Mobile, I had been forced to NO. Anyway, I was required to become RCO qualified which I did. At that time the carrier and the UTU did not have a RCO agreement. Shortly after I qualified, the carrier and UTU reached an agreement which was ratified. Now here's the good part...as part of the agreement, all conductors went to a 100%. After 15 months I went to a 100%...it gets even better. As part of the agreement, RCO qualified personnel received job protection in the form of a paid furlough board. Later that fall I again got furloughed to the paid board. It was three months before I was recalled and I spent all except two weeks on that board...don't think I ever filed for unemployment

Name: robofuq E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for Less than 1 year Posted: 21 November 2009 jdoo, as I stated I hired out in 2004 and this summer when Frontier yard closed was the first time I was ever furloughed. I have never gotten any stock, been offered stock at a discount, or had one cent in matching 401k $. Can anyone else from my era give me their two cents on these issues? (that's more than Csx gave me!) Also, contrary to what the utu claims, there are plenty of conductors hired before June 30, 2004 that still went through entry wage rates. Among the heaps of bullshit ADMG told us is that we would be promoted at 100%. We found out different on the last day, when Ms. Csx (I don't recall her name) told us that, no, we would be promoted @ 80%. Bitterness aside, I didn't think too much about it until this year, when the utu made a big deal about entry rates (and lost). I sent an E-mail to the president of utu, who forwarded it to the proper department, and surprise, surprise, 10 months later no reply. Anyone out there hired between 3/1/04 and 6/30/04 get promoted @ 100%?

Name: retired E-mail: firzgerald ga Employed as: Conductor, for 30+ years Posted: 21 November 2009 I was a paying u t u member for 40 years the most part of those years we had representation by good people but in my last few years I saw the good u t u sell everything they could. thanks to people like general chairman JOHN hancock in JAX. .mr hancock even helped our ex local chairman w e vanhorne get away with stealing several 100 thousand dollars from the young conductors that paid $5,000.00 for their jobs. HE REFUSED TO HANDLE THIS AT ALL.JUST CALL HIM AND ASK HIM FOR HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HONEST PERSON ha ha.he surely will not lie.I think that sooner or latter the conductors will get promoted to engineers and leave the u t u. the sooner the better for them because the good utu has nothing else to sell or giveaway or take from the engineers.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 21 November 2009 Hey Sucks: All the railroad unions leave a lot to be desired. The last 3 Presidents of the UTU have either done or are serving time. The President of the BLEt was recently arrested on bribery charges. The UTU in my experience is the worst of the bunch and by far the coziest with the carriers. Although I am a firm believer in being a member of the union whose contract you work under; if you're that unhappy perhaps you should consider becoming a member of the BLEt. The grass won't be any greener but it'll be a different view and besides, in a year or two you'll be an engineer!

Name: UTU SUCKS E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 November 2009 Well i dont fault the railroad for the way they treat us i fault the UTU we pay these bastards damn good money evey month to let this fucked up company run all over our ass if u sit down and think about it WHAT HAS THE UTU DONE FOR YOU ???? Well i can tell you what they have done for me . NOT A MOTHER FUCKING THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! john with his hand on his cock is a worthless thief sit up in jacksonville and lets csx do what ever they choose to with us this worthless piece of shit contract we have is the dumbest thing i have ever read i say we all need to get together and PULL OUT OF THIS UNION !!! What good is a union if you cant STRIKE!!! for those of you that dont know i will tell not a god damn thing.... If we all the UTU they will shut the fuck down and we might get a union that actually will do something for us ... remember guys we are contract employees the railroad tells us we are empowered to take something out of service that dont work correctly SO LETS GET EMPOWERED AND TAKE THE UTU OUT OF SERVICE CAUSE THEY SURE AS FUCK ARENT WORKING CORRECTLY !!!!!!!!!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 November 2009 "I've never seen a bunch of people hoping for CSX to fail. Isn't that ridiculious seeing most of you would be out of a job if it did?" Oh, wait. Did I post that artical on the, "I love CSX" message board? lol

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 21 November 2009 CSX, NS, UP ect..all of them went artificially higher on the Buffett/BNSF news. It didn't take a genious to figure that out. CSX & NS will go back down to the mid $40's range UP will drop down to the $60's. You people look at it with to much negativity. In the long run railroads are still good long term investments. I've never seen anyone lose money over the long haul. Even BNSF will crash back down to the previous levels once the Buffett deal goes through right now it's high to promote the sale for those shareholders on record. I've never seen a bunch of people hoping for CSX to fail. Isn't that ridiculious seeing most of you would be out of a job if it did? Which won't happen CSX even with mediocre management will still thrive.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 November 2009 Oh my, alrady??? lol CSX shares slip in premarket on downgrade (AP) – 1 hour ago HARTFORD, Conn. — Shares of CSX Corp. edged down in premarket trading Friday as an analyst downgraded the railroad, saying its share price has moved too high. Analyst John G. Larkin of Stifel, Nicolaus now rates the Jacksonville, Fla., company "Hold," down from "Buy." Relative to Thursday's closing price of $49.14, CSX has "insufficient upside potential" in the next 12 months to warrant a continuation of his "Buy" rating, he said. Shares of CSX increased this month more than the S&P 500 Index average, largely due to the "vote of confidence" for the industry by Berkshire Hathaway's announcement that it will purchase the 77.4 percent of Burlington Northern Santa Fe it does not already own. Warren Buffett's company has so far lined up an $8 billion loan to help pay for the $26.3 billion acquisition. Despite the downgrade, Larkin says CSX management has done a "superior job" of controlling costs while maximizing yields at a time of steep volume declines. CSX shares fell 83 cents to $48.31 in premarket trading.

Name: jdoo E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 November 2009 The company still gives 30 shares of stock per year to conductors. A couple conditions have to be met. (one) You have to be working sept. 1st. (two) You have to already worked enough days to qualify for vacation for the next year. I think 240 days by the end of October. It hard to do for a young conductor getting furloughed all the time.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 21 November 2009 NoMo I'm not sure if CSX still offers employee stock options. I know back in the '70s & '80s it was a good deal. I had Chessie System stock then it went CSX back in the '80s it split several times. I wish I still had that stock during a divorce I sold it all more than 900 shares so the ex-wife #2 (less than 2 years) couldn't get half of it even though she most likely didn't know anything about it. Took the money and had a great time taking vacations and partying. No telling what it would of been worth today. I know for engineers CSX contributions 25 cents on the dollar to our 401K go directly to CSX stock.

Name: Tony Ingram Is Worthless E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 November 2009 CSX Corp. lost a long-term deal with an intermodal marketer that instead will bring a large amount of its business to the railroad company’s East Coast competitor. Norfolk Southern signed a deal with J.B. Hunt Transport Services to handle their goods, according to the Journal of Commerce. J.B. Hunt, which has shifted the main part of its business from trucking to intermodal operations, already has a long-term contract with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway in the West. “This new agreement will provide unparalleled intermodal service and value for U.S. shippers,” said Kirk Thompson, chief executive officer of Hunt, according to Transport Topic Online. Clarence Gooden, CSX’s chief sales and marketing officer, told analysts last month that the company feels “pretty good” about its intermodal strategy. He said that CSX, which has prepared most of its system for double-stacked trains, will get its fair share of the nation’s container shipments. Copyright 2009 bizjournals.com

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 20 November 2009 your railroad is awful and i hope the stock holders rebel

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 20 November 2009 Hey Robofuq: If CSX quit sponsoring those programs, bad for them. They're short sighted, employee ownership is key to growth and future prosperity. Besides, it costs them virtually nothing but a little administrative expense. If anything it costs the management in that there are fewer shares to grant them. Anyone who has rental property will tell you how rare it is to find a tenant that will look after someone else property. Most security deposits don't begin to cover the cost of repairs after 95% of the tenants move out. There are however homeowners that don't take care of their property, but they are rare.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 20 November 2009 Hey Loco 30+: I've been gone now almost 4 years and my memory has faded. I seem to recall getting 30 shares a year, purchasing stock at a modest discount through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and having CSX match my contributions in my 401K up to 7.5%. It was all done through payroll withholding...easy and I never missed it. With slight variations most of that would be standard for most companies. When I hired out in 2001 I received a folder with all the CSX sponsored plans available to me. I took a while to read through it all but I did. It's up to the employee to read the material and decide for themselves which plan to take advantage of...most know about the new auto purchase program and the cell packages offered through CSX. I would suggest they dig out these folders and reread them; or call employee benefits and ask for one if they never got one. Maybe I'm thinking about some body else...

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 20 November 2009 robofuq You are correct. Someone had to hire on before 1994 to be qualified to collect the stock, productivity payments, short crew allowance, or in lieu of productivity a retirement account of $6500 a year. It was for selling out the last brakemen.

Name: robofuq E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 20 November 2009 NoMo, I've been around since 2004 and I've never gotten a single share of stock, or shares offered for sale for a discount, or one cent matching contribution towards my 401k. They don't do that for the grunts anymore.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 20 November 2009 It was just stock options. They'll get more begining of next year. Did anyone bother to look at the purchase price? Oscar Munez bought 70,000 shares of CSX stock last week at $13.26 a share and sold them at $48+ the same day. A common practice this isn't the first time this has happened. It isn't a sign of anything. I sold shares last week at $48.06 nothing compared to these people. My original CSX investment money was placed in a 5% money market for the time being which will be reinvested later. I'm still holding on to a little over 1200 CSX shares. Which is all profit. CSX wasn't a bad investment seeing this was done in just 8 months. It's all about timing. Buffett has nothing to do with it. Buffett sold his investments in UP & NS he still said there good investments he just didn't want a scenario of a possible conflict of interest with his purchase of BNSF. Like Buffett stated railroads will be around for the next 100 years.

Name: Train Dispatcher E-mail: Employed as: Train Dispatcher, for 10-20 years Posted: 19 November 2009 Sorry.... Don't come around here to often and didn't see the previous posts below.

Name: Train Dispatcher E-mail: Employed as: Train Dispatcher, for 10-20 years Posted: 19 November 2009 Is it time to get back out? Michael Ward just cashed in 5 million dollars worth of CSX stock. Chairman, President & CEO of CSX Corp. (CSX) Michael J Ward sells 100,000 shares of CSX on 11/17/2009 at an average price of $49.75 a share. http://www.gurufocus.com/news.php?id=76625

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 19 November 2009 Hey Lloyd: The price of the stock was at the Analysts predicted high, based on guidance from CSX Senior Management. Throw in a couple of weeks of good or better than expected quarterly earnings reports from a wide spectrum of the Street to help, and presto. Coincidence no; greed, acumen, good PR and willing cohorts (or co conspirators)in the Analysts and everyone makes money...except the people that do the work. I guess CSX still gives you 30 shares a year and you can still purchase additional shares at a small discount. A slight difference in scale in comparison to management.

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 19 November 2009 Kind of ironic all those shares of stock were sold so close to one another. Coincidence...I think not.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 19 November 2009 Why wouldn't Ward or any body else sell? It's an easy (in Ward's case) $2,993,000 net gain and he still has the same number of shares. It's all part of the executive compensation package the BoD gives them for meeting the financial goals they set (not necessarily all the goals but some goals...kind of like a Chinese menu, a few from column A, one from column B and one from column C) You might also notice the Analysts had the stock pegged at $50-$51 a share. Now that the stock has hit their value limit it should sell off. Management would hate to miss the boat and get caught heavy. All that education has paid off!

Name: slack action E-mail: Employed as: M of W, for 10-20 years Posted: 19 November 2009 Mike Ward was forced to sell his shares of stock because of his divorce to an x clerk. She now lives in a plush home on the St Johns River...I wish I had the problem of having to sell over 200,000 shares of CSX....Hell 200,00 of anything...

