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union_pacific_logoOMAHA, Neb. – Profiles in Diversity Journal recently recognized Union Pacific as one of the nation’s 25 Most Influential Companies for Veteran Hiring. The only railroad on the list, Union Pacific was selected for its commitment to veteran hiring, progressive reservist policies and dedication to supporting employee veterans.

“Union Pacific understands and values the skills veterans bring to the workforce,” said Roy Schroer, Union Pacific’s vice president of Human Resources. “The military instills a strong work ethic and world view that strengthens our organization at all levels.”

In 2013, Union Pacific hired more than 800 military veterans, including 95 disabled veterans. These veterans make up approximately 25 percent of all new hires in 2013. During the last five years, 24 percent of Union Pacific’s hires have been veterans, and overall, veterans comprise about 20 percent of the company’s workforce. Leadership and teamwork skills, wide-ranging areas of expertise gained during their service, familiarity with nontraditional working hours and experience working outdoors are just some of the characteristics that make military personnel a good fit with jobs at Union Pacific.

Union Pacific actively recruits veterans through its involvement with military transition offices, military education offices, reserve and National Guard units, career fairs, information sessions, employer panels, resume review assistance and by serving on local military committees and boards.

The railroad’s progressive reservist policy is one example of how Union Pacific supports its reserve, active duty and veteran employees, and their families. All employees called to active duty are compensated for any difference between military and company pay, and Union Pacific continues benefit coverage for deployed employees and their families. In addition, the employee resource group UPVETS is devoted to attracting, developing and retaining employees who are military veterans.

Union Pacific frequently is recognized for its commitment to military veterans. The company received the inaugural Hiring Our Heroes Award for Post 9/11 Veteran Employment and Internships from the National Chamber Foundation and has been named a military-friendly employer 10 times by G.I. Jobs. The company is a member of the Army Reserve’s Employee Partnership Initiative, supports the Army Partnership for Youth Success program, and is a past recipient of the Freedom Award, the U.S. government’s highest employer recognition.

Union Pacific offers many unique employment opportunities for veterans, including train crew, diesel mechanics, diesel electricians, assistant signal workers and track laborers. Engineers in the computer science, electrical, civil and mechanical areas will find leadership opportunities in the Information Technology department or through the company’s Operations Management Training Program. Interested candidates can view job postings at www.UP.jobs.

OSHA logo; OSHACHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found Grand Trunk Western Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad Co. in violation of the Federal Railroad Safety Act for suspending and/or disciplining five workers following the reporting of workplace injuries or illnesses.

“When employees are disciplined for reporting workplace injuries, safety concerns or illnesses, worker safety and health are clearly not the company’s priority,” said Nick Walters, OSHA’s regional administrator in Chicago. “More than 60 percent of the FRSA complaints filed with OSHA against railroad companies involve an allegation that a railroad worker has been retaliated against for reporting an on-the-job injury. This is unacceptable and a culture that must be changed.”

The department has ordered the companies to pay back wages, along with interest, punitive and compensatory damages, and attorney’s fees. The companies will also be required to remove disciplinary information from the employees’ personnel records and must provide whistleblower rights information to workers.

OSHA has ordered Grand Trunk Western Railway Co., a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway, to pay four workers a total of $85,580.

A building and bridge carpenter will receive $29,671 in lost wages, less employment taxes, $2,119 in lost vacation pay and $10,000 in punitive and compensatory damages. OSHA’s investigation upheld his allegations that he was suspended for 20 days after reporting a workplace injury that occurred in South Bend, Ind., in December 2011.

A conductor will receive $29,671 in lost wages, less employment taxes, $2,119 in lost vacation pay and $10,000 in punitive and compensatory damages. He received a 60-day suspension from work after reporting a workplace injury that occurred in Lansing, Mich., in November 2011.

Another conductor working in Pontiac, Mich., can expect $1,500 in punitive and compensatory damages and no loss of wages after the employee was issued a 45-day suspension, which has not been served, for taking unauthorized leave in June and July 2012 for ongoing medical treatment. OSHA’s finding upheld that the medical treatment should have been an excused absence. Additionally, a conductor working in Battle Creek, Mich., will receive $500 in punitive damages and one day’s lost wages after he was issued a one-day suspension for reporting a workplace injury in February 2013.

Union Pacific Railroad Co. has been ordered to pay a brakeman $1,289.68 in lost wages, less employment taxes, and $10,000 in punitive and compensatory damages, along with interest and attorney’s fees. OSHA’s investigation upheld the brakeman’s allegation that the railway issued him a one-day suspension and required him to attend remedial simulator training after he was injured by battery acid fumes when investigating a possible fire in the engine room of a train in the Dupo Illinois Yard.

