See Cenedella, the post that is not mine, but quoted, on this day, 4th of July....
This is cool. Hope you are reading....I get inspiration and passion from reading, but also from within, a culmination of who I have become. Everyday is a new day, and a new beginning. If we all could change our attitudes and aspire, and JUST BE, the best we can envision, WOW! What a different world this could be. TRY TO ASPIRE.
Monday, July 4, 2011
4th of July, ASPIRE....www.Cenedella.com. Quoted from Marc....
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.
That’s Teddy Roosevelt speaking at the Sorbonne a century ago in 1910.
There’s no storybook about “The Boy Who Followed Somebody Else’s Dream”, no movie rights sold for the tale of “It Wasn’t Within My Purview To Consider Alternatives”, no Sinatra tune entitled “I Did It The Way My Critics Requested I Do It”.
All the songs, all the movies, all the books say the same damn thing about you and your dream for a reason — because it’s true!
You’ll be on a stone slab someday too soon — far too soon — and your children will look at you and you’ll look at yourself, and you’re going to ask, and they’re going to ask, and wherever you are right now just do me a favor and…
…and listen to the wind breathe.
And count the years between here and birth — your birth, on the occasion of the country’s birth — and count the years between here and death.
And count the words of your loved ones, and your family, and your friends, and your kids, and your own words in your own head about who you are and who you want to be and who you always wanted to be. And realize that that is beautiful. And that is what you were made for.
And count the words of the critics and naysayers and the negative people in your life and the words they’ve piled up like stones for you with their wants and their desires and their demands of you.
Count the piles and feel their weight and add them up and ask yourself…
Which one do you want to carry with you to the end? Which one do you want to carry for the rest of your days?
Which one is worthy of you?
This Fourth of July, declare your independence from your critics.
It’s you who counts.
That’s Teddy Roosevelt speaking at the Sorbonne a century ago in 1910.
There’s no storybook about “The Boy Who Followed Somebody Else’s Dream”, no movie rights sold for the tale of “It Wasn’t Within My Purview To Consider Alternatives”, no Sinatra tune entitled “I Did It The Way My Critics Requested I Do It”.
All the songs, all the movies, all the books say the same damn thing about you and your dream for a reason — because it’s true!
You’ll be on a stone slab someday too soon — far too soon — and your children will look at you and you’ll look at yourself, and you’re going to ask, and they’re going to ask, and wherever you are right now just do me a favor and…
…and listen to the wind breathe.
And count the years between here and birth — your birth, on the occasion of the country’s birth — and count the years between here and death.
And count the words of your loved ones, and your family, and your friends, and your kids, and your own words in your own head about who you are and who you want to be and who you always wanted to be. And realize that that is beautiful. And that is what you were made for.
And count the words of the critics and naysayers and the negative people in your life and the words they’ve piled up like stones for you with their wants and their desires and their demands of you.
Count the piles and feel their weight and add them up and ask yourself…
Which one do you want to carry with you to the end? Which one do you want to carry for the rest of your days?
Which one is worthy of you?
This Fourth of July, declare your independence from your critics.
It’s you who counts.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Letter to management and union reps.
Statistically speaking, here is some numbers crunching facts.
People who have jobs with weekends off (the American standard), have 104 days off a year. They also receive most holidays off. As a bonus, standard jobs get one to two weeks vacation a year, better jobs, much more.
Railroaders are punished with excessive layoffs on weekends. With business booming and a shortage of men in 2011, we now are told we cannot use single vacation days or personal leave days (unless a manager calls on our behalf). Holidays we are threatened with job security if we lay off. Maximum vacation is five weeks. Let's see, 5 x 7 = 35 days. Maximum personal leave days allowed is 11. So let's do the math, 35 plus 11 equals 46. Compare 46 to 104 out of 365 excluding holidays and vacation. Not good for railroaders. Better money perhaps, but if you add the real time a road crew is away from home and divide that, then the hourly rate is extremely low.
Men, we are afraid of losing our good pay, but we cannot be afraid to face the facts and negotiate on such.
The national standard Is 40 hour work weeks with the ability to come home.
Railroaders are on call 24-7, 365 days a year (well unless they are on vacation). Now we are talking road crews. There are some yard jobs with more normal hours. Most of those however are one man remote crews, so engineers have been forced out on the road. There are very few jobs available for engineers NOT on the road. Here, I am just pushing out the argument that we have choices. I want to focus on the facts of road crews who protect and handle freight traffic across America. Bottom line is, we are way below the national average for rest and family time "quality of life" planning.
