Conductor exam! (Bedford, Hope: deposit, rated, park) - Page 22 - City-Data Forum

Hundoe · 06-05-2011, 04:41 PM

I scored a 98.6 list number in the 500's. its great to hear that there is finally some movement with this.
I have to call dcas tom. to change my contact info. Hopefully i'll get the call by the end of this summer!

Fred314X · 06-06-2011, 03:48 PM

Here's a little hint for everyone who's waiting for that call...

Our union (TWU Local 100) contract expires this coming January. There are always a group of senior people who wait for a new contract to expire, then put in their retirement papers under the new contract. That's not to say there couldn't be new classes before then. But the more people who retire--especially if a sizeable number go out at about the same time--the likelier it is that new classes will be called.

Artzilla · 08-11-2011, 12:28 AM

School car! Whoo! More on that later, I have a question..what is the pay rate and progression for a train operator (everyone keeps telling us to take as many promotional exams as possible, so now I am of course curious.

Also I am curious that new conductors like me were hired at $19.47 an hr, yet the contract shown on the TWU 100 site shows a rate that is supposed to be considerably higher, even when it was compounded years ago, before our supposed top out rate. Can anyone explain? Thanks..here is the link I am talking about: http://www.twulocal100.org/sites/twu...tract_2011.pdf

Artzilla · 08-11-2011, 12:32 AM

Also, for those who haven't been called yet, let me emphasize how very, very VERY important it is for you to not admit ANYTHING medical that isn't major like open heart surgery or recurrent asthma, or whatever. I was put on med hold and missed the class I was supposed to be in and had to go spend more than $1000 to get medically cleared because of some dumb thing I mentioned from 18 years ago that was much ado about nothing (chest pains I went to the ER for but no heart attack and no other symptoms, nothing like it before or since.) They make you answer a 75 question questionnaire..be very, very careful what you choose to answer yes to..what I answered yes to was nothing major, but put temporary screeching brakes on my processing. So, FYI. If it is serious and major, you should mention it. If you think about it and it really isn't anything, DON'T SAY ANYTHING.

MotormanMike · 08-11-2011, 02:43 AM

Congradulations on making it in. Good luck in school car. Any questions don't hesitate to ask. Myself and others on here are all to happy to help. Welcome to the job.

As for Train Operators pay rate , top pay which you get after 231 road days is $31.88/hr , but is only slightly less when you are not at top pay (still $31 and change an hour) so not as much difference as conductors from bottom to top pay. Also 6pm - 6am and on weekends it is an additional $1.75 night differential. So $33.63/hr is the pay rate except it is $31.88 from 6 am-6pm Monday thru Friday only.

When you hit the road after school car , just follow the rules and do what they teach you and you will be fine. Extra Extra is going to be a little bit of a rough ride especially if you don't like extra board. If you do like it , then you will miss extra extra when it's time for you to pick.

Conductor seniority moves MUCH faster than Train Operator. I was hired as a Train Operator off the street and never worked in another title but I think from what I see and observe , that it is probably the best job down here and if you can promote to it , school car will be almost six months and with a lot to learn , but in the end , I think you will find it's worth it.

Welcome to the job!

Fred314X · 08-11-2011, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotormanMike

Welcome to the job!

I'll second that!

Hundoe · 08-11-2011, 09:52 PM

Congrats Artzilla, what was your list number?? (dont have to be exact)

Artzilla · 08-11-2011, 11:32 PM

54. I also had 5 veteran points.

Thanks for the congrats! We are at the end of our third week and took a train (empty) out today for a few stops, and each of us got to conduct. That was fun! Things come together so much better when you get to do the hands on part of the learning!

Artzilla · 08-11-2011, 11:35 PM

What is extra board..extra work?

Fred314X · 08-12-2011, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artzilla

What is extra board..extra work?

No...extra board means you don't have a job assignment for that day. You'll be assigned to a terminal somewhere, and given a job if one opens up (that job does not have to be coming out of the terminal where you're assigned. You could, for example, be assigned to the board at 179 Street in Queens...and pick up a job out of Brighton Beach in Brooklyn. Our friendly Crew Assignment Office will do such things). If nothing opens up during your shift, you won't actually have worked on a train that day.

Some people really hate being 'on the board.' I was one of them; I didn't like the uncertainty. Others love it, because you have the opportunity to make a lot of money. Say you're on the board at 1300 hours, and you pick up a job that starts at 1530. You'd get paid time and a half for the 2-1/2 hours, plus time and a half for the official travel time back to the terminal where you started (although you don't have to go back there). That kind of money adds up!