I am a railroader in the cucked state of MI. I do not drive trains, I work on railroad crossings and signal systems. I work outdoors by myself 99% of the time out of a truck that I drive home every night.
Last Friday the FRA (federal railroad administration, like the FAA but for trains) mandated an emergency order in response to Biden's mask mandate EO that went into effect yesterday:
Basically all railroad employees are required to wear masks at all times while at work regardless of where we are or what we are doing, yes even me working alone outdoors in remote locations. They go even as far as to say that while eating or drinking we can only lower the mask to take a bite or sip and then must raise the mask to chew.
Whats worse that that is they have also stated that if we are caught in non-compliance by and FRA inspector, we can be personally fined and removed from service. They will also fine the railroad, which is turning my management team into mask nazis out of fear of the company being fined. Every railroad employee in the US is subject to this bullshit, regardless of state policy; even states without mask mandates.
We had a very long drawn out conference call to address this and it got super heated and myself and many of my co-workers were threatened should we even attempt to push back. Management has made it clear that they will be out looking for us along with the FRA. Basically, the only thing that can save us is our union(s) as a whole, petitioning the FRA to drop the emergency order... I'm not holding my breath.
My morale is so far below sea-level it isn't funny. I love what I do but in a matter of a weekend, I now hate it. Rules are one thing- but threats of dismissal and personal fines seem way over the line and even illegal really. Thanks for letting a cornered pede use his last few gasps of air to vent!
Sounds like the FRA should go fuck themselves....all the live long day.
Well THIS made me chuckle. Thank you for that!
Well they already do that to little kids and hard workers like jcab93
Hahaha right on
Do you have a good doctor? Get him or her to write a letter stating that do to various and numerous studies, they (the doctor) require that you do not wear a mask. You company should not ask questions and if you do, you should report them for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. Now, I am not a lawyer, so you may want to run this by one, but before you give up, exercise all your options. I know it may cost a little money, but there are plenty of attorneys out there who work relatively inexpensively (i.e. $150 per hour) and will prorate your bill if you only use say, half an hour. WELL worth it imo, to know your rights. Good luck. I feel for you man.
Dearly noted. Thank you.
You're in a difficult situation. I experienced something similar on two different occasions, situations where my life was overturned due to circumstances I didn't create. Both times I took it as a sign from the universe that it was time to make a change and do something different, and both times worked out extremely well for me. I understand that finding other work in this environment is difficult, but since you now hate your current job it sounds like you're ready to make a change. Open your mind to the possibilities, figure out how you can use your skills in some other venue, and focus on what you want your life to look like going forward. Don't spend time fretting on how it got to be this way and what was done to you, but rather keep your focus on what you can do to get things going in a favorable direction, as that thinking is what makes it possible for it all to fall into place for you much faster than you might think and in ways you don't expect.
This is a great response for pretty much all of us.
Can you just get the lightest one layer piece of fabric and get used to wearing it on your chin until you see someone coming near you?
Gosh why the down vote? The guy needs to earn a living and it may be tough to find something else!
Wasn't me! But good suggestion, still better than full compliance IMO. At least I wouldn't be laying down completely.
I went to the fabric store the first week of mask wearing in stores here in commiemass. I bought the lightest flimsiest piece of cotton gauze fabric and made a mask. You can worry a hole in it easily with a finger. It gets used to buy groceries only and you can almost see my whole face behind it. It breathes and no one says shit to me when I'm forced into wearing it. I made it so big it gaped along the sides and drapes at my ears since I made the earpiece of the same fabric. It falls down onto my neck all the time and oops doesn't make it back up unless harassed.
Way back when I used to play nice and wear one in stores and the first person I saw without one caused mine to come off. Then after I stopped seeing ANYONE without one I said screw it and stopped wearing them altogether. Michigan is really bad. Really depressing that we will probably be one of the last states to get rid of the mandate. Normalcy would be a breathe of fresh air!
Probably mass will be last. (
Etsy and EBay have people selling masks you can breath through for just this purpose, if needed.
