MTA paying 6 figure salaries to 8000 people.

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Zorkorist

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2007
6,861
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Only some Government entity, would pay lots of train people $100,00 per year.

Do you get that?

-John
 

Pulsar

Diamond Member
Mar 3, 2003
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Pulsar, any well managed business, that runs trains, would not pay anyone 100,00 per year. Do you understand that?

-John

Really? $100k? I believe his base salary was $67k. Here's a news flash.

That's the rate for a qualified tradesman at my plant. They fix breakdowns.

What's the comparable rate for a guy who may hold a couple hundred people's lives in his hands, after 30 years of employment?

I think you're dead wrong.

In fact, now I know you're dead wrong. The MEDIAN wage for train conductors in this country is $22.80. This man had 30 years of raises and COLA under his belt.

Railroad conductors supervise train crews and are responsible for the safety of the passengers and crew who ride on their trains. Some conductors, known as road service conductors, work on trains that carry passengers or freight locally or long distances. Other conductors work in the train yard and are called yard conductors or yardmasters.

Before trains leave the station, conductors receive train orders by telephone, fax, or computer from the dispatcher at the railroad's central office. These orders include listings of the cargo and their routes with the scheduled stops. Conductors must make sure that the crews of their trains understand these orders.

Conductors inspect each car of their trains, to make sure the operating mechanisms have been properly monitored and are working. If the repairs cannot be made during the run, conductors must instruct engineers to remove the defective cars. Conductors see that cars are added or removed at the proper points for picking up or unloading cargo.


It'd be nice if you people got off your butts and used the web to actually find data to back up your commentary. You know... evidence... it's a great thing.
 
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Hacp

Lifer
Jun 8, 2005
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1. Many, many salaried positions get overtime pay. Managerial levels tend not to, but your wonderful anecdote of "where I come from" doesn't really amount to crap.

In point of fact, I'm salaried and have been getting 'overtime' (which is MY world means I simply get paid for anything over 50 hours a week). In fact, last week I worked 58 hours of overtime (14 hours a day, 7 days a week).

2. If you truly think that's all a conductor does, I strongly suggest you get a clue. I'd wager you'd say that all an hourly person does in the big 3 is drop bolts in a hole, and you'd be so far off base it's ridiculous. Try being informed rather than spouting off random crap.

So we've got a conductor at a pay scale of $67k. That's probably in line with his responsibility level. Now, if he's working at 1.5 x pay for overtime, that means he worked 60 hours a week, or 11 hours a day during a 5 day week. Or perhaps 10 hours a day and then 10 on Saturday. Sounds pretty damn resonable to me. The REAL issue here is the benefit level that he's getting - vacation etc. It's ridiculous.

Responsibility level? Union employees have no responsibility. If they commit a "booboo", they'll get put on a desk job making the same amount. Maybe after a 5 year investigation, they might get reprimanded.
 

Zorkorist

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2007
6,861
3
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Can you post me what Conductors or Engineers make on true train companies?

My guess is $40-$60K per year.

-John
 

Hacp

Lifer
Jun 8, 2005
13,923
2
81
Can you post me what Conductors or Engineers make on true train companies?

My guess is $40-$60K per year.

-John

Who cares what conductors make in the private sector? If they get paid too much, the company fails. If government employees get paid too much, taxpayers just get higher taxes.
 

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
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Who cares what conductors make in the private sector? If they get paid too much, the company fails. If government employees get paid too much, taxpayers just get higher taxes.

Average private sector pay for crowded commuter trains is probably a good starting point for what is reasonable in the public sector.
 

Pulsar

Diamond Member
Mar 3, 2003
5,224
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I already posted it once, but I'll do it again:

From payscale.com:
$44k - $69k.

2008, Department of labor says average is $54,120

Pacific Union reports the average at $63300, with the low at 40 and the high at $92.

Wow. All that in 20 seconds of googling. Imagine what Hacp could learn if he could do more than type in the address to the druge report.

A train conductor is not just a train conductor. He is the yard master and makes a ton of important decisions with regards to the running of the railroad. This man had been at the company long enough to warrant a full retirement. That means he's probably been there 20-30 years, which would by default put him at the upper end of the payscale.

Good try at all the false outrage. So far we've covered how Unions suck and are evil, these guys are grossly overpaid (even though 99% of the people arguing here have no fucking clue what they actually do), and how the private industry (who pays more according to Union Pacific) would do it better and cheaper.

Keep going. This thread is hilarious.
 
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Zorkorist

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2007
6,861
3
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Are there 8,000 train conductors in the MTA?