Let me ask you, if you are tired, have been putting in long hard hours at work, spending the night away from home, without the luxury of good food, or regular hours, do you feel good? Are you in a good mood or irritable? Do you feel like attending social functions? Do you even feel like having a happy wife and kids full of energy to greet you at the door? I used to do all this, but I would be hard pressed to say I could or would want to do it all over again. Still I personally do not have an easy time of wanting a personal relationship since the drama of not being available to make and keep plans disappoints too many partners. Peace and rest with contentment is the best I can hope for at this stage in my personal life. God bless the married man who has a patient wife at home waiting with a clean house, laundry done, bills handled, repairs made, and a hot meal cooked.
Last year being on call was not so bad. Since business was slow I could take a day off and rest maybe two or three. This year brings home the need even stronger that we desire a better schedule for allowed rest time. Our boards are depleted most days and trains are stalled waiting for rested men. Yards are plugged so trains are left waiting for hours on end to get through the terminals. The biggest problem trainmen are frustrated with is (#1) they are dealing with the aforementioned exacerbations, but now many trains sit five to six hours either leaving Fort Worth or entering Fort Worth. Standard rule of thumb is "blame the trainmen". We are an easy target, because we do not generate reports to show the facts, thus contradicting those who do.
Solutions are not easy to come by, but killing and defeating the men who are dedicated to keeping the freight moving needs to stop. (Side point....many railroaders die within one to two years of retirement). There are proven failures in having trains ready to depart Fort Worth terminal when crews are called on duty. With yards plugged, and therefore the need to move trains out, it is a crying shame that work forces and budgeting have cut back operations so tight that Power is not clean, repaired, or readily available.
There are not enough hostlers on duty to do what is necessary. Vans are not available to deliver hostlers or crews in a timely manner. If one car man lays off, then the others have to cover his work, so they are forced to give less than appropriate air tests. If revenues are important, then we MUST utilize the tools and people we have more appropriately. We make money moving and delivering freight to customers. I can guarantee no managers at the top enjoys crunching numbers to cover up deficiencies and create "good" reports while also juggling with these deficiencies. If we are "world class" then why are we still working with a lot of "stone-age" mentality? To make money we have to spend money. I can hear the brakes screeching to a halt now!!
We need a team who can meet regularly with realistic data of what the terminal is capable of handling. A new plan needs to be set forth. We cannot afford to continue to cover up deficiencies while we preach safety. Let's not be blind and lie to ourselves. Perfect is not of this world. Until we honestly admit problems and failures bringing the railroad to a newer standard, we cannot "fix it". Testing, bullying, lying, and falsifying, is not the answer. Realistic goals with rested men who feel empowered to do their jobs because the standards allow a "quality of life" with an emphasis put on feeling good about what we do needs to happen and happen NOW.
This was written June 23, but hoped you might find it to be inspiring.
I am seeing improvement. The FW trains have changed call times and we seem to not be experiencing the long delay times because of the yardmaster, service track, hostlers, and car men being enabled to bring it all together. Exactly the original purpose of the Viva Primo Train project.
Much much more is happening, and I hope you will stay involved with your input to help us.....
Make the world a better place. Have a blessed day. Mitz!
People who have jobs with weekends off (the American standard), have 104 days off a year. They also receive most holidays off. As a bonus, standard jobs get one to two weeks vacation a year, better jobs, much more.
Railroaders are punished with excessive layoffs on weekends. With business booming and a shortage of men in 2011, we now are told we cannot use single vacation days or personal leave days (unless a manager calls on our behalf). Holidays we are threatened with job security if we lay off. Maximum vacation is five weeks. Let's see, 5 x 7 = 35 days. Maximum personal leave days allowed is 11. So let's do the math, 35 plus 11 equals 46. Compare 46 to 104 out of 365 excluding holidays and vacation. Not good for railroaders. Better money perhaps, but if you add the real time a road crew is away from home and divide that, then the hourly rate is extremely low.
Men, we are afraid of losing our good pay, but we cannot be afraid to face the facts and negotiate on such.
The national standard Is 40 hour work weeks with the ability to come home.
Railroaders are on call 24-7, 365 days a year (well unless they are on vacation). Now we are talking road crews. There are some yard jobs with more normal hours. Most of those however are one man remote crews, so engineers have been forced out on the road. There are very few jobs available for engineers NOT on the road. Here, I am just pushing out the argument that we have choices. I want to focus on the facts of road crews who protect and handle freight traffic across America. Bottom line is, we are way below the national average for rest and family time "quality of life" planning.
Let me ask you, if you are tired, have been putting in long hard hours at work, spending the night away from home, without the luxury of good food, or regular hours, do you feel good? Are you in a good mood or irritable? Do you feel like attending social functions? Do you even feel like having a happy wife and kids full of energy to greet you at the door? I used to do all this, but I would be hard pressed to say I could or would want to do it all over again. Still I personally do not have an easy time of wanting a personal relationship since the drama of not being available to make and keep plans disappoints too many partners. Peace and rest with contentment is the best I can hope for at this stage in my personal life. God bless the married man who has a patient wife at home waiting with a clean house, laundry done, bills handled, repairs made, and a hot meal cooked.
