The next round of cuts (1,200 total) is supposed to include managers. Does anyone have any information on where the cuts will happen and to which departments? Supposedly engineering and transportation will be hit the hardest.
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I think the consensus of everyone is that no one really gives a sh– about the cuts anymore. The cuts have been deep and ongoing. If and when the trade war ends, that's when the sh– will get interesting for corporate. The lack of equipment, lack of personnel, safety issues, limited space, and increasing demand will cause even more service problems for the UP. People are sick and tired of the games. Vena has an image a being a hardcore fist slamming a55hole. Guess what, no one f—ing cares anymore. I don't understand why people are f—ing afraid of him. The one thing the UP probably didn't think about is the fact that people are leaving voluntarily. Add that to the furloughs, and what you have is an uncontrolled reduction. The headcount reductions were part of the plan all along, but the voluntary resignations were not. Folks, I'm not trying to spread comfort to anyone, but you have to wait this out. More reductions will be coming in the 4th quarter. There's too many damn variables that are in play right now. Once the trade b—s— ends, the UP will be backed into a corner. Just wait and see
Which managers will be cut and from which locations and departments is something that likely won't be known until the cuts actually start happening. Based on where/how UP has already made their cuts we can all guess at where they'll be cutting the most managers and who they will be.
The mechanical and transportation departments probably stand to lose the most managers, followed by engineering. Since everything else at UP is seniority based, is can be expected that managers will be cut based on years of service, and from the lowest levels first. Basically, if you have the word "manager" in your job title and you have less than five years of service, your job is probably in danger. Your job is probably also in danger if you're close to retirement. If you're somewhere between you're probably safe (for now).
Company has been doing cuts in a onesie twosie format to help keep down noise from everyone all year. Yesterday, for sure, some in headquarters was walked out quietly. A couple weeks ago as well. Departments I’m aware of from the last couple weeks have been law/safety, workforce resources, and marketing. At headquarters they have been walking them out via the freight elevator so it isn’t so noticeable. At this point all we can do is just do our job and be our best at it. Can’t spend all day worrying about tomorrow...
I get why agreement employees don't like upper management, but the level and extent of the vitriol that they direct towards lower/junior management is misdirected. Junior managers (especially OMTs) know as much or less than most agreement employees about the layoffs and operations in general.
Once the junior managers have fulfilled their role as the company's shock troops, they will be discarded like yesterday's garbage. The fact that almost every one of them is scouring LinkedIn for jobs and connections to corporate recruiters demonstrates that they are aware of this.
It would be nice if there was just one post or comment on here that had some actual information.
It's just a job, who cares what they do, its completely out of our hands.....I'll take their money until they throw me on street....then i'll find another company to take money from....WET, LATHER, RINSE REPEAT.....
Cuts could come from anywhere. A “safety first” company that dismantled the Safety Dept to only create new Director positions for those DRO/DTS folks. Law/Risk Management eliminates Public Safety to save Risk Management Reps to react instead of being proactive in communities. Kinda backwards, no wonder there is not much talk on the safety performance.
@jcz When the values line was able to be sent anon and thru an outside agency it was worth it. Once is went in house almost all of the tickets never went anywhere.
These are the cutthroats that caused untold suffering to thousands of families across the country! Now it’s their time! Oh - that will never happen to me , because I’m a UP company man and the people we laid off deserved to go to protect the company.
Soon they’ll be eating each other just like another trapped rodent.
Sit back , relax and enjoy the show.
Also, my advice to any manager that quits; document any instances where UP's Values and good ethical standards were violated. It you were in a toxic work environment - make notes of that too. Type those notes on your company computer and send them to yourself at a personal account. As you walk out the door - call it in to the Values Line. Let the oversight team in Omaha know how you were treated and the shortcuts you were directed to take. It may not help you but it may help the crafts people who are left behind AND when someone wakes up and realizes what has happened to this great company. I too believed in Courage to Care, Total Safety Culture, and the UP Way; saddened to see it all vanish - we were, are better than that. When I wear the UP ball cap the Great Flood or Team Houston I am proud of the men and women that I worked with and was privileged to lead. Take your experiences with you and pledge to apply all the good that we learned at your next job. Just a thought.
Just more FRA whistleblowers that know where all the bodies are buried...
@ria I agree 100%
Pro tip: don't give notice, especially if you're in management. Use whatever vacation you have for interviews and transition. When you do quit bring all of their property (laptop, phone, etc.) and make sure you fill out and get the UP property checklist signed, otherwise they will try to garnish your salary. Also try to quit at the end of the month or pay period. Any vacation you don't use gets refunded back to you.
Good luck.
Does it really matter at this point? I am frankly tired of being scared. The economy is good and I have already begun my job search. I will no longer live this way just for some greedy higher ups to make an extra dime at my expense. It’s no longer worth the extra stress of wondering/ hoping to live another day at a place that doesn’t give two shi&s about my life. How many layoffs does it take to convince someone?