Rich Hunn Wrote:
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> I've heard of several instances where relative new
> conductor hires took braking jobs on locals to
> hold employment but even that's tenuous if there's
> any cutbacks.

It's all related to how the seniority system works. If you can't hold a higher paying job, you're forced to take a lower paying (or otherwise less desireable) one. You may also be fored to work at a location that can be hundreds of miles from your home or where you hired out, all without compensation for lodging or gas.