Last year being on call was not so bad. Since business was slow I could take a day off and rest maybe two or three. This year brings home the need even stronger that we desire a better schedule for allowed rest time. Our boards are depleted most days and trains are stalled waiting for rested men. Yards are plugged so trains are left waiting for hours on end to get through the terminals. The biggest problem trainmen are frustrated with is (#1) they are dealing with the aforementioned exacerbations, but now many trains sit five to six hours either leaving Fort Worth or entering Fort Worth. Standard rule of thumb is "blame the trainmen". We are an easy target, because we do not generate reports to show the facts, thus contradicting those who do.
Solutions are not easy to come by, but killing and defeating the men who are dedicated to keeping the freight moving needs to stop. (Side point....many railroaders die within one to two years of retirement). There are proven failures in having trains ready to depart Fort Worth terminal when crews are called on duty. With yards plugged, and therefore the need to move trains out, it is a crying shame that work forces and budgeting have cut back operations so tight that Power is not clean, repaired, or readily available.
There are not enough hostlers on duty to do what is necessary. Vans are not available to deliver hostlers or crews in a timely manner. If one car man lays off, then the others have to cover his work, so they are forced to give less than appropriate air tests. If revenues are important, then we MUST utilize the tools and people we have more appropriately. We make money moving and delivering freight to customers. I can guarantee no managers at the top enjoys crunching numbers to cover up deficiencies and create "good" reports while also juggling with these deficiencies. If we are "world class" then why are we still working with a lot of "stone-age" mentality? To make money we have to spend money. I can hear the brakes screeching to a halt now!!
We need a team who can meet regularly with realistic data of what the terminal is capable of handling. A new plan needs to be set forth. We cannot afford to continue to cover up deficiencies while we preach safety. Let's not be blind and lie to ourselves. Perfect is not of this world. Until we honestly admit problems and failures bringing the railroad to a newer standard, we cannot "fix it". Testing, bullying, lying, and falsifying, is not the answer. Realistic goals with rested men who feel empowered to do their jobs because the standards allow a "quality of life" with an emphasis put on feeling good about what we do needs to happen and happen NOW.
This was written June 23, but hoped you might find it to be inspiring.
I am seeing improvement. The FW trains have changed call times and we seem to not be experiencing the long delay times because of the yardmaster, service track, hostlers, and car men being enabled to bring it all together. Exactly the original purpose of the Viva Primo Train project.
Much much more is happening, and I hope you will stay involved with your input to help us.....
Make the world a better place. Have a blessed day. Mitz!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Van service
Lots of news incoming, some good, some bad (for some and good for others).... Still although unbeknownst to me through direct communication, I see change, and I believe, from Viva Primo Train.
The latest is problems with PTI. Well we knew about problems we experience, but on a more human level, some of the drivers are being shorted pay. Bottom line, they deserve our courtesy and consideration. I hear this one a lot, trainmen in the van complaining about their pay, etc. And always I wonder how the drivers feel on their wages. If nothing else, they deserve our courtesy.
Human to human, we all struggle, on some level. So today, try to go beyond yourself and ask sincerely how someone else is doing, then really listen with your heart. When someone is rude to you, if you do not react negatively but instead say, "are you
having a bad day?", you will be surprised that your kindness also transforms you and changes how others see you.
I have been requesting from management for some time to add more vans and see that trainmen are handled more efficiently. This will save management money overall. Now a big question is, how is budget handled? What is Fort Worth and what is pushed off into another budget? Unfortunately, money, not human consideration for a better more fair world, seems to grease the wheels.
This morn, I met Jeffrey Phillips, regional manager of PTI. We started off in a heated discussion, defensive on his part, and territorial as to why I would impose. I will stand up for the people, bottom line. I cannot stand to see people or animals mistreated. Another me comes out to defend. I am helping to empower these drivers to know more and stand up for themselves. This is what we all must do; stand together; make a team. Together we cannot be defeated. Grace of God, Jeffrey and I found reason. He was going to meet with Ron Belnap and I only hope I inspired improvements. Long term is the key and continuation not to fold but stand strong.
Thanks guys, for keeping me going with your reportings of delays and sharing of stories that help me see "your" big picture so that Viva Primo Train will grow stronger as a positive asset in the railroading industry. Remember to use our mailbox at NEY YARD or email.
Sincerely ........have a blessed day, and make the world a better place.
Mitzi. I appreciate comments.
The latest is problems with PTI. Well we knew about problems we experience, but on a more human level, some of the drivers are being shorted pay. Bottom line, they deserve our courtesy and consideration. I hear this one a lot, trainmen in the van complaining about their pay, etc. And always I wonder how the drivers feel on their wages. If nothing else, they deserve our courtesy.
