They are laying off workers to keep the share holders happy. If i was the workers i would go on strike but most of them listen to corrupt Union officials and don't understand they can go on strike and not wait for Union guys to tell you because there not going to talk about strike when the are getting paid under the table.
Most of the workers are not capable of thinking for them selves and need some one to do that for the such as a Union official.
That's why Union pacific like to hire military guys and guys straight out of high school because they tend to follow order better than a person with a further education. The company like to jump on people with further education and make them managers.