Mechanical department has a new discipline policy coming out. It is going to be a way that they can reduce the workforce numbers. It will be 5 critical rules with no leniency.
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I don’t know about all locations, but at my location there was never a stay at home suspension. It was level 1&2 MAPS and then termation. So why come out with this now? We all know why, to help eliminate jobs. This is why I cringe every time I hear Vena say the words “Right size”. He uses that term because it makes it sound like cutting jobs or spending less in repairs is a good thing or that is was necessary. Who is he, in the over 150 years of railroading history, to be the one to determine the “right size” of anything. UP wasn’t and still isn’t going broke, was always making good profits, so I don’t see where we were the “wrong” size to start with. But unfortunately, as the CEO at the moment he is the puppeteer, pulling the strings and making everyone have to deal with it, from Beth and the other executives all the way down to the new hires that started last week and every single person in between, both agreement and non agreement. VENA NEEDS TO GO!
I highly doubt they are changing the entire disciplinary policy because of my shop being complacent on a few of these rules, especially given the fact that upper management don’t even know. It’s not like when we get visitors it’s “business as usual” I’m sure it happens the same way in every shop
If the your shop is always not doing those, then your shop is one of the reasons for this change.
Thank you for the info, there’s gonna be a lot of sh-t cans at my shop if they actual enforce those rules! Not being ignorant just stating facts
5 critical rules
- Blue flag
- ja--ing equipment
- Fall protection
- Lock out tag out
5 close clearance with moving equipment.
WTF are the 5 critical rules? Does anyone actually know yet?
This new policy is an example of why we need to be able to strike when necessary. The unions should be all for it too. An overly strict discipline policy such as this that was not negotiated in a contract and voted on should not be allowed and should be enough to justify a strike.
I can't wait to see how that works out for them. So what's the plan? Go on a spree to find anyone breaking a critical rule to do what exactly? THE LACK OF MANPOWER IS WHAT CAUSED ALL OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE FIRST PLACE! Their push to very strictly enforce five critical rules leads me to believe they have a quota to fill. Once they get enough people out the door, will they still enforce those rules? Like the other person said, it going to blow up in their face!
The 5 critical rules have a two strikes and your out. First violation you get 30 days off, second within a year you get the foot in the a$$. The UP needs to let go as many people to be able to do mass furloughs. This way, they don’t have to pay as much for severance packages. I think that it’s best to find another job if you get 30 days off. Because the next one is the boot or a one way ticket to furlough land. Dont waste your time if you have no seniority. Find something better with weekends off working day shift. Why waste your life working weekends and holidays on swing shift or night shift, if you are not going see your retirement.
I called the Union, they are coming out with a new one. It's in the works.
I looked through the mech dept reportable injury listing from 2023 trying to find injuries that were caused by failing to follow these critical 5. I didn't have much luck.
Just wait. It'll blow up in their faces. They can't announce layoffs publicly or they'll spook the investors. So they have to come up with some other brain dead plan to get rid of enough people that Vena wants gone. The derailments are already starting to tick upwards again and power issues are getting more and more severe. I'm sure the head goons have a plan in place to remedy that. This is exactly how it went the first time. Vena came in, cut jobs, blew up morale, and managed to get the UP "The worst employer in North America" title for a few years straight and initiated federal hearings on service and manpower. This time has been faster though. Vena came back, has been cutting jobs, morale never came back, and the UP still blows. I wonder how long it'll be before the hearings return? Guess we'll wait and see.
@1sgz-It changes yearly. UP makes up rules they deem critical all in the name of “safety”, then later lower their level of importance when they realize it slows down productivity.
@sfa-If this new discipline policy is true, quiet quitting is probably one of the best ways to protect your job. A person is less likely to get in trouble if they do the bare minimum. I’m sure this sentence will trigger some managers and boot lickers, but it is true. UP loves policies like this because they can target anyone they want, regardless of seniority. It lets them pick and choose who they want to eliminate.
What are the critical rules? Cell phone, blue flag what else? Please don’t tell me safety glasses or I’m fu---d 😂
Again, I will repeat myself. I suggest everyone do "Quiet Quitting". And sh-t on stUPid railroad.
Is this the “cat in the bag” that Vena talked about in his last town hall meeting?
MAPS was lenient. The new critical rule policy. First violation = 12 or 24 month probation. Second violation within that probation period. Terminated.
Soooooo no more MAPS??? When it was MAPS you couldn't have more than TWO critical rule violations in 3 years. Sounds like more lenient to me.
You have to be a real duuumb phuuuck to have 5 critical rules violations if you play by the rules! You can only blame yourself if you get to that status !you deserve to be terminated
What are the critical 5 rules?
Managers need to be fired since they agree with everything Omaha puts out they are spineless roaches…UP is the way it is cuz of the managers not knowing anything about railroading
Was this the outcome of the Unions in Omaha? I hope the unions did not cave in again with bluffs on layoffs. You cant continue to run skeleton crews on the shops and believe that everything is going to run smoothly with less people. Less people equals less production and a less reliable product that compromises the safety of cities and towns. It’s a no brainer!