Human to human, we all struggle, on some level. So today, try to go beyond yourself and ask sincerely how someone else is doing, then really listen with your heart. When someone is rude to you, if you do not react negatively but instead say, "are you
having a bad day?", you will be surprised that your kindness also transforms you and changes how others see you.
I have been requesting from management for some time to add more vans and see that trainmen are handled more efficiently. This will save management money overall. Now a big question is, how is budget handled? What is Fort Worth and what is pushed off into another budget? Unfortunately, money, not human consideration for a better more fair world, seems to grease the wheels.
This morn, I met Jeffrey Phillips, regional manager of PTI. We started off in a heated discussion, defensive on his part, and territorial as to why I would impose. I will stand up for the people, bottom line. I cannot stand to see people or animals mistreated. Another me comes out to defend. I am helping to empower these drivers to know more and stand up for themselves. This is what we all must do; stand together; make a team. Together we cannot be defeated. Grace of God, Jeffrey and I found reason. He was going to meet with Ron Belnap and I only hope I inspired improvements. Long term is the key and continuation not to fold but stand strong.
Thanks guys, for keeping me going with your reportings of delays and sharing of stories that help me see "your" big picture so that Viva Primo Train will grow stronger as a positive asset in the railroading industry. Remember to use our mailbox at NEY YARD or email.
Sincerely ........have a blessed day, and make the world a better place.
Mitzi. I appreciate comments.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Inspiration for a Sunday
We leave a part of our spirit and soul wherever we go. Whatever we do, either we nurture the earth and the people who pass there or we condemn it. Each moment we have a choice - what will it be? Eventually we die, but our marks are left to serve.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
grease the wheels
Interesting concept....attitudes control the world. Ego creates war. We must be careful and realize what we think we can also create. Seeds sown in thought therefore action DO grow. This matters to railroaders and every other entity, business, or person in the world. We are stronger and more influential than we can possibly realize.
Today, be more thoughtful. Try to keep a positive frame of mind. Do your job to the best of your ability. Hold others responsible to do the same. Report unfair ethics and treatment.
Viva Primo Train has a mailbox in the Ney Yard Office. Phone numbers and emails have been made available. Trust this new mode of communication and take the time to report frustrations and solutions which definitely include listing delays on trains.
Last week I met with many people and departments within the UPRR in Fort Worth.
Unfortunately due to a tight schedule including train and job protection, I have not had the time to report the things I have learned in detail. However I can add that I can type as fast as people talk, and I do have detailed conversations showing what happens in meetings. Therefore I draw conclusions. I can say honestly that the more I learn, the more I understand the frustrations and problems that exist and are handled daily in management.
Luckily the southern region has number one rail traffic movement. All terminals across the system have bottleneck problems. A number one thing I would like to see happen is crews removed from trains when they are just going to sit for hours on end. Our boards are depleted almost daily and awaiting rested crews. Because people are not getting ample time at home to care for family needs, more lay offs are inevitable. With strict standards for lay offs, problems are bound to arise.
Long term I hope to help develop a new regimen of scheduling for train crews. Do you realize that even if you get five weeks vacation a year....(35 days)....you still are much below the national average of people and jobs that get weekends off.....(52 x 2 = 104). Those people also get vacation and holidays.
Maximum railroad time is eleven personal leave days....penalties for holidays and weekends taken.
No wonder railroaders have a high rate of divorce and family problems.
To have better attitudes we need a better foundation for rest and the ability to plan family time.
With improved attitudes, rest, and more nutritious diets, safety is bound to also rise to higher standards.
How can we be truly safe when we are pushed beyond our limits and threatened or bullied when we try to take the time to support our families and make plans?
Support Viva Primo Train and therefore yourself. We are working with Unions and management to bring about positive change. There is so much to be done. It is frustrating. As I was recently reminded...railroading is an age old culture. This will take time. To illustrate....the definition of crazy is doing the same things the same ways but expecting different results. When we ourselves can be catalysts of change then we can expect and will experience change around us. Illness at first treated may get worse before it gets better. Weight loss will increase when a person first restricts calories, because the body reacts thinking it must hold on to the calories it has stored, but when the body realizes healthy
calories are steadily being maintained, it will shed the fat. This is also what we can expect. Act....
think differently......be empowered, and you will see results.
Today, be more thoughtful. Try to keep a positive frame of mind. Do your job to the best of your ability. Hold others responsible to do the same. Report unfair ethics and treatment.
Viva Primo Train has a mailbox in the Ney Yard Office. Phone numbers and emails have been made available. Trust this new mode of communication and take the time to report frustrations and solutions which definitely include listing delays on trains.
Last week I met with many people and departments within the UPRR in Fort Worth.
Unfortunately due to a tight schedule including train and job protection, I have not had the time to report the things I have learned in detail. However I can add that I can type as fast as people talk, and I do have detailed conversations showing what happens in meetings. Therefore I draw conclusions. I can say honestly that the more I learn, the more I understand the frustrations and problems that exist and are handled daily in management.