Getting a medical exemption might just solve the problem for you though, look into finding a doctor who will give you one. Start by just telling them you have one. If your boss demands to see paperwork tell him you’ll get it to him as soon as possible. Since there is no official paperwork for this purpose, find an online fake form and make it yourself.
You might try contacting The Healthy American. They have sued counties in CA over similar issues and might either be able to help or at least have advice.
Or you could apply for a transfer to a red state, like my beautiful, based TEXAS which cancelled ALL mandates today.
All that being said, I have a feeling this is all going to blow up very soon. (March Madness?)
Good luck to you!!!
We're so excited here in San Antonio. We're planning outings! Can't wait to hear what my boss says tomorrow!
Thanks, the first part is worth a try for sure. The part about a red state would get me nowhere. Even in a state without a mask mandate, the feds would still try to fine me and the railroad I was working for for violating federal mandates.
Here is the sauce for those interested in reading further: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/03/01/2021-04233/emergency-order-requiring-face-mask-use-in-railroad-operations
Wow, I feel bad for you.....that's tough! Definitely the most insane and bizarre thing I've heard of in quite awhile! I know it's how you make a living...and you probably enjoy doing it...but if there's anyway you have another job in eyesight, I'd drop that Nazi control environment as soon as I could. I hope anyone that works for the company who possibly voted for Biden are angry. That in itself will cause them to wake up. Especially when it starts getting hot outside and the sweaty mask becomes unbearable.
The few that ARE Biden supporters are bought into COVID hook, line and sinker. They don't agree with the lengths this mandate goes to but "whatever it takes to keep everyone safe". Brain-dead zombies the lot of them.
Sorry this is happening to you. Everything is so insane. It's all about demoralization and control. Please try not to let them crush your spirit.
Not in your shoes but several years ago I and some others were “laid off”. Funny part is we were all a burden medically (I had a knee replaced) and their rates had gone up or we were close to retirement after being there many years. We sued. The lawyer went in to get paid if we got paid. We won! Make them fire you. Go on unemployment and sue them! Oh and I’m in Michigan too!
That sucks. If you have a doctor friend maybe they can give you a notice to avoid the mask for some BS medical reasons. I am a surgeon. I wear masks while I operate, unfortunately the hospital requires all staff and employees to wear a mask in hospital at all times. Switching jobs for me is not easy and this is not a hill I want to die on so I pretty much comply when I have to. It's easy for people online to tell you to get another job, but the reality is that it ain't that easy. This will end soon. Hang in the fren
I work for the railroad also. “The horse”. Moral has been soooooo low for soooooo long in transportation. It’s pathetic that they’ve started this crap. Where will it end? Right now no one is hardly wearing a mask. I’m sure though that somebody will be made an example of. Not good, not good.
Yep. I used to listen to the old heads talk about burning one on the way to and from work and getting caught by the boss with a bottle and only getting yelled at for not offering him some of it.
We'll be talking about what it was like to not have body cameras and bubble suits.
Sorry for the amazon link but maybe try one of these. It is a paintball mask. It's basically a wire cage over you nose & mouth. I have one, and no on says shit about it. Not sure if it would work for your situation, but it might be worth a try. https://www.amazon.com/PuddingStation-AdjustableSteel-Protection-Paintball-Shooting/dp/B08BZL34SH/ref=sr_1_36?dchild=1&keywords=Paintball+Mask&qid=1614736185&sr=8-36
LOL! Exactly. Science is just a cover for their addiction to power and control through fear
Right!
Good luck, brother. Nothing much to add (I'd go for putting grommets in a cloth mask, or find comfy bandanas for the time being), but I'll be praying for everybody in jobs like yours.
Congrats, you're going to be really rich after you sue them.
Start actively looking for a new job, suggest to everyone else that they should do the same after you have found your new job.
If this catches on there should be plenty of unfilled positions to go back to once this shit is over and done with...