Either party in these cases can file an appeal with the department’s Office of Administrative Law Judges.

OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of the FRSA and 21 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health care reform, nuclear, pipeline, worker safety, public transportation agency, maritime and securities laws.

Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who raise various protected concerns or provide protected information to the employer or to the government. Employees who believe that they have been retaliated against for engaging in protected conduct may file a complaint with the secretary of labor to request an investigation by OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program. Detailed information on employee whistleblower rights, including fact sheets, is available at http://www.whistleblowers.gov.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

 

union_pacific_logoLike a train engineer blessed with good weather and clear tracks, Union Pacific has arrived ahead of schedule.

The railroad company’s $400 million intermodal facility in Santa Teresa broke ground in 2011, expecting to be operational in 2015. Instead the Omaha, Neb.-based company announced that it will have a grand opening ceremony on May 28, a year ahead of schedule.

Read the complete story at the Las Cruces Sun-News.

union_pacific_logoJames R. Young, who advanced to become Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) chairman, president and chief executive officer after starting with the railroad company in an entry-level finance position, died today. He was 61 years old.
He died after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer, the company said in a statement distributed by PR Newswire.
Read the complete story at Bloomberg News.

union_pacific_logoUnion Pacific Corp. named Lance M. Fritz as president and chief operating officer of its Omaha-based railroad Thursday and said Jim Young has retired from his executive duties.

Young took a leave of absence in March 2012 to undergo treatments for pancreatic cancer. Union Pacific said he retired Jan. 31 but will continue as non-executive chairman of the parent corporation. He had been president, chairman and chief executive officer of Union Pacific since 2007.

Read the complete story at the Omaha World Herald.

union_pacific_logoOMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific Jan. 8 announced that Joseph O’Connor and D. Lynn Kelley will assume new positions within the organization.

O’Connor, currently vice president of purchasing, has been named vice president of labor relations. He will lead the organization responsible for negotiating labor agreements and managing the day-to-day relationship with the company’s represented employees.

O’Connor joined Union Pacific in 1987 as a capital planning analyst in the company’s finance organization. During his career, he held several positions in finance and network design and integration before being named vice president of purchasing in 2003.

He will succeed William (Rick) Turner, vice president of labor relations, who is retiring in March.

Kelley, currently vice president of continuous improvement, will take on the added responsibility of the company’s supply organization. As vice president of supply and continuous improvement, she will be responsible for purchasing, strategic sourcing, and the company’s industrial engineering activities.

Kelley joined Union Pacific in 2011 from Textron, where she was vice president of operational excellence. Prior to joining Textron, Kelley was a professor at the Madonna University School of Business and served as chief operating officer of Doctor’s Hospital in Detroit, Mich.

“Lynn and Joe have proven themselves as effective leaders at Union Pacific and I am pleased that they have agreed to take on these important roles for our company,” said Jack Koraleski, Union Pacific president and chief executive officer. “Both of these functions are a key part of our ongoing commitment to creating value for our customers and great financial returns for our shareholders. We all wish Rick Turner the best of luck in retirement. In his 32 years of service to the railroad, Rick has served our company well in a series of key assignments including vice president of Premium Operations and vice president of the National Customer Service Center.”

Kelley and O’Connor will assume the new responsibilities effective Feb. 1.

RENO, Nev. – Lawyers for a trucking company are accusing two railroad companies of tampering with evidence about a June 2011 collision between a tractor-trailer and an Amtrak train that killed six people in northern Nevada.

Lawyers for John Davis Trucking Co. say they have evidence the companies tampered with a video of the crash and are hiding or have destroyed the crossing gate arm.

Raed the complete story at The Tribune.

union_pacific_logoSANTA TERESA, N.M. — A $400 million Union Pacific railroad facility near a young New Mexico border town could open next year, according to the company.

Union Pacific spokesman Aaron Hunt said Tuesday that construction near Santa Teresa is ahead of schedule and the facility could be operational in 2014. It had been slated to open in 2015.

Read the complete story at the Kansas City Star.

union_pacific_logoWASHINGTON – An oncoming freight train sounded its warning, and track guard gates started to descend. But the crowd was cheering, a marching band was playing, the lights of a police escort were flashing and a truck driver towing a parade float of wounded veterans and their wives in Midland advanced heedlessly into the crossing.

The train rammed the float at 62 mph, killing four veterans and injuring 11 other veterans and their wives.

Read the complete story at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

union_pacific_logoThe Union Pacific Railroad is investigating after two employees were injured while jumping from a moving locomotive.

According to Mark Davis, UPRR director of corporate relations and media, the incident occurred at 2 p.m. Saturday near Kennard. The village is just west of Blair in Washington County.

 Read the complete story at the North Platte Telegraph.