What I learned while working for the UP is really a hard one to describe in complete detail! The biggest thing I learned is that trusting someone is a no-no! The management team has gotten increasingly hostile towards the people on the ground! When you look at the job requirements of a manager, it states nothing about back-stabbing! It states nothing about lying! It states nothing about being a jerk! Did I leave something out? Another thing I learned is the very few people that actually retire from the rail industry! I knew there were a lot of rules! I didn't know about the rules that could be misconstrued to achieve a violations quota! Any successful business requires employees willing to work hard, remain dedicated, and strive to perfection! The UP just doesn't have any of that! I also learned that the unions are there for the employees! Hello Unions, where are you??? The UP employees are nothing more than numbers! I learned that every number is different, and has a story! Every number also has a face and a name! I learned the UP doesn't care about the families or lives it destroys! It just cares about it's shareholders! The UP employees are the ones that made this company! That number is the one that earns their paycheck by doing a dangerous job! These dangers can often result in fatal consequences! These people are the ones being tossed away like garbage, because of redundancy? I learned a lot by working for the UP! Unfortunately, what I learned was I'm better than this! I wanted a job where I could work, retire from, and enjoy life to the end! The UP has made that virtually impossible due to their operating practices! Retirement for many will never happen due to these practices! The UP has claimed many times over the years about how much it costs to train someone, but tries instantly and indefinitely to have them terminated! Again I'm better than this!
If anyone in the corporate office reads this, then I want you to think long and hard about what you're doing! Those "numbers" have a name, a face, a family, a life, and feelings! You're not achieving your numbers because of you! You are the problem, not the employees on the ground! A quote that Mr. Warren Buffet said is that "If it ain't broke, dont fix it"! The BNSF took away the number 1 spot because of your business practices! The BNSF runs very well! They treat their employees very well! They're valued and respected there! They're not just a number there! They all serve a purpose, and are NEVER regarded as or labeled a "redundancy"! I truly hope the UP fails in their quest for the 55 percent! When it does fail you'll have no one on the ground to blame! All of you corporate executives need to pull your head out of the clouds, and actually look down to see what moves this company! It's those "numbers"! Why did the shareholders take over first place? A paycheck is important to everyone, but why are they first? Without those employees moving the freight, there's no revenue! No revenue means no pay! No pay means you're broke! You're making a terrible mistake by implementing the PSR/Unified Plan 2020! Not everyone is fit to be a railroader! I guess anyone can be a manager though! I came to believe that the ONLY qualification for UP management is to breathe! There's no rational thinking required for a management position! I really hope someone from corporate reads this, but it's very doubtful! I wish everyone that was affected by this the very best! I also want you to know that you are much more than just a number to the rest of us! If there anyone that's still employed by this company, please keep your chin up! This round of cuts was not your fault! I'll pray for all of you! God Bless my brothers and Sisters! Stay strong!