Luckily the southern region has number one rail traffic movement. All terminals across the system have bottleneck problems. A number one thing I would like to see happen is crews removed from trains when they are just going to sit for hours on end. Our boards are depleted almost daily and awaiting rested crews. Because people are not getting ample time at home to care for family needs, more lay offs are inevitable. With strict standards for lay offs, problems are bound to arise.
Long term I hope to help develop a new regimen of scheduling for train crews. Do you realize that even if you get five weeks vacation a year....(35 days)....you still are much below the national average of people and jobs that get weekends off.....(52 x 2 = 104). Those people also get vacation and holidays.
Maximum railroad time is eleven personal leave days....penalties for holidays and weekends taken.
No wonder railroaders have a high rate of divorce and family problems.
To have better attitudes we need a better foundation for rest and the ability to plan family time.
With improved attitudes, rest, and more nutritious diets, safety is bound to also rise to higher standards.
How can we be truly safe when we are pushed beyond our limits and threatened or bullied when we try to take the time to support our families and make plans?
Support Viva Primo Train and therefore yourself. We are working with Unions and management to bring about positive change. There is so much to be done. It is frustrating. As I was recently reminded...railroading is an age old culture. This will take time. To illustrate....the definition of crazy is doing the same things the same ways but expecting different results. When we ourselves can be catalysts of change then we can expect and will experience change around us. Illness at first treated may get worse before it gets better. Weight loss will increase when a person first restricts calories, because the body reacts thinking it must hold on to the calories it has stored, but when the body realizes healthy
calories are steadily being maintained, it will shed the fat. This is also what we can expect. Act....
think differently......be empowered, and you will see results.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
recent efforts
Recent efforts have included a meeting with Ed Adelman. He
shared numbers and statistical data which proves the extra work
put on the hump crews and Crest yardmaster is paying off. Train
traffic is up. With one crew shoving the hump, the second crew
can double over and be ready to shove with a maximum number of
cars thereby maximizing potential of our resources.
Meeting with Reggie in the Crest tower, he says he does not mind
the extra work of deciding which tracks to double, accounting for
tonnage, and which cars can potentially leave the yard sooner.
Car loadings are computer generated and some cars and/or trains
are "hotter" than others. Decisions have to be made and quickly.
Our yardmasters watch five computer screens at a time as well as
lists of train cars inbound and outbound. Let's face it guys,
sometimes you just aren't hot. Jack just quoted one dispatcher
who said, "somedays you're the chicken and somedays you're the
feathers".
Jack and I are inspired the union is onboard to utilize the data
we can acquire about your trains. Glen Johnson says keep it
simple. He wants to see train ID, date, on duty time (ODT),
departure (DPT), if work is performed and how much time it takes,
then terminal arrival time (TAT), and final tie up time. He says
with this data he can address big issues with management thereby
seeking solutions to give us a better quality of life.
Steffen Storbeck is excited with our project. He is hoping to
inspire railroaders morale and greater ownership of pride toward
their jobs. If we can all be the big guy and take
the first step forward, not being afraid, others will follow. He
does not like having to ridicule those who are lax and not doing
the simple tasks at hand with full responsibility. Haha. We agree
spit bottles should politely be deposited in trash cans instead
of left on engines and in vans.
Speaking of cleanliness, the service track reports a lot of us
are just plain nasty. True, but I pointed out a chair in the
living room where one sits daily to watch tv is dirtier in the
general area and has to be cleaned more than an unused area.
We are on these engines 24/7 so go figure. A little housekeeping
is respectful on the trainman's part, but if a persons job is to
clean engines and drain toilets, well then, do it or get a different
job. Excuses are childish.
So, all in all, progress is being made. Participate and see results.
shared numbers and statistical data which proves the extra work
put on the hump crews and Crest yardmaster is paying off. Train
traffic is up. With one crew shoving the hump, the second crew
can double over and be ready to shove with a maximum number of
cars thereby maximizing potential of our resources.
Meeting with Reggie in the Crest tower, he says he does not mind
the extra work of deciding which tracks to double, accounting for
tonnage, and which cars can potentially leave the yard sooner.
Car loadings are computer generated and some cars and/or trains
are "hotter" than others. Decisions have to be made and quickly.
Our yardmasters watch five computer screens at a time as well as
lists of train cars inbound and outbound. Let's face it guys,
sometimes you just aren't hot. Jack just quoted one dispatcher
who said, "somedays you're the chicken and somedays you're the
feathers".
Jack and I are inspired the union is onboard to utilize the data
we can acquire about your trains. Glen Johnson says keep it
simple. He wants to see train ID, date, on duty time (ODT),
departure (DPT), if work is performed and how much time it takes,
then terminal arrival time (TAT), and final tie up time. He says
with this data he can address big issues with management thereby
seeking solutions to give us a better quality of life.