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 19 November 2009 Why stick around after being snubbed by Buffett? The big dream must be over :( Chairman, President & CEO of CSX Corp. (CSX) Michael J Ward sells 100,000 shares of CSX on 11/17/2009 at an average price of $49.75 a share. http://www.gurufocus.com/news.php?id=76625 CSX Corporation's unique combination of rail, container-shipping, intermodal and logistics services provides global reach that's second to none. The company's goal, advanced at each of its business units, is to provide efficient, competitive transportation and related services for customers. Csx Corp. has a market cap of $19.62 billion; its shares were traded at around $50.02 with a P/E ratio of 16.7 and P/S ratio of 1.7. The dividend yield of Csx Corp. stocks is 1.8%. Csx Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 12.8% over the past 10 years. CSX is in the portfolios of Andreas Halvorsen of Viking Global Investors LP, Bill Gates of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, Chuck Akre of Akre Capital Management, LLC, Kenneth Fisher of Fisher Asset Management, LLC, George Soros of Soros Fund Management LLC, David Dreman of Dreman Value Management, Jean-Marie Eveillard of Arnhold & S. Bleichroeder Advisers, LLC. Insiders' Positions with CSX Sell:: Chairman, President & CEO Michael J Ward sold 200,000 shares of CSX stock on 11/06/2009 at the average price of 47.5, the price of the stock has increased by 5.31% since Insiders' Positions with CSX Sell:: Executive VP & CFO Oscar Munoz sold 75,000 shares of CSX stock on 11/13/2009 at the average price of 49.02, the price of the stock has increased by 2.04% since Sell:: Executive VP & CFO Oscar Munoz sold 75,000 shares of CSX stock on 11/06/2009 at the average price of 48.01, the price of the stock has increased by 4.19% since Insiders' Positions with CSX Sell:: Executive VP & COO Tony L Ingram sold 25,000 shares of CSX stock on 11/13/2009 at the average price of 49, the price of the stock has increased by 2.08% since Sell:: Executive VP & COO Tony L Ingram sold 25,000 shares of CSX stock on 11/06/2009 at the average price of 48, the price of the stock has increased by 4.21% since Sell:: EVP and CCO Clarence W Gooden sold 35,000 shares of CSX stock on 10/27/2009 at the average price of 42.51, the price of the stock has increased by 17.67% since Sell:: EVP and CCO Clarence W Gooden sold 20,000 shares of CSX stock on 10/21/2009 at the average price of 47, the price of the stock has increased by 6.43% since Sell:: EVP and CCO Clarence W Gooden sold 20,000 shares of CSX stock on 10/19/2009 at the average price of 47, the price of the stock has increased by 6.43% since

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 19 November 2009 The Florence Division is still one of the worst places to work. It's now under the warp delusions of "The Wolfe". That man rules like a Nazi Gestapo Commandant. It was a pain in the arse just to deliver cars to any yard on the Florence. The true butt of countless jokes. The '90s were bad but the new millenium is worse. One yard has three remote operators and four trainmasters on 1st shift. It was one of the busiest terminals now it's like a ghost town. During the '90s a lot of railroaders were discriminated against over injuries. Near the end of the '90s for a short time Pres Clinton's administration got involved citing the railroads over their illegal tactics for harrassment of injured workers. Then Bush got elected and everything went back to business as usual. Today settling claims is still difficult with the burden of proof on the injured party proving a greater percentage of fault is the railroads. Best course of action is trying to settle out of court. Recently two people I know recieved settlements both were similiar both used the same FELA firm one was awarded a decent settlement the other didn't. As for discrimination of minorities I can't say I've witnessed that since the late '70s early '80s. CSX harrasses everyone equally.

Name: james w. davis E-mail: jwd_serving@yahoo.com Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 18 November 2009 I worked for CSX and I was discriminated against by CSX and had by trainmen rights stolen, was forced to work in other states when they had openings in Georgia. The UTU sold out the trainmen and if you where injured on the job in the nineties the railroad CSX owned the courts and the lawyers and you where forced to resign before they settled with you. There are a great number of injured employees who where denied hospitalization and other benefits and I have the proof in Black and White hard copies. Records that the company, does not want the public to see. CSX has built its fortunes on the backs of its employees and they have used the courts, congress and the media to line their pockets. Its a fact that minorities where treated more harshly and where given few opportunities. There where a number of road foremen who engaged in conduct not good for hourly employees. If the company wante you fired the road foremen made false evaluations to harm your reputation.It was a living nightmare to work in Rocky Mount or on the Florence Division in the ninities. CSX has made billions at the exspense of protected trainmens rights and engineers in Florida, Georgia and S. Carolina. There where a great number of brakemen who never enjoyed money that the company paid out in the ninties. They settlled a law suits for a fraction of the money they owed minoriteis for injuries and for past discrimination. I know a nuber of minorities that where fired and run off while other employees with similair records where retained.CSX claims it has ethics and equal opprtunity, why are so many former employees angry about their settlements? CSX is a company, if you get on their wrong side, they make your life a living hades. I have some stories I will share give me a call on my email.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 18 November 2009 csx hater Quit it's real easy to do. Two options never go back when recalled from furlough eventually they'll get rid of you. The other option if you're a man get online print out a resignation form and turn it in to a trainmaster. No one should work for a corporation they hate. In regards to oldheads schidt boy we're still working and making money. This idiotic bullschidt of people hating this railroad is becoming annoying. No one is putting a gun to anyones head to stay. You either overcome an adapt or quit. This petty jealousy of oldheads is childish. When the time is right we'll gladly hand over the reins to the next generation. Till that happens everyone has to pay their dues. If a person quits they have our respect. Everyone isn't meant to work this job. You definitely fall into that catagory.

Name: US Justice Department E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 17 November 2009 The following article is proof that millions of dollars in FELA (Railroad employee injury claim) do NOT go to the injured railroad worker - they go to GREASE THE GREEDY PALMS of the Unions, Railroads, and lawyers around the country. This is just the tip of the iceberg - it is NOT an 'isolated' incident.... railroad carriers, including CSX, spend BILLIONS a year on FELA claims, about 20 TIMES that spent by comparable state workers compensation (non-railraod FELA type) employee claims. It does not take a rocket scientist to see this payment imbalance is VASTLY out of whack. So, WHY IS THERE SUCH AN IMBALANCE OF PAYMENTS? What do FELA claims cost so much more than identical state claims? For every $100 a state system pays, FELA pays $2,000.00 For example, over the course of one year the UP paid out $5 Billion in FELA claims (yes, $1.5 billion!!), while state compensation programs with the same number of workers with the same injuries paid out $300 million - by any calculation, that difference is statistically IMPOSSIBLE - unless there is a MASSIVE KICKBACK PROGRAM in place and running smoothly wtihout interuption. Where does all that FELA money go - billions of dollars of overpayments between the four big railroad - UP, NS, BNSF, and CSX????? It sure doesn't go to the injured railroad workers. Railroad Managers, Directors and Executives in charge of administering FELA claims are in the absolute unchecked perfect position to take HUGE kickbacks from Unions, and from Union appointed FELA attorneys - everyone gets rich in this game....Unions get a kickback from FELA attorneys, FELA attorneys get pumped up settlement awards approved by railroad execs. Yes, you can bet that CSX FELA claims executive get kickbacks from both FELA attorneys and Union bosses. THIS IS WHY FELA CLAIM PAYMENTS ARE 20 TIMES HIGHER THAT STATE RUN WORKERS COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, and is why the Railroad 'system' will NEVER get rid of FELA - it is TOO DAMN LUCRITIVE FOR THE CROOKS TO GIVE IT UP - at the sole expense of the stockholder AND the injured railroad worker. For decades we have heard about how 'fake' railroad workers' injury claims have driven up the cost of FELA payments. Now you know its BULLSHIT!!!!!! The whole damn FELA system needs to be investigated and the crooks need to be cleaned out!! Here's the blurb posted earlier by Bubba. Trust me, the BLET president is NOT the only one getting rich off the FELA system - there are hundreds of others who are getting kickbacks too. If the BLET's president spills his guts to cut a deal, many more heads will roll - and you can bet it will include a cadre of union AND railroad executives as well as a boodle of corrupt lawyers... If you who are reading this know of similar illegal FELA kickback schemes, contact your local U.S. Department of Justice field office. **************************************************************** BLET PRESIDENT ARRESTED ON BRIBE CHARGE ( press release issued by U.S. Justice Department, Eastern District, St. Louis, Missouri). Edward W. Rodzwicz, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, was arrested on a federal complaint charging him with bribery, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael W. Reap announced Oct. 13. Rodzwicz is the sitting president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), a national labor union with over 55,000 U.S.A. railroad members. It is a division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT). According to affidavit filed with criminal complaint, BLET maintains a list of designated legal counsel (DLC), who are recommended to their membership to handle injury cases under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). DESIGNATION AS A DLC GENERATES VERY LUCRITIVE BUSINESS FOR (UNION) DESIGNATED FELA ATTORNEYS. The national president of the BLET has final authority over the designation of FELA attorneys. In February 2009, an internal compliance committee recommended that a particular DLC attorney for the BLET should lose his designation, due to alleged violations of DLC Rules of Conduct. On March 10, 2009, Rodzwicz approached that attorney in Little Rock, Ark., and solicited a payment from that attorney in exchange for allowing him to retain his DLC designation. The DLC attorney contacted the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. In subsequent meetings at the attorney's office in St. Louis, and at Harrah's Casino, Las Vegas, Rodzwicz solicited and agreed to accept a cash payment of $10,000 from the attorney, plus the promise of an additional cash payment of $10,000 after Rodzwicz allowed him to retain his designation. Rodzwicz accepted a cash payment from the attorney on April 28, 2009, in Las Vegas, and he sent a letter allowing the attorney to retain his designation on May 1, 2009. He accepted a second cash payment of $10,000 from the attorney on Sept. 16, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. The complaint was filed in the Eastern District of Missouri last week and remained suppressed until the arrest of Mr. Rodzwicz this morning by agents with the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, at his home in Avon, Ohio. Daniel R. Petrole, acting inspector general, U.S. Department of Labor, stated: "Union members expect that their officials will do what is right on their behalf. If these allegations are proven, there has been a serious breach of the union members' trust. My agency will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office to investigate this type of crime." Rodzwicz, 63, was charged with one violation of 18 U.S.C. section 666, bribery in connection with a federally funded program; and one violation of 18 U.S.C. section 1952, interstate travel to carry on unlawful activity. He made his initial appearance this afternoon in Cleveland. If convicted, 18 U.S.C. section 666 carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; 18 U.S.C. section 1952 carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. The charges set forth in a complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. October 14, 2009. ********************************************************************

Name: csx hater E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 17 November 2009 well here it is monday november the 16th and i still hate csx and all old heads fuck you all i wanna personally wanna thank you for hanging on ur old ass around stupid mother fuckers i wanna give yall 3 step with my foot in ur ass

Name: Oracle of Omaha E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 16 November 2009 Not a problem, son. Sorry your could not find our jobs site. Well, best of luck with your career search and thanks for thinking of the BNSF. Say, maybe you should try the CSX job site. Their career site is much simpler to navigate and their qualifications criteria are far more flexible - your in like flint as long as you are under 25, have zero experience, HS diploma, military background (especially, know how to take orders without question), dance like a chihuahua on command, work like a dog, are related to 'family', and have no problem leaving your self respect or sense of achievement behind at the company door. If you can match ALL the above criteria, why heck, you could be the next CSX CEO. P.S.: We LOVE this site.

Name: Deo volente E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 15 November 2009 I see ole "Rocket" Bob Nichols is back in Avon.What happened to the big trainmasters job Bob? Get sick of the bullshit? Grow tired of performing fellatio on your masters? Get tired of doing things that were against your morals and principals?(if you have any)Did you write up employees for violating the same rules YOU broke while running your ass off on the remotes at Avon? Kind of ironic Bob;you showed Avon with all your hurry hurry that one man could work a remote.Now YOU can't hold a regular job because the remote have gone to a one man assignment.Welcome back you piece of shit;I hope no one talks to you or is remotely friendly.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 15 November 2009 The Orifice has spoken...still didn't see any jobs, even after I registered.

Name: Oracle of Omaha E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 15 November 2009 BNSF personnal may think twice before hiring someone who cant find their job site, but here it is just for those diligent sooth sayers looking for extra work: http://www.bnsf.com/careers/jobqualificationsexternal.html Register and plug in to BNSF jobs, greatest railroad in the world. I love my job. Have a nice day.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 15 November 2009 Sure the BNSF has jobs... https://www2.recruitingcenter.net/Clients/BNSF/PublicJobs/Canviewjobs.cfm?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 15 November 2009 furloughed CSX didn't give you an attitude you did. Things are screwed up on the railroad. The harrassment an intimidation is higher than ever before. It's just a game. When this started I figured it was an attempt to bust the unions. The unions don't seem to be concerned maybe those in Cleveland feel their jobs are protected by the Teamsters. It isn't going to get better till the unions allow a strike against CSX. Which isn't going to happen. Personally I think Tony Ingram is a sadist with a short man complex. No one should treat their employees like this it's something from the turn of the 20th century. Your attitude falls right in to their plans. Pit craft against craft, employee against employee creat havoc. Light up another one. Hope it makes you feel better?