I'll agree, Train Conductor is top of the line...

are there 8,000 train conductors in the MTA?

8,000!

-John
 

Pulsar

Diamond Member
Mar 3, 2003
5,224
306
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Are there 8,000 train conductors in the MTA?

I'll agree, Train Conductor is top of the line...

are there 8,000 train conductors in the MTA?

8,000!

-John

No on ever said there were, so please don't attempt to change your argument now that you've been thoroughly thrashed.

We were discussing the specifics of the first post, specifically the train "conductor". Which does a whole lot more than just "conduct" a train.

I will wholeheartedly agree that there are a ton of overpaid people in government. However, the example used in this case was an absolutely 100% WRONG one.
 

Zorkorist

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2007
6,861
3
76
Then what is this report that MTA pays 8,000 people $100k?

As a tax payer I am already pissed.

As an employee of a train sstation,

either you are selfish, or scared.

-John
 

Zorkorist

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2007
6,861
3
76
No on ever said there were, so please don't attempt to change your argument now that you've been thoroughly thrashed.

We were discussing the specifics of the first post, specifically the train "conductor". Which does a whole lot more than just "conduct" a train.

I will wholeheartedly agree that there are a ton of overpaid people in government. However, the example used in this case was an absolutely 100% WRONG one.
Your wrong, in that people need to realize Government does things like pay, their employees, $100,000, for driving trains.

Or managing people that drive trains.

Or managing oil production.

This, is your Government, at work.

-John
 

Zorkorist

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2007
6,861
3
76
Your Government that is so in debt, that BP isn't going to try and save them.

-John
 

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
Your wrong, in that people need to realize Government does things like pay, their employees, $100,000, for driving trains.

Or managing people that drive trains.

Or managing oil production.

This, is your Government, at work.

-John
Just stop.

If the conductor HACP is whining about is representative of the rest of the 8000, then you're completely wrong.

He worked a lot of OT to make what he did - he wasn't 'paid $100,000 for driving a train' in the sense of 'he drove it for 37.5 hours per week'.
 

Bowfinger

Lifer
Nov 17, 2002
15,776
392
126
Then what is this report that MTA pays 8,000 people $100k? ...
Here's a thought: read the frakking article instead of blundering around obediently screeching in outrage regarding something about which you are completely ignorant. Then, if you still have questions, do a little research into the NYC MTA. Find out how big it is, how many employees it has, etc. See how that compares to other transit systems. Generally get some clues and reach informed conclusions before you open your yap and start attacking.

Why are you raging nutters so incapable of taking even modest steps to educate yourselves?
 

Zorkorist

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2007
6,861
3
76
8,000 people in this Gobernment thing called the MTA, made #100,000.

If that doesn;t sicken you, nothing will.

-John
 

alphatarget1

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2001
5,710
0
76
Can you post me what Conductors or Engineers make on true train companies?

My guess is $40-$60K per year.

-John

A friend of mine's dad makes like 100k at UP (Union Pacific) as an engineer, the one that actually drives the train or whatever.
 

Zorkorist

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2007
6,861
3
76
Just stop.

If the conductor HACP is whining about is representative of the rest of the 8000, then you're completely wrong.

He worked a lot of OT to make what he did - he wasn't 'paid $100,000 for driving a train' in the sense of 'he drove it for 37.5 hours per week'.
You don't understand the basics...

There are not 8,000 conductors in the MTA.

There are x number of people with resposibility... and it is a lot less than 8,000.

-John
 

Hacp

Lifer
Jun 8, 2005
13,923
2
81
Here's a thought: read the frakking article instead of blundering around obediently screeching in outrage regarding something about which you are completely ignorant. Then, if you still have questions, do a little research into the NYC MTA. Find out how big it is, how many employees it has, etc. See how that compares to other transit systems. Generally get some clues and reach informed conclusions before you open your yap and start attacking.

Why are you raging nutters so incapable of taking even modest steps to educate yourselves?

60% of MTA budget is salary costs. If we can get that down even 10%, the MTA would be running at a surplus :eek:!
 

Hacp

Lifer
Jun 8, 2005
13,923
2
81
Just stop.

If the conductor HACP is whining about is representative of the rest of the 8000, then you're completely wrong.

He worked a lot of OT to make what he did - he wasn't 'paid $100,000 for driving a train' in the sense of 'he drove it for 37.5 hours per week'.

Worked a lot of OT.. or clocked the hours and sat on his ass doing nothing? We all know how government employees clock hours when they aren't working them. Just look at the census video.