Steffen Storbeck is excited with our project. He is hoping to
inspire railroaders morale and greater ownership of pride toward
their jobs. If we can all be the big guy and take
the first step forward, not being afraid, others will follow. He
does not like having to ridicule those who are lax and not doing
the simple tasks at hand with full responsibility. Haha. We agree
spit bottles should politely be deposited in trash cans instead
of left on engines and in vans.
Speaking of cleanliness, the service track reports a lot of us
are just plain nasty. True, but I pointed out a chair in the
living room where one sits daily to watch tv is dirtier in the
general area and has to be cleaned more than an unused area.
We are on these engines 24/7 so go figure. A little housekeeping
is respectful on the trainman's part, but if a persons job is to
clean engines and drain toilets, well then, do it or get a different
job. Excuses are childish.
So, all in all, progress is being made. Participate and see results.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Frustrated with the continuing time spent on trains, like the
MHOFW, for instance, I wonder how can we change this trend?
Trains are continuing to be re-crewed and left to sit for hours
on end and then pushed into the Crest with approximately one hour
left to work. With all the preaching on safety, how is it safe
to keep crews on duty all night, and then push and shove to get
the train into the hundred yard?
A new practice causing delays on yard trains is that the hump
jobs, which are one man remote jobs, are now not allowed to pull
up to track 215 to make their shoves unless they have 7200 feet
of cars. In other words, they have to walk back and forth,
setting and releasing brakes, pulling pins, and throwing switches
before their real job of shoving cars over the hump begins. The
yardmaster of the Crest now also has an extra task of deciding
which tracks and how many cars must be doubled. How is it safe
to continue putting more work on individuals and expecting
higher performance on people in general?
Frustrated, yes, to continue working in this push and shove
mentality, ask more, give less..... Yes, I appreciate my job.
I am willing to do what it takes to keep my job. Correct, I
probably don't get the big picture, but what I'm getting tells
me management needs to make some changes and give railroaders
a voice.
MHOFW, for instance, I wonder how can we change this trend?
Trains are continuing to be re-crewed and left to sit for hours
on end and then pushed into the Crest with approximately one hour
left to work. With all the preaching on safety, how is it safe
to keep crews on duty all night, and then push and shove to get
the train into the hundred yard?
A new practice causing delays on yard trains is that the hump
jobs, which are one man remote jobs, are now not allowed to pull
up to track 215 to make their shoves unless they have 7200 feet
of cars. In other words, they have to walk back and forth,
setting and releasing brakes, pulling pins, and throwing switches
before their real job of shoving cars over the hump begins. The
yardmaster of the Crest now also has an extra task of deciding
which tracks and how many cars must be doubled. How is it safe
to continue putting more work on individuals and expecting
higher performance on people in general?
Frustrated, yes, to continue working in this push and shove
mentality, ask more, give less..... Yes, I appreciate my job.
I am willing to do what it takes to keep my job. Correct, I
probably don't get the big picture, but what I'm getting tells
me management needs to make some changes and give railroaders
a voice.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Miss Impatience
Ok Miss Impatience here. Previous blog...mistakes. I have not learned to edit
my postings yet, and I accidentally hit POST when I was trying to edit. I
noticed a word 'fell' which was supposed to be 'tell', and twenty-two was
supposed to include 'million' which makes a significant difference. I actually
catch mistakes when I read books etc, so I hate this, but I am impatient.
So, I do not think anyone is paying much attention to this project anyway,
and the blog is new, unrefined like me, hence, I jokingly call this Project
Mitzi because I am evolving, like a caterpillar into a butterfly. And my RR
project to bring about positive change and a better quality of life for rail-
roaders is new. I am developing ideas along with my computer skills.
Right now I am going to ride my mountain bike which I bought Saturday
to help develop my personal 'better quality of life'. I can hear CMS calling
me to work on my bicycle rather than my motorcycle, and maybe I can keep
better tone in my leg muscles. I also notice exercise keeps me happier and
healthier in other ways. Besides a young conductor told me about a friend
who is old (53), and since I am 54, I gotta keep ahead of the pack.
I never planned to be an old railroader all the younger guys couldn't
wait to see retire.
Mitz!
my postings yet, and I accidentally hit POST when I was trying to edit. I
noticed a word 'fell' which was supposed to be 'tell', and twenty-two was
supposed to include 'million' which makes a significant difference. I actually
catch mistakes when I read books etc, so I hate this, but I am impatient.
So, I do not think anyone is paying much attention to this project anyway,
and the blog is new, unrefined like me, hence, I jokingly call this Project
Mitzi because I am evolving, like a caterpillar into a butterfly. And my RR
project to bring about positive change and a better quality of life for rail-
roaders is new. I am developing ideas along with my computer skills.