Name: Oracle of Omaha E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 14 November 2009 Profits up 300%. How sweet it is. Dont know if I would take that federali loco job, NOMO. Seems to me hauling hazardous waste, hazardous cars, and hazardous loads either involves nuclear waste or military ordinance - or both. If you dont fry......you might go kaboooommmmm? Give it up and buy stock - read my books on stock picking....it'll make you RICH. Or, come to work for the BNSF. We have jobs.

Name: me E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 14 November 2009 Hey Furloughed..... You are a looser!!!How many people have you injured???Remember ....What comes around goes around.....Gonna have to pay up one day.. BOY...

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for 1-10 years Posted: 14 November 2009 I sure wish some old heads were running things in Jacksonville........and here's a brilliant idea. How about let soon to be retired old heads.....let's say two years to go, take over HR recruiting and hiring. Who better to know how to pick and evaluate potential railroaders?? Cuz current HR ain't cutting it. See post below!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 14 November 2009 For the Engineers that are in the Crane, IN area and have had enough, I'm guessing this is a daylight gig Mon. - Fri.: http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=84468448&JobTitle=LOCOMOTIVE+ENGINEER&lid=17664&sort=rv%2c-dtex&cn=&rad_units=miles&brd=3876&pp=50&vw=d&re=134&FedEmp=N&FedPub=Y&caller=advanced.aspx&AVSDM=2009-11-12+00%3a03%3a00

Name: furloughed E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 14 November 2009 do u think i give a shit about them black boxs? hell no i dont !!!! as for my attitude csx gave it to me fuck csx i dont really give a shit if i ever do step back on the property again... this place isnt to much better than working in a cotton mill or a gas station the money is not that good out here anymore and we work for a bunch of dumb ass people that dont know shit about nothing im just glad that i can start smoking me some mary jane now that i am back in tha street im rolling one up right now u want some engineer 30+ ????????????

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 14 November 2009 Doesn't this guy work for CSX? http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/80813096/

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 14 November 2009 furloughed I hope you're sober by now. That was a stupid post. If you ever made a coupling at 8 mph to piss off an engineer you'ld be fired. You're forgetting that the locomotives have black box recorders. To wish harm on anyone makes you one of the stupidest people who has ever posted on this sight. Your not the first one. Grow up be a man. You think oldheads stick around just keep you out of a job. Not so. How about their not old enough to retire? Or, their working another year or two till their wives turn retirement age. Maybe it's because of medical needs for themselves or a family member that prevents them from retiring. Only a small percentage possibly 2% actually stick around for no reason beyond retirement age. Have a nice furlough. In fact I hope with your attitude you never step foot on railroad property again. We don't need someone like you.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 14 November 2009 Lloyd When CSX uses people off the furlough board it can have an effect on marking up jobs. By using people regularly off the furlough board the unions can use that info to get people marked back up. It provides justification for the unions to seek adding more slots wether it's a freight pool, yard job, or extra board. People are greedy those freight pools love to get out on their rest. Yard crews love working over on another assignment for 4 hours at time and a half. This all happens when no one answers the phone call when CMC is running a roster. Being on a furlough board is voluntary no one forces anyone. This isn't a CSX policy it isn't new it happened when I worked for the C&O it's been going on forever. Gaurenteed extra boards allowed caps to be used. CSX doesn't want to pay guarentee so there kept low. There are ratios that need to be adherred to that was part of the agreements with the union. The unions waved their rights over the number of people placed on gaurenteed extra boards CSX has complete control. Do away with gaureteed boards then it can be loaded up back to the days of "feast or famine". I came from those days while still being marked up we had to collect unemployment when we didn't make a 10 day half. No easy answers.

Name: furloughed E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 14 November 2009 well 30+ engineer its dumb fucks like your ass that want retire and i tell you i really enjoy working with the smart ass old head engineers i have a blast doing so cause there's nothing they can do to piss me off but ol'boy i can do alot to piss your kind off if i worked with you at some point in the day you would be finding yourself getting up off the floor from me coupling you up about 8mph or better i work with 1 old head thats a smart ass like you and he worked with me one night and got up screaming and shit but it only happen 1 time that old fucker thought the devil jumped on his back when i got on his ass FUCK ALL THESE SMART ASS OLD HEADS THAT THINK THEY KNOW SOMETHING WHO GIVES A FUCK IF YOU KNOW HOW TO RAILROAD I SURE AS HELL DONT THAT SHIT DONT MEAN NOTHING TO ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Name: Soon to retire E-mail: Employed as: Crew Dispatcher, for N/A Posted: 13 November 2009 I have spent a lot of time reading these posts! I am surprised to learn that many of us at CMC are oblivious to much of what happens to T&E! The T&E have my upmost respect for the demanding hours and job that they do. But, working the desk that I work, I must say I understand the frustration! Its frustrating for T&E when when some at CMC give you a hard time, but its also frustrationg for callers as well. We are constantly "monitored" I hate hearing that callers are to blame for many of the problems that T&E encounter! Many (not all I know) callers will help with what they can! But we are with our own limits as to what we are able to do. Doing someone a "favor" that is just not possible without getting a caller in hot water (sometimes suspension) is just not worth it. It gets frustrating for us when people "shoot" the boards just to avoid work! Or marks off sick just because they dont want to catch a certain train or dont want to work with who they are paired up with! After working an area so long you start to know whos who and what they do. Our job is to call the trains. when we delay them we have to answer as to why (to more than one person,) and that gets old quick! (Communication is NOT the strong suit of the company, as I am sure many of you know) Running the rosters is what we must do to try to get a crew for the train! If we dont "look" for people to work what we are delaying then thats a write-up for us! and after so many of those it goes to "counseling" and then sometimes an investigation! So yes getting a crew for a train is my #1 priority, its my job. And I am well aware that it gets aggravating for many to have their phones ringing all night! (I personally hate calling people that I know are asleep) I can go on and on here but any employee should understand what I mean. We are under a union contract just as the T&E are! A contract thats violated so often I cant keep up! To get days off the correct way is sometimes nearly impossible for us as well. Ive had to miss many family things due to that. So please try to remember that the callers are not there to "screw" anyone! We are not all bad! Please don't group us all as 1 in the same! Because I really cant think of anyone that I call that would say I am mean or disrespectful to anyone that calls in! I think most would say that I am helpful and try to get a resolution to any problems that one may have! I cant wait to see the responses I get to this! I look forward to reading them! Caller I

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 November 2009 As an outsider I have read a lot of negative publicity regarding CSX. My only question is - how did it happen? How did the Chessie merger with SCL produce such a bastard child? Only thing that clearly stands out in my mind was a disasterous tank car leak (somewhere in Mississippi) a few years ago that poisoned and/or killed thousands and CSX go slammed with $500 million dollar judgement. Does the current management crisis have anything to do with that? Or, is it just plain incompetent managment? I see where CSX is looking to fill many positions - including a Director of Fraud. How ironic. All they have to look at is their past CEO John Snow, who stole $50 million from the CSX treasury, used the money to form hedge fund Cerebus to buy Crysler, then robbed Crysler of Billions and left it to twist in the wind until Uncle Sam bailed them out. Smells like the stench of f-r-a-u-d to me. Director of Fraud indeed. They don't need someone to direct their fraud - they seem to be doing fine without one. Maybe the solution is to break it (CSX) apart again, and sell off the pieces. Certainly could not be worse than it is now.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 1-10 years Posted: 13 November 2009 A good man retired yesterday after over 30 years of service. His final words....Penn Central saw some tough times, yet those were good days for railroading....Conrail saw some tough times, yet I have no complaints for the way they compensated me over the years.....As for CSX, they can stick this railroad straight up there ASS! He was a class act!

Name: Former CSX E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 November 2009 CSX and the union both have their problems. If you are sick of paying your union dues....look into the Beck Law. At least CSX pays you. you union takes you money with no payback. Heck you cant even vote on stuff. I thought you were supposed to be tight.

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 13 November 2009 Wow, so 5 people deserve close to..or a little more than 26 million dollars while guys are laid off? Makes a lot of sense. We have some real smart people running this organization. Robo and RRJ, I'm not one to cast the first stone at a man working off the furlough board. Every man has a choice. You guys look at it one way but I look at it another. If you want to set there and say it doesnt help the company when you work off the furlough board thats ignorant. If you can get 3 or more starts off the furlough board..do it...but you aren't helping anyone but yourself and thats only short lived. I don't know what is so hard to figure out about this concept. Maybe CSX wont add turns regardless, but do you actually believe working off the furlough board will get you called back any sooner? And as far as the health insurance goes, I've seen policies out there that aren't much higher then the ones we have that are given under circumstances when people are laid off.

Name: robofuq E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 13 November 2009 I was furloughed this year, first time since I hired out in 2004. Working off furlough got me a month and a half of paychecks. I don't know if it is a former Conrail agreement, but if they call you off furlough to work they have to make a spot for you on the XB, at least until the end of the pay week. A well respected 40 year man told me "don't let anyone give you any shit for working. You got a family to take care of." I got called a fucking scab by one know it all cunt. Only one of those opinions counted with me. I sure as hell didn't work to help the carrier. Does it make sense to sit home for 300 a week when I can make 3X that working?

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 November 2009 Hey Lloyd: An explanation yes...a logical explanation no. This link is to the CSX 2009 Proxy Statement: http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/92/92932/annual_reports/2009Proxy.pdf If you think you were confused before, just read this mind numbing BS. This is in PDF format...the compensation section starts on pg. 19 and runs through pg. 54 (PDF pages). Read it...re-read and then read it again and you still won't understand it, but the BOD and Senior Executives do. The company has to hit certain targets to trigger certain rewards set by the BOD. The BOD's reasoning is that in order to be successful, CSX must attract and maintain highly qualified people; and money talks. Keep in mind that Ward holds sway over who is picked for the BOD and The BOD sets Ward's pay. Seems there might be a conflict of interest in that arrangement; but it's basically the same arrangement with virtually all public companies. Management is basically telling labor to go to hell, as long as they get theirs they don't care and yes they all sleep well at night!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 13 November 2009 Lloyd Think what you want. If you feel working while furloughed will hamper marking people back up that's a misconception. Temporary vacancies have never been justfication to add jobs. Those marked up will continue to make OT and run up regardless of how many are furloughed. Freight pools can work everyday doubling the road getting out on their rest it still isn't going to force CSX to recall anyone. CSX along with most class 1 railroads have cut back to the minimun required to keep things moving. By giving out bad advise it appears you and soon to be furloughed Bam Bam haven't a clue. My advise was good advise if someone wants to keep their benefits especially someone with a family. Just because Bam Bam and you disagree doesn't hurt my feelings. As for health coverage CSX pays a premium. We also contribute to the insurance premium every month. It's not hurting them in fact this current national contract negotiations I look for employee contributions to escalate greatly beyond $200 a month.

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 13 November 2009 RRJ I know that's you and you are out of line telling men to work off the furlough board. Regardless of what you might think, working off the furlough board only prolongs people being on it. Why would they call anyone back or add spots if they can get random people to do the work without paying any kind of guarantee? Think about it for a second. It's a selfish move and by the time the union dues and whatever else is taken out of the check the person has hardly any cash for their trip anyway. Stupid move, plain and simple. As far as you going to the doctor over and over, you aren't affecting CSX. I'm not exactly sure how it works but I think that the company negotiates a certain amount of money they pay for health care and the insurance takes on the rest. That doesn't include what comes out of your paycheck once a month either. Basically I think CSX pays a certain amount no matter how many claims people file. On another subject since I've got some time, can anyone give me a logical explanation on why a CEO gets paid over a million dollars while thousands of employees are furloughed right now? Nomo, I know you are good at getting statistics so if you can find out how much Ward, Ingram, Brown, or any other high member of CSX made this year I'd love for you to post the information. I know its only November but I'm sure we could get a good estimate from somewhere but I couldnt find it. It just blows me away that these pieces of shit get paid this much while people are out of work. How in the hell is this allowed? Do these people sleep okay at night?

