I think the only issue here is the same to be used in determining whether or not you choose (in the absence of a third party requirement) to insure against any risk (i.e. chance) of an economic loss.

Before responding to this posting, I reviewed the RRB's site www.rrb.gov to ascertain whether unemployment benefits are payable in event of a disciplinary suspension. There is no explanation available of that specific point; however, reviewing a State administered plan, there appears to be an ineligibility for disciplinary suspensions. I strongly suggest you find a definitive answewr for that point, as it certainly will affect the amount of your economic loss.

The other side of "how much will be my economic loss" is how long will you have to serve if suspended. I would think one faced with a suspension of much longer that 60 days would simply choose to leave the industry and find employment elsewhere. However, if the average time served, after appeals progressed on the property, is some two weeks so be it; tuck it out.

Now to measure your economic loss; assume you are earning $40K, or $770 per week. "Doing two weeks" would constitute a $1540 loss. If you can sustain it, move on, otherwise insure it through whatever "mutual benefit' plan is available through your union.

We all know life isn't fair, and it does have its "bumps and grinds". If you feel you were wrongfully assessed discipline and were unable to prevail on appeal, that has no bearing on whether you should or should not insure against the loss. Even if you were fully insured for the loss, the "hurt" of being wrongfully accused will not go away.

Speaking for myself, I can't afford to have open heart surgery, but I can afford to go to the doctor for an ache and pain office visit. I can't afford to have my house burn to the ground, but I can afford to replace a gutter blown down in a windstorm. "Fender Bender" or "Total" applies to my automobile.