Right now I am going to ride my mountain bike which I bought Saturday
to help develop my personal 'better quality of life'. I can hear CMS calling
me to work on my bicycle rather than my motorcycle, and maybe I can keep
better tone in my leg muscles. I also notice exercise keeps me happier and
healthier in other ways. Besides a young conductor told me about a friend
who is old (53), and since I am 54, I gotta keep ahead of the pack.
I never planned to be an old railroader all the younger guys couldn't
wait to see retire.
Mitz!
Inspiration
I look for that everyday...inspiration. Somedays I feel like I am just muddling
through with no purpose. That is when I look for what I have to be thankful for.
That's what I did everyday when I had cancer....find what I have to be thankful
for.....simple things, like a home, food, job, family. Look around and see
homeless people or people with over-whelming problems, or illnesses. There is
always something to be thankful for...even just a little flower, or a sunny day,
noticing a majestic tree. I know, sometimes it's easier than other times.
That's when I'm thankful to be home and have good food, watch a show I like...
Home makes me happy, I create my own paradise there and expect others to respect
me and my space.
Today, glad to still be home....I came in yesterday eve and too late to attend
a ladies get-together from my church.....I needed nurturing, good food, and rest.
Surprisingly, I am still home this morn, so again, nurturing me....came back to
bed with a good book and coffee and juice. I want to share something with you
that I find inspiring, and I will fell you why.
Reading Barbara Walters' AUDITION, about 1954 McCarthy hearings which twenty-two
people were watching. "It was high drama.". ...."leveling charges at everyone who
came into their sights" (she was talking about Roy Cohn, but this instance was...).
"He was in the midst of impugning a young associate of the army's chief counsel,
Joseph Welch, when Welch uttered the famous words that triggered McCarthy's downfall-
--'Until this moment, Senator, I think I never gauged your cruelty or recklessness,'
he said. 'Have you no sense of decency , sir. At long last, have you left no sense
of decency.'---and the gallery in the Senate hearing room burst into applause. So,
unseen, did many in the television audience and others wept happy tears. It was an extraordinary moment. It was if the bully everyone was terrified of were suddenly
stripped naked and people realized there was nothing left to fear. McCarthy's
popularity immediately began to plummet, and his reign of ideological terror was
over. When the hearings ended inconclusively, Roy (Cohn) resigned but McCarthy was
soon censured by the Senate. He would die, three years later, of alcoholism-related
hepatitis."
My point is this. We, as railroad men, (I know, I know), have been given a voice
through this project I have undertaken in your behalf. Let me be your megaphone,
so-to-speak, to carry forward a fight against the disease of railroad, in which
you are belittled, ridiculed, and threatened. This is 2011 people, and time for
American railroad to catch up with the times. Yes, we have a good paying job we
do not want to lose, but as Americans, we also have freedom of speech. You can
remain anonymous, and I fear not to carry forward your voices.
My plan begins with reporting of facts of daily train activities in which we
are exhausted by poor management decisions, including bad tracks and equipment.
How you are called and handled by CMS, dispatchers, yardmasters, corridor managers,
and others MATTERS. Come forth today to understand you are not just a number, your
opinion, and facts involving your job, are important, so that conclusively, our
voices will be heard and utilized to bring about positive change. Look for notices
and info in the yard office. Use the mailbox I have provided at Ney yard. Call me
or use my email. Jack Luge is also graciously working to support this project.
Thanks and have a great day.
Mitzi Gopffarth
through with no purpose. That is when I look for what I have to be thankful for.
That's what I did everyday when I had cancer....find what I have to be thankful
for.....simple things, like a home, food, job, family. Look around and see
homeless people or people with over-whelming problems, or illnesses. There is
always something to be thankful for...even just a little flower, or a sunny day,
noticing a majestic tree. I know, sometimes it's easier than other times.
That's when I'm thankful to be home and have good food, watch a show I like...
Home makes me happy, I create my own paradise there and expect others to respect
me and my space.
Today, glad to still be home....I came in yesterday eve and too late to attend
a ladies get-together from my church.....I needed nurturing, good food, and rest.
Surprisingly, I am still home this morn, so again, nurturing me....came back to
bed with a good book and coffee and juice. I want to share something with you
that I find inspiring, and I will fell you why.
Reading Barbara Walters' AUDITION, about 1954 McCarthy hearings which twenty-two
people were watching. "It was high drama.". ...."leveling charges at everyone who
came into their sights" (she was talking about Roy Cohn, but this instance was...).
"He was in the midst of impugning a young associate of the army's chief counsel,
Joseph Welch, when Welch uttered the famous words that triggered McCarthy's downfall-
--'Until this moment, Senator, I think I never gauged your cruelty or recklessness,'
he said. 'Have you no sense of decency , sir. At long last, have you left no sense
of decency.'---and the gallery in the Senate hearing room burst into applause. So,
unseen, did many in the television audience and others wept happy tears. It was an extraordinary moment. It was if the bully everyone was terrified of were suddenly
stripped naked and people realized there was nothing left to fear. McCarthy's
popularity immediately began to plummet, and his reign of ideological terror was
over. When the hearings ended inconclusively, Roy (Cohn) resigned but McCarthy was
soon censured by the Senate. He would die, three years later, of alcoholism-related
hepatitis."