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 November 2009 Hey Bam Bam: Loco 30+ is right...someone will accept the call or even worse, someone who isn't furloughed will get called to double over or come in on their off day. You decide who is getting hurt more, CSX or you and your family! You can sit home until the Hell freezes over but it won't get you back any sooner...so make the best out of a bad situation.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 13 November 2009 Like I stated newbies that think the world owes them. That's being a fool. Quit that's the answer if you don't like it. If you're not man enough to do that all you want is sympathy. You think none of us ever went through furloughs it's all about you. It took years to build up seniority to breath a little easier come winter time even then you weren't sure. I could give a crap if someone doesn't want to take advise. I was only trying to help. CSX will run fine without you. Someone will except that call. If someone don't have the intelligence to do the right thing for their family then their a failure as a man. This get even attitude shows child like behavior. Now shove it where the sun don't shine.

Name: Bam Bam E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 13 November 2009 Yeah that's a great fucking idea... Work off the furlough board!?!? Are you stupid? Wanna talk about helping out daddy Csx. I would love to have you working for me I'd just call when I needed you and you would be there with bells on huh? Fuckin throttle jockey. Hey furloughed I know it sucks. I'm about to be in the same boat in about a week I would say. But please don't listen to the jackass refuse work everytime they call. Tell them if they need you that bad to add a spot for you. Man up,tough it out,and make money on the side but don't be a puss and fuck those younger than you by working,cause if the have you working there is no reason to call anyone back.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 13 November 2009 I hoped you had enough good sense to save money for these times of furlough. My first year of working I didn't save up it was a rough winter. It didn't take long to wise up the furloughs that I knew were going to happen became an extended vacation. You shouldn't act so childish about something you probably knew was going to happen. I agree with NoMo you aren't hurting CSX. As for not taking any calls while being furloughed you're hurting your family. Getting days in keeps your benefits active longer. Plus the extra money doesn't reduce anything from unemployment except for the days you worked. Example: if you worked two round trips a half or four yard days that's approx $800. Your unemployment claim would still pay you 6 days at $64 that's $384. Combined it's $1184 that sure in the heck beats $640. If you double the road or yard on the same day it only counts as one lost day of unemployment. Newbies what are you going to do with them?

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 13 November 2009 Hey Again: The only thing you're going to blow up is your budget, co-pays and deductibles will eat you alive...$25 here and there will make for a long winter! Besides, it won't cost CSX anything...it'll cost the insurance carrier and ultimately you in the form of higher premiums, deductibles and co-pays.

Name: furloughed again E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 13 November 2009 well here i sit furloughed again righ there at christmas time thank you csx for my yearly present but at least i do have my insurance started again i will be going to the doctor for any little thing that happens to me or one of my family members these first 3 months i got furloughed yesterday and i stomped my toe this morning on the bed post and broke a nail i got a appointment this morning to go get it checked out i got my kids going tomorrow to get checked out i am gonna blow up the insurance bill so csx will have a shit load to pay for me my wife was cooking breakfast this morning and bacon grease popped on her hand just a little bit she is going this afternoon to get it checked out i hope everyone that is furlughed will do the same as i am give it back to them the same way the give it to us STRAIGHT UP THEIR ASS!!!!! FUCK YOU CSX DONT CALL ME BITCHS WHEN NEED SOME ONE THIS WEEKEND TO RUN A TRAIN CAUSE YOU OUT OF MEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 12 November 2009 Hey Loco 30+: Yeah, he can probably use the cash...he has a little something on lay-a-way; not to mention regulatory issues!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 12 November 2009 I read this morning Buffett's going to off load his UP & NS stock. Put all of his marbles into BNSF. Good for him.

Name: Warren Buffett E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 11 November 2009 Sorry 'CSX Sucks' foamers, but the only piece I invest in is the BNSF. Speaking of invest, my next move might be to buy the CSX and the NS for 10 cents on the dollar, then whack off the duplicative routes and eliminate the waste - but would anything be left??. As my good buddy Ross Perot was always fond of saying, the next thing after a buyout that you would hear would be a gigantic sucking sound. Ironic. Seems to me the only 'advice' given on here (other than mine) is a lot like that toothless barroom blonde of Nomo's - pretty much worthless except for a good case of the clap and an empty wallet. However, I am in a good mood, so here is an investment 'freebee' for you trolling toothless wonders.... bet on the Boys and Tony Romo to take the Super Bowl Trophy home this year. Well, back to work... $105 billion, $106 billion, $107 billion, $108 billion....

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 11 November 2009 To all the Veterans, I want to thank you for your service... I posted this last year but I think it/s worth another look. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2487638612433437293&q=Vetera#

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 11 November 2009 Hey Robofuq: Mobile, AL...I'll have to go to Willard and check them out!

Name: robofuq E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 11 November 2009 Dirt floors, smells like piss and the women are all missing teeth? You're from Willard, NoMo?

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 11 November 2009 Hey Warren: Why don't you take $20 of your billions and invest in a piece...might do you good! Now go finish you homework...

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 11 November 2009 NoMo I've been to enough dives in my life to last a lifetime. Most women were scarier than the men. I did find it interesting to watch the cat fights. Whatever happened to "little girls are sugar and spice and everything nice". These young women today act more like men. It's definitely not appealing. All the women my age have attitudes from hades. It's definitely a different world out here. Dealing with the civilian population is trying at times everyone is in a hurry to go nowhere. God help you if you unintentionally get in their way. They should have classes to debrief someone once they leave the railroad. At least on the rails you were on your own an obstructon gets in your way just plow it to the side.

Name: Warren Buffett E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 10 November 2009 $99 Billion, $100 Billion, $101 Billion....oh, sorry. Was just counting up today's profits. CSX stock is running on BNSF tail winds - once reality catches up, pop goes the weasel. By all means, dont use viagra - invest. Toothless women? Son, you need to raise your sights a little. Running the trains through small town America is climatic? Face it Foam Master & Associates.... You guys are forever married to CSX. Till death do you part - Celebutt to the end. $102 Billion, $103 Billion, $104 Billion ......

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 10 November 2009 Hey Loco 30+: Dirty old man huh...better living through chemicals. When you were young, you probably remember the old timers talking about Rooster shots? Today there is the daily dosing option...thank god for modern science. The ad Viagra runs where all the 40ish men sit around and sing "Viva Viagra"...I just don't see that happening in the crew room with a bunch of old heads. Blurred vision and a 4 hour chubby? See your Doctor...no way, just move it out from in front of your face and go to the mall and strut. 20 something...good luck, as long as they don't say anything you might be alright. Boob job or false teeth? The worst I ever had was delightful. Bimbos? I love a woman in Stilettos and Fishnets. Brooks Bros., Martini & Cigar Bars? That's high cotton. Keep that up and you'll have to upgrade to a Benz. Personally I prefer dives with no windows, dirt floors, smell like piss, pool tables that have marks all over them (not chalk)...nothing like shooting a game or two of strip 8 ball, the women don't have all the teeth, or for that matter Boobs, open 24/7 and beer is never more than a buck fifty. Oops...it Monday, my Bar Association meeting night, got to run...it's 5:15 PM in Nuuk, Greenland.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 10 November 2009 NoMo The cell phone is one of the first changes not by getting rid of it by cutting the monthly minutes at least by half. Seeing I won't have to sever my ties to CSX by resigning I'll take advantage of the discounts. Women who still have a full set of teeth at my age is a 50/50 shot. On the short term I prefer honing my skills to being a dirty old man with the 20 somethings. As for owning Berkshire Hathaway Class A stock it wouldn't be to impressive to only own 1 1/2 shares at this point. Even though without mentioning how many you own it still would be impressive if you can find a woman that know's what the heck you're talking about. Mabey I'll have to put on one of my Brooks Brothers/Jos A Banks suits head down to one of the martini and cigar bars where that caliber of women could be found. Bimbos with nice tits are fun for the night for a relationship I want a woman with brains and a good portfolio.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 09 November 2009 Hey Loco 30+: It'll take a little while for reality to set in...it's hard to give up something you love...running the main through small town America is truly romantic...few jobs even come close. You mentioned that there would be no more calls in the middle of the night from CMC...no more wasting time in cheap hotels...no more Casper Milquetoast Trainmaster, those are only a few positives. First thing I did, after my contract expired, was get rid of my cell phone...I didn't need it and I don't miss it a bit, I'm not that important...Now that you are "available" you will become very popular with all gals that need to be squired around; which is enough reason to get rid of it. Besides, I think cell phones should be banned from Thirst Parlors. You're right about BNI...if you weren't in when the announcement was made, it's too late...the offer is in. Even though a group of BNI shareholders have filed suit against the BNI management for failure to make full disclosure; their Attorneys are just trying to make a quick buck and nothing will come of it. The only play on the BN you can make now is to take a position in Berkshire Hathaway...if you can afford it... http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=BRKA&.yficrumb=F1Xr3mVn2%2FB http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=brkb&.yficrumb=F1Xr3mVn2%2FB A few shares of the Class A and I'll guarantee you'll be popular with the gals...even the ones with all their teeth!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 09 November 2009 Warren Buffoon Like I stated on another post my funds will be freed up in a few months. When the BLE got us a 401K in 1994 it allowed me to save/invest money with it's restrictions it suited it's purpose. The investment choices have always sucked which didn't surprise me because of those who controlled it. When the bottom fell out starting last year then losing 70% of my investment CSX at 23.84 a share was a good deal. It allowed me to recoup faster than anything else in the 401K even though I'm still at a loss. It put me back in the 6 digit catagory. CSX will be a slow crawl back up to the $60's range but I do think low $50's is a possiblity. The stock analyst with there BS just look to have a quick surge by their predictions then bailout. I'm sure a lot of small investors look to them for guidance like sheep led to the slaughterhouse.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 09 November 2009 NoMo I hope they were St Alphonso pancakes. Personally I quit stealing the marjorine now it's butter. I went as far as I could with trying to make it back to work. It didn't happen. I'll have to see how the rest of the world lives. No more CMC multiple phone calls in the middle of the night. No more watching my "P's & Q's" in case a TM is hiding in the bushes. No more vegatating in a hotel room ect.... I'll miss it at least my co-workers and running trains on the main. There still is nothing like it.

Name: Reset joe E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 08 November 2009 Einy meenie minie moe, JB Hunt's the way to go.

