Any word on future layoff?

They have put off qualifying Conductors for now. Are layoffs/furloughs back on the table for the trainmen?

From what I hear yes. Unknown about any specific date yet... The LIRR is spending $10 million on new smart card fare technology to be in effect very soon...

Yes, significant layoffs of trainmen is on the table, and the MTA is speeding forward with the development of automated fare collection.

The Trainmen Union has fallen out of favor VERY QUICKLY with the defrocking of their ally Tom Suozzi from political scenes and the dismal attendance and availability statistics of the craft. The UTU's leader rubbed the Company's nose in his relationship with Suozzi for several years as the Union had funded Suozzi's campaign for governor. As Helena Williams' only qualification for president was her work experience as Suozzi's secretary, the relationship gave the Union substantial clout. That's all water under the bridge now, and as it is said, "payback is a ..."

We can only sit back and see which way the political and financial tide turns, but right now the MTA's contempt for the Trainmen's craft is approaching or maybe even exceeding its contempt for engineers.

Just curious what a significant number is as far as how many trainmen they plan on laying off, 100, 200 etc?

Just curious what a significant number is as far as how many trainmen they plan on laying off, 100, 200 etc?

Current projections for this year number from 26 to 65. There has been a substantial reduction in overtime for this summer and with the expected service cuts in September, we will have about 65 train service that are "surplus". At this time, I would estimate in the 50's for the reduction in train service. Next year, 2011, will be much higher. You can estimate in the 150-200 range. There are some long range plans, 2012-2020 which will further cut train service and increase the amount of engine service. It has been suggested that for the 2012-2018 period, that some train service qualify as Engineers to augment the shortfall in engine service we will experience in that period to use up the projected surplus of train service. We doubt the BLE would agree to this since some of its members who held train service seniority were treated badly by the UTU.

It has been announced that some 60+ trainmen will be laid off in the next several months along with 20+ signal maintainers.

While some of the maintainers will be offered other employment on the Railroad, trainmen will not.

This is devastating to many of the newer employees who had felt that they found stable employment and had taken on debt and passed up other opportunities.

It is uncertain how many additional positions will be eliminated next year, but large numbers are being considered and new crew books are being prepared to assign a much reduced workforce.

On Friday 62 trainmen were notified by the union that they will be furloughed in 30 days.
This coincides with the next crew book revision.
Rumor in the field is 60 more in January and another 60 within the year
after.
This is all pre automation. After the system gets automated
it's anyone's guess what will be left of the roster.

That is very sad to hear. How do they determine who will be let go and who will stay?

is there a difference between a furlough, a layoff, a firing?

seniority , last in, first out
furlough is temporary
Layoff is un determined
Firing is permanent

then i'm glad its a furlough, at least there is hope they will be back on the job. i've also heard RR employees cant collect unemployment, is that true? does the furlough come with some kind of reduced weekly payment?

From what I understand a furlough means those involved will be called back as needed in seniority order when the conditions and needs require.
A layoff means your basically done unless you have an outstanding record with the employer and they may consider hiring you back before someone off the street.
On a freight road when the business is down and there is less trains, the bottom of the roster gets furloughed and will be called back when there is work. on the LIRR it's more like firing everyone as there will be no more work.
Jay Walder would love every rail line under the MTA umbrella to tie into the Air Train and use the same equipment and style of operation.
No humans to pay = more money for the greedy folks on Madison Ave and in Albany.

Jay Walder would love every rail line under the MTA umbrella to tie into the Air Train and use the same equipment and style of operation.
No humans to pay = more money for the greedy folks on Madison Ave and in Albany.

This is an exaggeration of the current intent of the MTA. They do not want operatorless trains on the LIRR. Frankly, this may not be permitted with the current infrastructure and FRA regulations. Locally, the BLE contract would not allow us to operate trains without an Engineer. Every LIRR train must under current agreement, have a Locomotive Engineer. If they automated the trains similar to the Air Train as stated above, there would be an Engineer sitting there, but no train crew. The UTU contract has no similar protections. On the trains, only on-board fare collection is contractually the work of Train Service. There are no plans to have operatorless trains or trains without any train service crew at all on the LIRR. There may be less staff but certainly someone will always be there.

LIRR employees are in the Railroad Retirement system and as sch receive unemployment benefits for a limited time up to $50 per day. They are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance. There may be other relief available to them under certain case law, but that awaits litigation.

Federal stimulus money will also provide direct payments for "underserved unemployed," which generally means minorities with an extensive unemployment history prior to this layoff.

As there are no plans to rehire in some crafts, they should probably seek other employment.

seniority , last in, first out

Does that mean that Assistant Conductors will take the biggest hit?
Also, does "trainmen" include engineers?