From: stephen@sprunk.org   
      
   On 14-Apr-15 02:20, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:   
   > On Monday, April 13, 2015 at 6:54:32 PM UTC-4, Stephen Sprunk wrote:   
   >> Worst case, you could make the steps retractable; that'd drive up   
   >> the maintenance cost a bit, but it'd still be cheaper than paying   
   >> round-the-clock wages for step box operators on every car.   
   >   
   > You do realize that your so-called "step box operators" have many   
   > other duties; indeed, placing a step-box is probably the least of   
   > them.   
      
   I'm sure the union has invented other "duties" to justify their   
   existence, as with any featherbed job, but it's clear from watching that   
   Amtrak LD is grossly overstaffed, which undoubtedly contributes to them   
   losing so much money.   
      
   You clearly need staff for the snack bar/dining car, but they don't   
   operate step boxes; they're serving customers even during stops (which   
   can last an hour or more each, thanks to schedule padding).   
      
   You clearly need attendants for the sleepers, but a maximum of one per   
   car, and probably less than that.   
      
   You clearly need at least one person to collect tickets in the coaches,   
   but less than one per car, and they can do other things after that task   
   is completed following each stop.   
      
   What else do you need?  Why is there at least one crewman standing at   
   _every_ door, in addition to the dozen inside--for a six-car train?   
   (And that's just the staff on duty, i.e. not counting those sacked out   
   in the dorm car.)   
      
   S   
      
   --   
   Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein   
   CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the   
   K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking   
      
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