Name: Warren Buffett E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 08 November 2009 Foam Master Sell your stock and buy BNSF - mistake of your life if you dont. Other RR stock wont be able to piggy back on the BNSF run up - big mistake to think that. I remind myself of when oilman Anschutz bought the DRGW for what was a big premium over par at the time. Everyone thought he was crazy, until 5 years later he sold for over a billion profit when the ATSF, SP, BN and UP beat each other up to acquire it. Crazy like a fox. Other Railroad management - especially the CSX and the UP - has trouble seeing the forest for the trees. They know how to count box cars, stop watch terminal time, pad freight bills, and harass their employees to death - but that's it. Now Hedge Funders rule the board. Only a matter of time before they gut the pooty and flee the nest with all the eggs. Why go into retirement bankrupt? Why take the RISK? Do yourself a favor and repeat this phrase 1,000 time before bed: "I will buy BNSF stock". You will feel 1000% better if you do - now and in the future - I guarantee it.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 08 November 2009 Hey loco 30+: I had a big stack of Pancakes with melted butter, hot syrup, Strawberry Preserves and a side of Canadian Bacon this morning...my wife must want something. Sorry to hear about your shoulder not improving...I know you wanted to go out with your boots on! About CSX stock, or for that matter any public companies stock...use to be 25 or 30 years ago, the companies management had some control over the price of the stock, consistent performance, steady growth etc. EPS and the P/E ratio mattered, the market would follow. Today, the market sets the price regardless of the fundamentals of the company. The analysts cite some other meaningless ratios, based on managements guidance and the public rushes to jump on the band wagon. The herd mentality at its finest. When things get bad, management buys back stock...price goes up management and the Street sell and make money. Every one makes money except the people that bought the stock that management and the Street sold. The economy plays a part, but a small part compared to the greed of Wall Street, management and the naivety of the public. People equate intelligence with education and education with money, which is their mistake. I know highly educated people that make dirt look smart; to people that have no intelligence or education that are worth millions. The only commonality between Wall Street and Management is greed. With regard to the price of CSX stock, I think $45.00/share is tops, anything above that and it's over bought. In regards to Buffett's offer on BNSF of a $100.00/share...even though he's paying a 25% premium to the shareholders; he sees the value of the franchise substantially above that, maybe $125.00/share. Sit back...fire one up, pour you a four finger and watch what happens. It should be an interesting show!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 08 November 2009 Warren Buffoon No arguement here that CSX will always be the low man on the totem pole. It still doesn't mean CSX isn't/wasn't a good investment if a person bought in at the right time. There will always be a railroad. CSX proved that even mediocre management can make a profit. Just think if they had some intelligence gave up their hard line attitudes towards their employees that productivity would generate more profits. That isn't going to happen not while Ingram is running transportation. I've been off work for over 4 months been to every union meeting the harrassment an intimidation has escalated beyond repair that the only recourse is for the unions to strike. That isn't going to happen. It made my difficult decision to seek retirement easier. CSX doesn't realise they have dedicated people working for them that dedication is crumbling. You can only push people so far before they start pushing back. Work by their rules no matter how assinine slow down production to a crawl. While I was dropping off some paperwork yesterday to the clerk two customers called about cars not being delivered. CSX seems to have this attitude they need us instead of CSX needing them.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 08 November 2009 Conrail might of been a good run railroad. So was the C&O, B&O, and WM (Chessie System) before the merger with the SCL to form CSX. I also remember the '70s & '80s when Conrail was total financed with taxpayers money. Conrail employees had some of the best and most outragious contracts in the industry. Oldhead trainmen use to work the head end engine changes generated a 4 hour penalty claim which there could be 2-3 a shift. I had a few friends that worked for Conrail their paychecks were ridicules all at the taxpayers expense. In those days there was no competition between the other class 1's no need to generate a profit. It was just a typical case of when the goverment runs a business it drains tax revenues.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 1-10 years Posted: 07 November 2009 The whole argument is stupid. There is no comparison between the two companies. BNSF is a fine tuned machine while CSX runs by the seat of its pants. The funny part is that Ward & Ingram actually think that they run a good solid company. Anybody who works for CSX knows how unstable the company really is. MANAGEMENT has always been the main problem! I've also never worked for a company with so much harassment & intimidation. Say what you want about Conrail, they ran a good railroad.

Name: Warren Buffett E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 07 November 2009 FOAM MASTER: BNSF stock will out perform CSX stock - has, does and always will. Better to have one chicken laying 10 eggs, than five chickens laying 1 egg. Conrail's profit - miniscule at best. Add in massive deferred maintenance costs and there go the xmas bonuses. CSX is VERY risky. One more billion dollar toxic tank car spill and there go the profits for another 20 years. The CSX Board makes inverstors nervous - for two big reasons: inept management and FRAUD. I will take BNSF stock any day of the week. Your choioe - swim with the BN, or sink with SUCKS.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 07 November 2009 Here we go again. As noted on the last post a conflict of Interest is based on the size of the Investment. That is incorrect. The size and number of shares has nothing to do with a conflict of interest. Either he own's a share or he does not is the strike point!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 07 November 2009 Warren Buffoon No, the BNSF sale isn't in the same catagory as Conrail. Even though Conrail was making a profit at the time of the split. The only two issues that run together is stock price. The escalation of the BNSF stock price is a temporary inflation for Buffett to own it. Once the buzz stops it'll go back down to the $70's range. In the long term investing scheme BNSF would be a good risk. Buffett will have access and controll of coal from the Powder River Basin which he own's 14 coal-fired power plants in the midwest. It's a win-win for Buffett. Then again no one knows anything at this point Buffett could sell off parts of the railroad. The STB has no control over this deal they only involve themselves in mergers which this isn't. Berkshire Hathaway owning 1.8% of UP and .51% of NS isn't troubling anyone because it doesn't own a controlling interest in either railroad so there isn't a conflict of interest. It still is amusing that CSX is the only big class 1 he didn't bother to buy in to. I think that is a reflection on CSX management. CSX still has the lowest stock price. Which doesn't bother me. I bought CSX when it was at rock bottom and I'll sell when the time is right it's all profit. Seeing I'm in the mist of retiring my 401K funds will be free in a few months to invest as I please. Then the real money will be made.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 07 November 2009 NoMo Last contract round one of the biggest disputes which the UTU took the UP to court over was opening the 1985 crew consist. The UP wanted to eliminate road conductors which the UTU won in court because of the 1985 crew consist. Now the UTU wants to open up parts of the crew consist. That makes sense even though it could very well bite them in the arse. Once pre-94 conductors retire the protection policy is eliminated. That's easy to verify on seniority rosters it list protected and non-protected employees. All the railroads have to do is wait it out most protected employees will be retired in the next 10 years.

Name: E-mail: mikewardisgay@gmail.com Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 07 November 2009 Quote from an article i read "Berkshire does not control any other rails. It does own small, non-controlling stakes in Union Pacific Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp." Notice CSX is not in there....this is what happens when you have morons in management. Good job and kudos to Ward and Ingram ;) Idiots.

Name: Warren Buffett, BNSF E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 06 November 2009 FOAM MASTER, BNSF has always been a financial plum, unlike the labor bloated and poorly managed Conrail. Conrail was no BNSF. Not even close. I told you to buy BNSF. Your still sittin on your hands, holdin tight to that wallet, CSX stock, and CSX Sucks. Plenty of time to make a killing. Thinking of your situation with CSX Sucks, an antedote comes to mind: 'birds of a feather flock together'. P.S. Section 6 is inaccurate.....should be 'section sex', as in 'screwed'.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 06 November 2009 Hey Loco 30+: Yeah you right...a lot of talking points for the UTU to negotiate away, most of them just eye wash for the membership. The carriers can moan and groan about the poor economy but the big boys are still making money and so are all the executives and board members...hard to argue with all those improved ratios our Dispatching friend mentioned yesterday. It's time to fish or cut bait!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 06 November 2009 It seems the UTU section 6 wants to open parts of the 1985 crew consist agreement which could be opening Pandora's Box. You can't pick and chose certian parts of the agreement an expect the rest of it to remain closed. A lot of the issues seem to resemble the CSX BLET SSA. It's only a dream sheet. The carriers section 6 looks to drastically make cuts relying on the economic recession which unfortunately is in their favor. The UTU if their smart will wait it out and hope for a recovery in the market which MIGHT happen 2-3 years down the road. Of course by then it could end up in a stalemate with it going to a PEB. I look for Repo's to gain seats in Congress next year which wouldn't be positive for unions. Americans are the fastest paced people in the world. They want everything now. Obama couldn't fix America's ills in 6 months the country turned against him. Same thing would have happened to McCain.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 06 November 2009 Warren Buffoon It's a little late to buy BNSF stock. The stock has already escalated beyond actual value. Those that owned BNSF should be selling it like hot cakes. A one day increase of over $25 per share was just the same deal those who owned Conrail stock recieved when it was split between CSX & NS in 1998. After the buzz both stocks bottomed out to around $18 a share an it took years to recoup because of the massive debt that was acquired. Conrail stockholders got an offer of $100 a share or a 3 to 1 stock split. Let's see in 1998 3000 shares of Conrail times $100 equals $300,000 or 9000 shares at $18 worth $162,000. Once the buzz is killed off stocks will go back down. I wish I had fore sight to capitalize on the Buffett deal it would of been sweet to make a killing in just a few days then bail out.

Name: E-mail: mikewardisgay@gmail.com Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 06 November 2009 So did the NS take the JB Hunts away from Ingram and CSX? Anyone seen the "official" announcement on this yet? No Harriman, now his "baby" the JB Hunt runs..when is Ward going to give up on this loser. Kind of ironic they lost both of them to Ingrams former employer. He must have a serious sucking skill!

Name: Bershire-Hathaway Stock Holder E-mail: Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for 10-20 years Posted: 05 November 2009 BNSF Buy Northfork Southern First Need I say more. We might have to wait until Obama is out of the House.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 05 November 2009 Section 6 Notices are out: http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=49541 For the UTU: http://www.utu.org/worksite/PDFs/utu_section6_1109.pdf For the Carrier: http://www.utu.org/worksite/PDFs/NCCC-section6_1109.pdf

Name: Warren Buffett E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 05 November 2009 FOAM MASTER, Web-master, your disguise as loco engineer 30+ fools no one. Nice try. Not to beat a dead horse, but let me repeat: I am not buying UP or CSX stock. ('holding' is not 'buying'....there is a difference). The coming UP/CSX merger will be an utter disaster - worse than NYC/Penn Central. Taxpayers will be footing the bill for that one too - just like Conrail, only VASTLY more expensive. I suggest you sell CSX stock now and buy BNSF stock. Don't be a fool and wait - you will loose money the longer you wait. In the meantime, keep up the 'good' work here on CSX SUCKS. We're lovin it. Warren Buffett BNSF

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 05 November 2009 Buffett also owns a good chunk of NS...the BN doesn't bother the East Coast yet...give him 12-18 months to digest the BN acquisition and and he buy the NS. Looks like all those rumors about a UP CSX merger might just come true, that is if they're still both in business!

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 05 November 2009 Warren Buffoon Get your info straight Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway) owns around 5% of UP stock plus I do believe he's on the board of directors. Now it becomes a matter of wether it's a conflict of interest. BNSF doesn't bother the east coast seeing their trackage ends in the midwest most of their connection deals are with NS. Berkshire Hathaway also owns some NS stock. One things for certian Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway) hasn't invested in CSX. Right now I'm waiting till CSX hits the right numbers hopefully around $51 then it's sell. CSX is still considered a buy rating. At this point the increase in transport and coal stocks are flying on the Buffett news. It'll head lower in a few days as the buzz wears thin and the short term investors sell off with the profits.

Name: Warren Buffett, BNSF E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 04 November 2009 BNSF is a class act and I will make billions on this investment. This is not because the BNSF is going to change in any dramatic way. It is because the other roads are so poorly managed - CSX being the absolute worst with the UP a close second - the BNSF will scoop up the lions share of business during the recovery and beyond. The only way your companies will be able to improve their shareholder value, will be to buy me out for about five times what I paid. I will not buy UP or CSX stock because they are run by notoriously inept managers and completely corrupt unions. That's a fact. I may vacation in Florida, and live in Omaha, but that does not change anything. CSX and the UP stink equally the same. Needless to say, this CSX SUCKS site does not help your CSX stock price or the potential profitability of your company. With 20,000 CSX pensioners relying on CSX stock prices, this site is like the goofy gunslinger who shoots himself in both feet to spite the ugly nose on his face. Not too bright - evidently, you not paid to think long term. Now webmaster, before you start foaming, please please keep up the work here (as I am positively sure you will for another 10 years). Your site is hilarious, in a strangely demented way. In the meantime, I and my investors will be laughing all the way to the bank. Sincerely, Warren Buffett BNSF

Name: E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 20-30 years Posted: 04 November 2009 Huntington division is no different...trainmasters steal time hear...never leave the house unless Frulla calls out swat team

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 November 2009 Buffett isn't stupid, he bought a railroad that is worth the money. CSX isn't worth the locomotive toilets that they never empty...lol This is a slap in the face for CSXT. Cheap Skate Xpress ....Yesterday's Freight Tomorrow!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 04 November 2009 Buffett buys BNSF: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33599744/ns/business-us_business/