Humiliation. Personally I would simply not do it. I say "I don't wear them". There is just no-way. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Buy a few neck gators. Pull up when needed. You said you work alone, and you’re out by yourself all the time, so I wouldn’t stress it. I know it’s for the principle of the thing, but until you find another job, or decide to leave this one, just do the neck gator thing. At least you won’t look like a mask Fagge, with a neck gator. When you go and see your boss, make sure you pull the whole neck gator over the back of your head and halfway over your face, so he can only see your eyes. Eventually he’ll see how ridiculous this whole thing is. Make sure it is uncomfortable for him as it is for you.
I've decided to go this route for the time being. It won't be around my face unless someone else is around. Then I can just face the other way and pull it up really quick. Alot quicker than looping a face diaper around my ears.
I like it!!
That’s a great plan. I know the initial shock of being forced to do something, that’s against our human rights is a shock. But at this point in time we have to make the best of a shitty situation. Best of luck to you
Thanks friend!
Used to be that when large groups of workers had a problem with company policies, they'd go on strike.
Got enough like-minded individuals to join you? Shutting down the rail system would send a message.
If you are in a union, you can file for unpaid leave. That is what I had to do when my company asked for overnight workers to wear masks (6 people in an closed grocery store). I know it's not the easiest thing to do financially, but it should be an option.
Lawyer up if you can. Maybe talk to some like minded co-workers and you guys could organize a walk out and lol split lawyer fees to file wrongful termination suits. Lawfare is not most of our cup’s of tea but I think you gotta have someone with your back if you wanna tell them to fuck off properly.
Trust me, were it not for the pension, 401k and stock program I would've told them to meet me at my house to get their truck on our call in front of everyone. Hard to find retirement that good these days...
Try getting a turkey hunting mask. Nice camouflage mesh. Very very breathable. They may require a mask but hopefully their silly little mandate doesn't say anything about the type of mask.
According to the order: (C) The following persons are exempted from wearing masks:
Persons in private conveyances operated solely for personal, non-commercial use.
A driver, when operating a commercial motor vehicle, such as a crew transportation van, limo, or taxi, as this term is defined in 49 CFR 390.5, if the driver is the sole occupant of the vehicle.
A person who is the sole occupant of an enclosed cab of a locomotive, hi-rail vehicle, roadway maintenance machine, or any other on-track equipment that has an enclosed cab.
(D) This E.O. exempts the following categories of persons from wearing masks: [29]
People with disabilities who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of the disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).[30]
People for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty as determined by the relevant workplace safety guidelines or Federal regulations.[31] Preemption
The requirements in this E.O. do not preempt any State, local, Tribal, or territorial rule, regulation, order, or standard necessary to eliminate or reduce a local safety hazard, which includes public health measures that are the same or more protective of public health than those required in this E.O., if that provision is not incompatible with this E.O. Relief
Any railroad carrier affected by this E.O. may petition for special approval to take actions not in accordance with this E.O. Petitions must be submitted to the Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, who is authorized to act on those requests without amending this E.O. In reviewing any petition for special approval, the Associate Administrator will grant petitions only if the petitioner has clearly articulated an alternative action that will provide, in the Associate Administrator's judgment, at least a level of safety equivalent to that provided by compliance with this E.O.
more to come...
Just glanced over Executive Order 13998 and nowhere does it state and specifications on the type of mask. I say go for the camo and good luck. These people are getting crazier by the day.
Oh my gosh, persons in private conveyance, separate from drivers in commercial vehicles- this just validated some stuff I half-heartedly watched about traffic stops and we are not drivers because we are not transporting cargo or paying passengers... If that weren't true, there would be no need for these two parts in the order being separate like that. Sorry if off topic but my mind just got blown a little bit.
Where else can you retire and make about $75,000/year with you and your wife’s share combined.
Exactly.
I just hope Trump's return is expedited. We are all being put through the wringer. Were it not for Q, an armed resistsance would have formed a long time ago. I just really hope our trials are worth it in the end.
While true, that artificial money gets you food, clothing, electricity, heat, gas in your car, insurance, guns and ammo, silver and gold, etc.
I did think about going on short term disability for anxiety due to a hazardous work envrionment!
Reverse psychology, i like it! ?