My point is this. We, as railroad men, (I know, I know), have been given a voice
through this project I have undertaken in your behalf. Let me be your megaphone,
so-to-speak, to carry forward a fight against the disease of railroad, in which
you are belittled, ridiculed, and threatened. This is 2011 people, and time for
American railroad to catch up with the times. Yes, we have a good paying job we
do not want to lose, but as Americans, we also have freedom of speech. You can
remain anonymous, and I fear not to carry forward your voices.
My plan begins with reporting of facts of daily train activities in which we
are exhausted by poor management decisions, including bad tracks and equipment.
How you are called and handled by CMS, dispatchers, yardmasters, corridor managers,
and others MATTERS. Come forth today to understand you are not just a number, your
opinion, and facts involving your job, are important, so that conclusively, our
voices will be heard and utilized to bring about positive change. Look for notices
and info in the yard office. Use the mailbox I have provided at Ney yard. Call me
or use my email. Jack Luge is also graciously working to support this project.
Thanks and have a great day.
Mitzi Gopffarth
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Beginnings
Hey guys!!!! and gals.....let's face it girls, you gotta merge and be one...
So "GUYS" it is. South end, UPRR, Project Mitzi is underway and I am brainstorming
daily to procreate a pathway of prime quality of life for railroad trainmen,
in general, and Fort Worth South, specifically, of the good ole UPRR. "Viva Primo Train"
is the title I have chosen for us which translates "first life" train. Rather corny,
but here goes.....get on board the "viva primo train" and participate.
We have been talking this up, with good response, but talk has to follow with action
to obtain results. I enjoy the example of Einstein who was doomed to fail and judged
critically. True to form, he failed a lot, but because he never gave up, he accomplished
great successes. The lesson here....life has a few deadends, but this "viva primo train" project is our new pathway to turn around, come off the deadend, and lay a new roadbed with shiny new tracks.
Ok.... I hear some of you grumbling, saying Impossible!! Have you heard of Dreamworks
Animations? A new animated movie is coming out, "Puss and Boots". Point is...
It takes four years to create such a 1-1/2 hour movie. Get this... It takes 24 drawings
to create one second of movement, and about a week to produce three seconds of movement.
Hundreds of thousands of story boards develop the backgrounds. Each character is pain-
stakingly developed. They use real people to move as they film, then draw over
their figures in animation. Every detail is analyzed. Get my point? Let's move
forward with a positive attitude of WE CAN.
The action of doing, trying, analyzing, REPORTING, and creating a team effort (like
a movie) can reap results. If one way does not work, we will back out of that deadend
and find a new avenue. I have plans, I have determination, and I have been given
approval to act (preferably on your behalf). So this is a new beginning. Expect
more posts, and if nothing else, perhaps you can be inspired and find this interesting
I hope so. Please respond and feed me with your thoughts.
So "GUYS" it is. South end, UPRR, Project Mitzi is underway and I am brainstorming
daily to procreate a pathway of prime quality of life for railroad trainmen,
in general, and Fort Worth South, specifically, of the good ole UPRR. "Viva Primo Train"
is the title I have chosen for us which translates "first life" train. Rather corny,
but here goes.....get on board the "viva primo train" and participate.
We have been talking this up, with good response, but talk has to follow with action
to obtain results. I enjoy the example of Einstein who was doomed to fail and judged
critically. True to form, he failed a lot, but because he never gave up, he accomplished
great successes. The lesson here....life has a few deadends, but this "viva primo train" project is our new pathway to turn around, come off the deadend, and lay a new roadbed with shiny new tracks.
Ok.... I hear some of you grumbling, saying Impossible!! Have you heard of Dreamworks
Animations? A new animated movie is coming out, "Puss and Boots". Point is...
It takes four years to create such a 1-1/2 hour movie. Get this... It takes 24 drawings
to create one second of movement, and about a week to produce three seconds of movement.
Hundreds of thousands of story boards develop the backgrounds. Each character is pain-
stakingly developed. They use real people to move as they film, then draw over
their figures in animation. Every detail is analyzed. Get my point? Let's move
forward with a positive attitude of WE CAN.
The action of doing, trying, analyzing, REPORTING, and creating a team effort (like
a movie) can reap results. If one way does not work, we will back out of that deadend
and find a new avenue. I have plans, I have determination, and I have been given
approval to act (preferably on your behalf). So this is a new beginning. Expect
more posts, and if nothing else, perhaps you can be inspired and find this interesting
I hope so. Please respond and feed me with your thoughts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)