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 04 November 2009 It's a damn shame about those in Detroit. I've known Bob Barnhard for at least 28 years when he was a trainmen and a yardmaster. He was from Michigan originally taking the TM job was just going back home after transferring down south in the early '80s. Hopefully he remembered his earlier roots and treated people with respect at least as much as any person in management today can get away with without reprocusions. Hopefully Bob still maintained his seniority on the Northern Region which should be pretty good at least 30+ years. I hope he sticks it to CSX when he gets back on the ground. That would be the best revenge. I've seen that happen with a few TM's that were let go and went back to their crafts.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Train Master/ supervisor, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 November 2009 THE LOWDOWN ON THE DETROIT TRAINMASTERS RECENTLY ALL 5 TRAINMASTERS AT ROUGEMERE YARD IN DEARBORN MI WERE PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE BY THE NORTHERN REGION MANAGER CINDY SANBORN. THE 4 WERE ACCUSED OF LETTING CREWS STEAL TIME, COVERING UP RUN THROUGH SWITCHES, DERAILMENTS AND INJURIES. AMONG THOSE ACCUSED WAS JIM HORNER, DETROITS TERMINAL MANAGER WHO IS ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED OFFICIALS ON THE ENTIRE CSX SYSTEM BY BOTH T&E EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS OTHER OFFICIALS. LAST FRIDAY THEIR FATE WAS HANDED DOWN BY DIVISION MANAGER JEFF WHITE. MR. HORNER AS WELL AS TM GORDON WILSON WERE FORCED TO RETIRE WHILE TM JOE TUCKER WAS DEMOTED AND TM BOB BARNHARD WAS ALLOWED TO GO BACK TO CRAFT AS CONDUCTOR. THE 5TH TRAINMASTER JASON HARRIS WAS GIVEN A GOLDEN TICKET OUT OF THE DIVISION TO AVON INDIANA WHERE HE HAS WANTED TO GO SINCE ARRIVING AT DETROIT. SO WHY DID THE OTHER 4 GET FIRED AND NOT JASON YOU ASK, WELL MR HARRIS IS THE ONE WHO STARTED ALL OF THIS BY SQUEELING LIKE THE FAT PIG HE IS TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER ABOUT THE WRONG DOINGS IN DETROIT AND ABOUT HOW HE WAS TIRED OF HAVING HIS JOB THREATENED. MR HARRIS DID MORE COVERING UP THAN THE OTHER 4 TRAINMASTERS COMBINED, INCLUDING TAKING CASH FROM A CREW TO COVER UP A RUN-THROUGH SWITCH AND PERSONALLY COMPLETING TIME TICKETS FOR CREWS. MR.HARRIS SPENT THE MAJORITY OF HIS TIME IN DETROIT SHOPPING ON EBAY AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ESCAPE THE DREADED CHICAGO DIVISION. THEN 2 MONTHS AGO WHILE AT A MANAGERS MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA HE DECEIDED TO OPEN HIS FAT MOUTH AND BETTER HIS CAREER BY RUINING THE CAREERS OF 4 OTHER MEN. THE CSXT MANAGMENT AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WITHIN THE NORTHERN REGION DID NOTHING TO INVESTIGATE MR HARRIS'S CLAIMS. IF THEY HAD THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN WHO THE REAL SHITBAG WAS AND SHOVED THE WHISTLE UP THE FAT WHISTLEBLOWERS ASS. SO IF YOU WORK IN OR OUT OF AVON YARD WATCH YOUR ASS. WHETHER YOUR A UNION EMPLOYEE OR AN OFFICIAL, BE CAREFUL BECAUSE JASON HARRIS WILL STEP ON YOU TO GET TO THE TOP. (OR EVEN JUST TO GET OUT OF YOUR DIVISION)

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 03 November 2009 In Detroit Jason "Fat Rat" Trainmaster and Joe Tucker got together and ratted out all the crews , They thought they were going tomove up in the company. joe is now the trainmaster in Lima, oh. jason is the trainmaster in Avon, ind. Jimmy horner had to retire, Gordon wilson had to retire, Bob Barnhardt had to go back to conductor. Look out for Jason in Avon, he is a Big time rat with a small brain , who thinks he is marter than you...

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 30+ years Posted: 02 November 2009 anyone hear about csx employees stealing time in detroit, trainmasters and road forman getting fired also?

Name: rco hater E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 01 November 2009 you couldnt have said it ant better throttle jockey if there is ever anything involved with a remote job as far as tearing something up or KILLING someone the are busting there balls to cover it up where i work they are putting 1 man remotes on there but guess what they are not gonna work i swear to u i want switch over 10 cars by myself on a rco in a shift let the trainmaster and dick head tom wolfe come watch me work better bring them a chair cause i am going by the rules i am no way scared of these bitchs that call there selfs trainmasters and i know if tom wolfe talk to me how he does to the guys who work for him he would not like the out come of that one that guy has really got a head problem he must have been beat as a kid

Name: throttlejockey E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 31 October 2009 Remote controlled engines are flat out the easiest way to remove a man from a job and save the company money. It has nothing to do with providing the UTU with more jobs. Remote jobs are a way to save the company money by cutting a man off the job. Remote control jobs are the most unsafe practice that this company never addresses. Until everyone says enough is enough CSX will continue running one man remote operations. Our unions are in desperate need of someone with a backbone. It is time we all stand up and call bullshit on the RCO period. Anyone who does think the RCO is good must have a ton of seniority and not give two shits about men who are cut off. Its an unsafe practice and its time our guys in union do something about it. I bet if it was a trainmasters kid or a high up union representatives child who got mauled by an RCO operation we would see a change. I guess its okay if you are just Joe Schmo though. You murdered Jerod Boelke. Who is next CSX?

Name: Lloyd E-mail: Employed as: Brakeman, for 10-20 years Posted: 31 October 2009 Hey Russell guy, sounds like you are pretty insecure about your own wife getting banged while you are away. It wasnt that Russell and Hinton guys were in competition, the company made them this way. Their contracts benefit them the most and if it hurts men in certain terminals, well, who gives a shit right? I wouldnt brag about banging a guys wife either. What kind of man does that make you out to be? Im not casting the first and only stones either, Im just saying I wouldnt brag about that if you care about your life after here. Complaining is always okay in my book, bragging about sleeping with a man's wife while is away, not okay.

Name: russell guy E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 1-10 years Posted: 31 October 2009 Hey folks, I am here to say that Hinton sucks and your managers as well. They think that we are the bad guys and we have alot more work this way. I hope they find away to shut down Hinton stopping point as they have been trying for a long time. I hope they get rid of all the people from Hinton. The only good thing about staying in them shitty hotels is knowing I just passed you on the road and your wife is on her way to see me!! As a matter of fact she just called while you are out of town wanting to know if i was on my way. Your safe tonight cause i am off. Hinton girls are easy!! If you are eating in Hinton your wifes usally come to us and say aww you most work on the railroad my husband works for the railroad hes neer home hint hint. Well why dont you come to DQ and let me eat ya! HA Oh and as far as us taking your shitty jobs we dont want the shitty jobs! You would be better off letting them shut Hinton down at least you would be home a little more! It is not just me there is 4 of your girls sleeping with russell men. And they all tell us hes prolly doing the samething where ever he is. Rot you stupid scabs from Hinton!Just keep in mind if we move to Hinton your wife may just move with us!

Name: TRUTH-NO LIES E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 28 October 2009 CSX Sux is the correct name for the local Russel, Kentucky roundhouse, Raceland Yards, and Huntington Repair Shop in Huntington, WV. The bald headed sucker that does the hiring really looks and acts like he is straight from Russia. He walks into interviews like he is being bothered to see you and thinks his shit don't stink. Unless your last name is one of his sucks your family will never have the opportunity to be able to work for the railroad. Experience and schooling does not mean anything with CSX in the Tri-State Area of Ashland, ky / Ironton, Ohio / and Huntington, Wv. I hope the Russian gets his one day as all people do. The railroad in our area really sux as they have leaks in tank cars in the Raceland yard and causes business to shut down and don't bother to pay the local businees employees or loss of busniess due to their stupdiness and no concern for human life. The big shot Mr. Russian bald head run around like he was trying to hide the mess he created. The local news media did let it get out after people in the local cities of raceland, worthington, and wurtland was evacuated and local business was close. SHAME ON CSX for not leaving a man in control of this area of the railroad who has no concern for the people living in the area near the railroad. I have lived here for 56 years and it is the worst I have ever seen it. CSX REALLY DOES SUCK!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 28 October 2009 According to this man, the grade will be steep for the RR's http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33491795

Name: Ninja E-mail: Employed as: Train Master/ supervisor, for 10-20 years Posted: 27 October 2009 Big Sandy - Blue Ridge Gateway: No one is ordering coal. Economy is worse than you think. - Southern Power Plants that can burn Coal or Nat Gas have switched over, due to all time low price of Nat Gas. - Most coal being delivered now is to fulfill contracts to coal co's and is not needed. Steam Coal Stock piles are at all time highs - Since Econ is depressed, there is less need for electricty, so less coal. It will get worse before it gets better...like in 2011, 2012?

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 20-30 years Posted: 27 October 2009 Anyone have any idea why the flow of traffic is so slow through the Erwin TN area on the Hunington. I thank this is the slowest I have ever seen it.

Name: RAT FINDER E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 20-30 years Posted: 24 October 2009 It has come to my attention that JASON TANKERSLEY is a RAT ASS BASTARD. Jason was supposely being blackmailed by Trainmaster Joel Hudson about a few misc rule violations and attendance issues. So Jason decided to call up Hudson and tell him his conductor was very upset with Hudson. So Jason decided to go along with a story of threats again the Superitendent, I think it was a guy named Scott ?? Supposedly this all took place on a train in the SN&A North sub and the Super. Scott was in Virgina already transfered. Then Jason was suppose to testify against the conductor at the kangaroo court being held in Birmingham, AL. Of coarse this had to force the conductor to resign his position. JASON TANKERSLEY IS A RAT IN THE WORST WAY!!! YOU COST A MAN A LIFE FOR HIS FAMILY!!! YOUR WORST THEN THE GUY FUCKING SOMEELSES WIFE!! YOU DESTROY CHILDRENS LIVES!! What comes around you RAT comes around RAT!!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 24 October 2009 I don't know where to post this...Safety First, Attendance Policy, Harassment and Discrimination, Denied Claims or Asleep At The Wheel; so I'll post it here. This is one of the many advantages of being an x-man...I feel a panic attach coming on! Medicinal weed off-limits for transport workers WASHINGTON -- People who operate airplanes, locomotives, trucks and buses would still be in violation of DOT rules against drug use if they use marijuana for medicinal purposes, despite a reported shift by federal law enforcement against prosecuting medical use of the drug, reports the Journal of Commerce. DOT's Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance issued a clarifying notice Oct. 22, after getting queries about how the new policy stance by the Department of Justice might affect transportation workers. "It remains unacceptable," the notice said, "for any safety-sensitive employee subject to drug testing under DOT's drug testing regulations to use marijuana." Attorney General Eric Holder this week issued new guidelines for U.S. attorneys, advising them not to pursue people for prosecution who use marijuana in clear compliance with state laws allowing medical use. Afterward, DOT began receiving calls about whether that medical-use situation could exempt transportation workers, in states where it is legal. DOT requires that people who test positive for marijuana be removed from jobs that can affect safety pending a review and treatment. "We want to make it perfectly clear that the DOJ guidelines will have no bearing on the Department of Transportation’s regulated drug testing program," wrote Jim Swart, director of the Drug and Alcohol Policy office. "We will not change our regulated drug testing program based upon these guidelines to federal prosecutors." His notice said the rules cover "safety-sensitive transportation employees -- pilots, school bus drivers, truck drivers, train engineers, subway operators, aircraft maintenance personnel, transit fire-armed security personnel, ship captains, and pipeline emergency response personnel, among others." DOT's drug and alcohol testing regulation, he said, "does not authorize 'medical marijuana' under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a transportation employee's positive drug test result." (The preceding article was published by the Journal of Commerce.) October 23, 2009

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 22 October 2009 Hey Florence Division: Glad to know you love your Moma. I just hope she doesn't read your post. I bet she would be real proud of you!

Name: fuck the florence division E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 October 2009 well here we go again its getting christmas time and ol wolfe is ready to cut our ass off again. I AM BOUT TIRED OF THE BULL SHIT they can all kiss my ass fuck following the rules i am gonna try everything i can to get run off i wanna just sit down and shit all over myself and then go work smelling like shit and give the trainmaster a hug for being so kind their time is coming very damn soon i hope all thats in management and upper management WILL LOOSE EVERY DAMN THING THEY HAVE AND HAVE TO LIVE ON THE STREET I WILL STOP BY AND SEE YALL I WILL SQWAT DOWN AND SHIT RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU SO YALL WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT YOU BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S I LOVE MY MOMA

Name: Red E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 1-10 years Posted: 21 October 2009 Hey Russell Conductor, I woundnt be worried about the restriction of senority of on Russell I2 jobs at Hinton, I would be worried about why their putting your jobs on at some place other then your home terminal! Makes a lot of since for the company to add jobs at terminal 167 miles away from your home. They are hoping you Russell guys dont take them. That way both Hinton and Russell crews lose and CSX wins like always.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 21 October 2009 Hey RRJ Isn't it about time for your recheck?

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 20 October 2009 Hey Z Here's one for you...I wonder how many know who the players are? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0L5LD7GZxc

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 1-10 years Posted: 19 October 2009 October 18, 2009 & CSX still SUCKS! Cheap Skate Xpress

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 18 October 2009 Anybody know why they are restictin Russell senority on the I2 pooles at Hinton when the contract clearly says Russell men have first rights to them. Labor Relations told me that there is a magic number on the roster and that number is 2214 so if you younger than than your not allowed to mark up on them but if your older you can. What the hell, does senority even matter who cares if I'm younger thatn that if a older man wants the job then he will kick me.

Name: slack action E-mail: Employed as: M of W, for 10-20 years Posted: 16 October 2009 RRJ: I commend you for trying to help Cindy. Maybe some people do not want to take the opportunity to take advice from people with experience....The RRB is the place she needs to call not CSX....The ex-wife who works for CSX can't do anything to hinder any money that is owed to her from the RRB

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 16 October 2009 RRJ; You had it right the first time. She screwed with you because you were not giving her the answer's she wanted. She will always lay the blame somewhere.

Name: RRJ E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 16 October 2009 Cindy I'm glad we had an oppertunity to talk a second time. You made me a little mad the first time. I hope everything works out in your favor. I'll say a prayer for you.

Name: RRJ E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 16 October 2009 Cindy I did some research you might qualify for a widow pension between the ages of 50-59 if you can prove you are totally disabled. You still need to contact Railroad Retirement Board not CSX.

Name: RRJ E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 16 October 2009 I forgot one thing Cindy seeing you hung up before I could mention it. The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) not CSX is responsible for our retirement. CSX has nothing to do with it. Look up RRB under the goverment section of your phone book to get the answers you seek. Some people just don't want to listen.

Name: RRJ E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 16 October 2009 Damn it!!! I tried to help by calling this Cindy Mills with some usefull info about railroad retirement. She is a rude self serving individual who won't listen. She's 51 years old supposedly disabled which doesn't qualify her for anything from Railroad Retirement till she's of age for the spousal stipend from her husbands retirement. She feels railroad retirement owes for her disability when she never worked for the railroad. It doesn't work that way never has. She blames his ex-wife who works for the railroad which she accuses of tampering with paperwork. Impossible!!!! I tried to explain all she needs to do is have a copy of the marriage certificate, death certificate for Railroad Retirement when she is eligable at 60 years old. Some people don't get it. I had sympathy when I read her post after talking to her she is just looking for a hand out. Mabey she should get down to Social Security to apply for disablity. That's the only disability she might be entitled to.

Name: cindy mills E-mail: cindy2989@aol.com Employed as: Friend or family of employee, for 20-30 years Posted: 16 October 2009 My husband worked for csx for 29 years he died in 2002 since then i have got nothing from the railroad no answers to any of my questions i am in the process of forcloser on my home i have received none of my husbands penison the problem is my husbands ex-wife has worked for the railroad in the office and she has changed paperwork at csx so i would no be able to recieve anything i cant get anyone to help me because they are all friends with her so i have lost everything because of this I can prove everything i am saying but no body will listen no body will return none of my calls i hate to say this but csx transportation has distroyed me and caused me to lose everthing my husband work for i hope one day someone from csx will call me and listen to what i have to say it has been 7 years since my husband died an i havent go one red cent from csx railroad or anything to help me in any way i am disable and just trying to live and they have been the rudest people i have ever had to deal with it seems at a time like this they would try to work with familys of deceasted employees not try to distroy them thanks to anyone for listening cindy mills 7704246675

Name: RRJ E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 16 October 2009 Most of the hiring on the railroad was family members which lasted to the late '90s. Hiring family was common in a lot of industries like coal mines, steel mills, white collar jobs. Nothing wrong with it. Family members already knew what to expect. I worked with a lot of railroaders that were/are 3rd & 4th generation railroad. In reality most railroaders would wish their children didn't hire on the railroad and went on to get a college education. Non-family employees seem to have the most problems with adjusting to the downside like understanding seniority and furloughs. I didn't have family the C&O hired me because I was a Veteran all it took was filling out an application with the Ohio Employment Agency veterans department. I did have inside info a friend who worked for Conrail called me out in California in early 1977 to say they were hiring his brother worked for the C&O. I packed my duffle bag and hitched hiked cross country it took three days. Life wasn't easy because of that fact most railroaders felt it was a family oriented business. Furloughs didn't matter one of my first jobs after being discharged out of the service in 1974 was the LOF Glass factory in Toledo Ohio sixteen weeks after being hired they closed the plant down during one of this countries many recessions. We did what we had to do to survive the rough times.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 16 October 2009 Hey Rad; Nothing has changed...today the big operations know who they're hiring, usually an insider, before the ads are ever published. Everything else is just a dog and pony show so they can remain "politically correct"!

Name: RAD E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 20-30 years Posted: 16 October 2009 When i hired on it was CONRAIL, It seemd to me they had a inside way of hiring people as i never seen a ad in a paper for railroad workers, Never!!! I got on when i was 18, I knew this one station agent so i went down there and talked to him, He made a phone call to someone in the main office who i don,t know, But when he got off the phone he said go to the main office the next day and get a physical exam, Yup that quick and when i went down there they had a big sighn on the front door, NO APPLICATIONS BEING TAKEN!!! As soon as i told them who i was It was stright to the company dr for the physical & x-rays, I filled out the paper work AFTER THE PHYSICAL EXAM!!!! I also got to know this one hogger very well, He had 4 sons and all of them got jobs on the railroad, So he must have known some one in upper managment very good too although he never did mention that to me over the years i knew and worked with him,, I am sure some will say this was a unfair way to hire people, But that is the way they did it back then, Perhaps the company thought it was a better way to get a more dedicated person for railroad work????? If anyone remembers getting hired this way i sure would like to hear about it as i do assume the former B&O did it this way too???

Name: CSX Blow E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 1-10 years Posted: 15 October 2009 Well, I guess Mr Michael P. Kelly had his own private agenda to supplement his railroad retirement. You can be rest assured that this is by all mean not an isolated incident. He just so happened to be one of the few to be caught. I just wish they would catch the rest of the union officials that are crooks and feel they can get away with out representing us and take our money and run. They need to be working on the crooked CSX officials too. Most of them don't have an I.Q. of a can of beans and are responsible for running a portion of railroad. There is NO accountability whatsoever on this railroad. Every official I have had ANY dealing with ALWAYS passes the buck to someone else and they never seem to take responsibility for their own action which is SO sad because these guys are supposed to be leading us by example and not to mention be coaching us. These are the guys we are supposed to look up to....LMAO.......

Name: Hillbilly Ninja E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 10-20 years Posted: 15 October 2009 Union Official gets 366 days fed pen...(I worked with this guy, and he wouldn't even by me lunch...all while taking the brother's money.) He was an Ex-Con, now he will be one again..... ------------------------------------------------------------------- from Mansfield News Jounral Online A retired Crestline, Ohio CSX UTU Union Officer will spend a year and a day in federal prison for embezzlement. Michael P. Kelly, 61, was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court to do his time at Morgantown Federal Correction Institution in West Virginia. He could have received up to five years in prison. In July, Kelly pleaded guilty to a felony charge of embezzling $97,970 from United Transportation Union Local 586, of Willard, while serving as its secretary and treasurer. Kelly embezzled the union funds from January 2004 through November 2006 while working from his home in Crestline. He worked as a conductor for CSX and retired in 2008 after 42 years. According to federal statute, Kelly is barred from maintaining a local union office for three years. Judge Lesley Wells of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District gave Kelly a reduced sentence because he had no criminal history, alcohol or substance abuse, or mental illness. "I don't think you'll do this again," Wells said. "I think you figured out you shouldn't have done this. You started paying it back, and that's a good thing. But you have a long way to go." According to court documents, Kelly obtained the funds by issuing numerous checks payable to himself recorded as salary and expenses. In those cases, he made automated withdrawals from the union account that he was responsible for maintaining. There were a few instances where Kelly issued checks written by his wife and daughter, including a $1,500 check for his daughter's tuition. To conceal the unauthorized transactions, Kelly forged the signature of the union president on most of the checks, issued and negotiated some checks containing only his signature and falsely recorded the payee's name on the union's disbursement control ledger for some checks. Wells said Kelly would take money from next month's salary and use it for bills and paid the union back on payday. Over time, he would get in over his head and was unable to pay the money back. Kelly was ordered to pay restitution of $75,000 to the Great American Insurance Company (of Local 586), $18,268 to his local union office and $100 for special assessment. To date, Kelly has paid the union $5,300, according to court documents. While in prison, Kelly will pay 25 percent of his monthly income through the Federal Board of Prisons Inmate Financial Responsibility Program. If a restitution balance remains upon his release, Kelly will pay 10 percent of his monthly income during the term of supervised release. Wells said Kelly's pension and retirement income will not be affected during his prison term. Kelly sat next to defense attorney Carlos Warner, calm and collected. Kelly briefly addressed the court, accepting full responsibility. "Whatever I need to do, I'll do. I want to put this in the past and move on," Kelly said. Wells read a statement from Kelly before sentencing. "Family means everything to me, and I'm sorry I put them in this position," Kelly wrote. "I accept full responsibility and ask for forgiveness." tbradley1@nncogannett.com 419-521-7233

Name: Binheer2long E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 15 October 2009 NoMo--Want to know what Ward is basing his projection of "coal will be weak" on into 2010 on? Check this site, WWW.LoganBanner.com and look at an article about two articles down. It talks about coal miners shouting down protesters. The story masks the Corp of Engineers proposal to slow or eliminate the streamlined process where mountian top removal is permitted, which will soon lead to a reinstatement of a complete ban. Well, damn, what happens when you can't mine coal?? Duh!!

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 15 October 2009 You gotta love this... Only in the America, the land of milk, honey and unbridled greed could a stock jump $2.79 a share with a announcement like this... http://investors.csx.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=92932&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1341489&highlight= I especially like this..."The third quarter reinforces our view that the worst of the recession is likely behind us," said Michael J. Ward, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "At the same time, our coal business will be impacted by weak demand well into 2010." Well Mike, if the worst is behind us, I guess all those still furloughed can expect a call from CMC any time now!

Name: spongebob E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 15 October 2009 BLET president arrested on bribe charge (The following press release was issued by the U.S. Justice Department’s U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis.) Edward W. Rodzwicz, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, was arrested on a federal complaint charging him with bribery, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael W. Reap announced Oct. 13. Rodzwicz is the sitting president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), a national labor union with over 55,000 members consisting of railroad employees throughout the United States. It is a division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT). According to the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, the BLET maintains a list of designated legal counsel (DLC), who are recommended to their membership to handle injury cases under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). Designation as a DLC generates very lucrative business for designated attorneys. The national president of the BLET has final authority over the designation of FELA attorneys. In February 2009, an internal compliance committee recommended that a particular DLC attorney for the BLET should lose his designation, due to alleged violations of DLC Rules of Conduct. On March 10, 2009, Rodzwicz approached that attorney in Little Rock, Ark., and solicited a payment from that attorney in exchange for allowing him to retain his DLC designation. The DLC attorney contacted the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. In subsequent meetings at the attorney's office in St. Louis, and at Harrah's Casino, Las Vegas, Rodzwicz solicited and agreed to accept a cash payment of $10,000 from the attorney, plus the promise of an additional cash payment of $10,000 after Rodzwicz allowed him to retain his designation. Rodzwicz accepted a cash payment from the attorney on April 28, 2009, in Las Vegas, and he sent a letter allowing the attorney to retain his designation on May 1, 2009. He accepted a second cash payment of $10,000 from the attorney on Sept. 16, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. The complaint was filed in the Eastern District of Missouri last week and remained suppressed until the arrest of Mr. Rodzwicz this morning by agents with the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, at his home in Avon, Ohio. Daniel R. Petrole, acting inspector general, U.S. Department of Labor, stated: "Union members expect that their officials will do what is right on their behalf. If these allegations are proven, there has been a serious breach of the union members' trust. My agency will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office to investigate this type of crime." Rodzwicz, 63, was charged with one violation of 18 U.S.C. section 666, bribery in connection with a federally funded program; and one violation of 18 U.S.C. section 1952, interstate travel to carry on unlawful activity. He made his initial appearance this afternoon in Cleveland. If convicted, 18 U.S.C. section 666 carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; 18 U.S.C. section 1952 carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. The charges set forth in a complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. October 14, 2009

Name: dillweed E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 12 October 2009 CSX sucks almost as bad as the Unions that they own. I don't care if it is BLE or UTU- they both suck CSX D. and they both screw the Union members. I guess the RR used to be a decent job. Those days are long gone by. With the FRA hos laws in place, they have pretty much capped our pay. F all the BS.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 10 October 2009 Name: FEDUP E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 October 2009 You could be right that giving up and finding another job is the easy way out! The other hand says it is probally the best thing to do. I did not know until last month that after being fourloughed so much with children in the home that I actually qaulified for over 3,000 bucks per semester in financial aid to go back to school on. I didnt realize that there are jobs out there that can take me back to what I made just three yars ago! My mind says one minute man your taking a paycut. Then reality sets in and says your not making as much as you use to being fourloughed all the time. I have a job that works me 40 hours a week again. Im home every night, Im home on the weekend, I can scedule things. Im back in college this fall for free and I can honestly say that when I think about csx I want to throw up! I am so much happier now than I have ever been! There use to be a guy post on here all the time that would talk about what a great decision he made leaving the railroad and people would argue back telling him hes posting on this site and he was full of shit! I found out hes not hes just happier now and wants everyone at CSX to know he is! All the old fucks who wanted use younger men cutt-off so they could get that call! All The old fucks who wanted us conductors cut back so they would not mark up cutt back engineers.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FEDUP, NO it is not easy to leave the RR. The easy way is to just accept the conditions, and go along, pay up, shut up, and go when they call. Glad you saw the whole picture and did what was right for you and your family. Stay in school you will never regret the effort. PS: they still tell me that I am full of shit and know absolutely nothing. I know better and now you do also.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 08 October 2009 Ingram must be a fan of Nazi Germany. He has quotas to get rid of employees to in still control. Several Good Jewish Lawyers should step up and sue CSX for this Ingram Ward management regime.

Name: RRJ E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 07 October 2009 You answered your own question. Management will do as it's told. We've seen difficult times before but not like this situation. Everytime a new SVP of transportation steps in they make change some have went the kinder route others tried to rule with an iron fist. Ingram has taken it to a different level more sadistic. If we think we have it bad its unimaginable what management goes through to get to a level where they're forced to do things against their own beliefs to save their jobs. The few I know that quit or were dismissed and went back to their crafts felt like a weight was lifted off their chest. Anyone who rules through intimidation has serious mental problems.

Name: robofuq E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 06 October 2009 Will things change when Ingram is gone? Or is the Csx "step and fetch ' mentality so ingrained in management that it can't change? So many new managers system wide hired without any previous railroad experience and trained by the carrier the Csx way. They don't know the way things used to be. The space between "us" and "them" is greater now then ever before.

Name: RRJ E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 06 October 2009 Thing's will change when Ingram is gone seen that happen at least a dozen times over the years. Every new administration has a plan just don't know which direction they'll take it. I've been off work for 3 1/2 months people call every week with the RR news on how it's getting worse instead of improving or even just leveling out. TM's & RFE's are required to do three banner test per week in just the yard that could be up to 15 not counting the road. One RFE is so gung-ho he does three a day figures seeing he's out he might as well test. There still nailing people for any infraction no matter how minuit. People need to look at it as a game.

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 05 October 2009 Nomo, I keep telling myself that things will improve when Ingrams gone to keep hope alive. I'm 6 years into my 40 years sentance and from where I'm looking right now, hope is at the far end of a long, hard, road. I was talking with a Norfolk Southern crew a few months back and they swear things improved 10 fold after Ingram left. They said it took a year or so but it eventually went back to the way it had been prior to Ingram. It is on this that my hope is founded. Maybe it's too optamistic, who knows, but I can't even bring myself to think about 34 more years of this shit. I love my job and the guys I work with but (as with everyone else) I fucking hate CSX. I saw a T-Shirt on cafepress.com the other day. It had a picture of a CSX engine and it said "I love the fucking railroad and the railroad loves fucking me". That should be a part of everyone's wardrobe, lol.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 05 October 2009 Hey Joe: Hadn't heard from you in a while...I'm afraid you're right except the standard is set and will continue long after Ingram's gone! The unions are impotent and might as well fade away...like the ads say, "ask you Doctor if you're healthy enough for sex", in the union's case the answer is no; so they should go to the mall and sit on the dead pecker bench with the other has beens! I didn't know they renewed Ingrams contract...too bad. I guess 5 years wasn't enough time for Ingram to deliver on his promise to bring the Harriman Award to Water Street. In the real world, people are fired for failure to perform, In CSX's case they get rewarded... says a lot about CSX's management and BoD!

Name: Dead Peasant E-mail: Employed as: APE, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 October 2009 http://jonathanturley.org/2009/02/25/peasant-uprising-widow-sues-late-husbands-employer-over-dead-peasant-insurance-policy/ "the employer of her late husband Daniel Johnson was to receive $1.6 million after his death under a practice known in the industry as a “dead peasant” insurance policy. Under this common practice, employers take out life insurance on employees and write off the payments as a business expense. They then collect a windfall when one of the “peasants” die." CSX do this?

Name: C&O JOE E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 October 2009 Nomo, I'm sure that managment hasn't gotten any softer. I think it's just that everyone is tired of beating their heads aginst the wall and it's become an accepted fact that being treated like an expendable piece of shit is and will continue to be the standard until Ingram is gone. The fact that CSX renewed his contract tells me they feel he's rightious in his quest to make the lives of the only revenue generating employees they have, as hard and miserable as possible. Oldheads will retire, Ingram will eventually die, and life on CSX will have no choice but to improve. In a few years we will be all that remains of the current CSX we've all come to love and when you've pulled time in the deepest pits of hell, pergatory will be a breeze. NS came to their senses and eventually will too.

Name: FEDUP E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 04 October 2009 You could be right that giving up and finding another job is the easy way out! The other hand says it is probally the best thing to do. I did not know until last month that after being fourloughed so much with children in the home that I actually qaulified for over 3,000 bucks per semester in financial aid to go back to school on. I didnt realize that there are jobs out there that can take me back to what I made just three yars ago! My mind says one minute man your taking a paycut. Then reality sets in and says your not making as much as you use to being fourloughed all the time. I have a job that works me 40 hours a week again. Im home every night, Im home on the weekend, I can scedule things. Im back in college this fall for free and I can honestly say that when I think about csx I want to throw up! I am so much happier now than I have ever been! There use to be a guy post on here all the time that would talk about what a great decision he made leaving the railroad and people would argue back telling him hes posting on this site and he was full of shit! I found out hes not hes just happier now and wants everyone at CSX to know he is! All the old fucks who wanted use younger men cutt-off so they could get that call! All The old fucks who wanted us conductors cut back so they would not mark up cutt back engineers.

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 04 October 2009 I don't know if it's just me or if there is something to it; but it seems the level of bitching about management harassment and e-testing is way down. I have followed this site for 3+ years now and have never seen it this quiet. Therefore (1)CSX's management has backed off; or (2)all the most vocal complainants are furloughed or fired and moved on and those remaining are too tired to post; or (3)everyone has been beat down to the point they have accede. In talking to current CSX employees I believe that of the three possible scenarios No. 3 is the most likely. They all use phrases like "we use to do it that way" or "I don't do it like that any more". They go on to say that everyone has been on the street at least once; and those who should have been gone years ago just can't seem to get canned no matter what they do! Any one care to offer any insight...it the fourth quarter and "Banana" time is almost here, I need some guidance!

Name: RRJ E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 03 October 2009 Making calls in the middle of the night is what a crew caller does for a living. Just doing their job. It's annoying then again you might of wanted to work. How do they know? You choose this profession it didn't seek you out. It pays the bills gives you health insurance which makes you luckier than over 20% of the people in this country. Detriot is a prime example unemployment is 28% a lot of states are at the 9+% unemployment catagory everyone should be grateful to have a job in these troubling times. CSX has gone to the extreme by putting on gaurenteed furlough boards an example of what the UP did. Found out about it yesterday offering $2000 a month those on it have to be available two weeks out of the month. You can still draw unemployment for the other two weeks or find a job that doesn't conflict with it. It keeps both health benefits and retirement credits intact. Your local union has to request it. Get all the younger members working or furloughed together head down to a union meeting and make a motion have someone second it the next months meeting show up in force and ratify it. You are the majority. None will argue the fact that CSX management is the worst in the industry that problem will have to wait for Tony Ingram to be gone till then it'll be more of the same. Quitting is the easy way out.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Conductor, for 1-10 years Posted: 01 October 2009 crew caller running a roster...my phone rings..3 times..not even enough time for me to answer..and then the guy call....7 times..in a matter of 5 minutes....needless to say its 0119 in the morning..wife has to get up at 0400 hours for work..and this..guy care nothing at all.... all he wants is forsome to ansnwer his call..and then he is off to his next phone call... o ya..should i also so im 5 deep on the board...with plenty of guys on the extraboard....... o well... another 30 plus hours of being awake with no sleep.. all while move n the trains safe right??? train line up?? to me that all i got to plan my life.... look at the train line up..look to see where i fall in line...figure what train i will get and when... spend the time in between with my family and try to get rested...and then just as u lay down..that train line up has changed...or they just want YOU so your phone rings...and there u go...no rest...no sleep...just go...move the train..thats your job...this place sucks so bad...and no one...and i mean no one from the bottom to the top even cares on bit at all.... if could find any job..and i do mean any job...that even paid 8 bucks an hour..and didn't have to drive for an hour to get there... i would find the person's phone number i hate the most..change my contact info with this place...and never think about it again

Name: NoMo E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 01 October 2009 This explains it all: http://nynerd.com/the-money-you-could-be-saving/

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 29 September 2009 Yesterday there was a job posting for an engineer out of Springfield Mass. on the Amtrak web site. Someone should really consider this.

Name: Madman E-mail: Employed as: M of W, for 30+ years Posted: 29 September 2009 Thanks for nothing- well you are right about 1 thing! I happened to see the test for New Hire Track Workers and I can say it is Pathetic! Come on know Basic English which is understandable, Basic Math- Adding,Subtracting,Multiplying, Dividing is ok but Fractions! What for? Who uses it anyway besides back in school. I don't know about the interveiw! But I do agree there are the games they play with people.

Name: Thanks for Nothing E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 29 September 2009 There is a lot of truth in this site. I tried for over a year to get a career started with CSX through two testing sessions and two job interviews. The jobs was for the Russell roundhouse and the Russell yard. Both were a waste of my time and theirs as it was all a put on for the public. Mr. Skinhead (the top management offical) was very obnoxious and acted as if he was retarded. During the interviews he acted like it was a bother for him to be there. Of course it was as he knew who was going to get the jobs. The very people that are complaining about working. I was willing to work any shift any hour and start with a forward look to a new career with responsibility. But instead I was treated like I was a crimminal and wasting his time for showing up to take a test he probably can't pass and never saw as he probably had the inside track for his job. I was at first disppointed that I didn't get a career to enjoy but after I found out how the positions were filled I jumped with joy. Whoever you knew the most in top management at CSX got you the job, not on your skills that could be used for the commpany's interest. Well Mr. Skinhead I hope you enjoy the people you hired and get everything coming to you. I hope the company sees the truth in you and puts you on skidrow where you belong. No wonder people are complaining if all CSX management likes the look of you.

Name: Z E-mail: Employed as: Other, non-employee, for N/A Posted: 28 September 2009 Well it appears no one cab make informed, factual or intelligent threads anymore. I'm sure the company really loves this site the way it's operating now. It makes you all look just like the company wants you to look. I'll check back in a few weeks again to see if the same babbling, idiotic, moronic post are still being entered on all venues. If they are I will do just as I have been doing, nothing. You guys have a tool and can't even use it. Take a hint from the webmaster: Use of unnecessary profanity will only make you and your brothers and sisters seems uneducated. This site is visited by CEOs, investment bankers, and politicians. Keep it clean, and we will all be taken much more seriously. There seems to be one person missing from here, or is he?

Name: RRJ E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 30+ years Posted: 27 September 2009 Wrong!!!! Dipschidt. I just took a break from all the garbage being spewed on this site.

Name: E-mail: Employed as: Locomotive Engineer, for 10-20 years Posted: 27 September 2009 There may be some Tranmaster pretenders on here, but thank god RRJ appears to be gone.