All aboard: Railroads hiring thousands (and pay very well)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110807/NEWS01/308079988#all-aboard-railroads-hiring-thousands

By Erin Golden
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Photo: http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20110807&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=308079988&Ref=AR&Profile=722&maxw=490&maxh=275
Russ Hoskins is at the controls at the Harriman Dispatch Center, the Omaha facility where Union Pacific coordinates almost all of its rail activity. U.P. and BNSF both are on hiring sprees, which industry observers say is a good indicator the railroads expect the economy to rebound. They want to be ready with trained workers when other U.S. industries show they're ready to pick up speed.

If there's a good indicator of how things are going for the rail industry, it might be all the new faces showing up at Union Pacific.

They belong to dispatchers and engineers, train conductors and signal workers, administrative assistants and diesel mechanics.

Just two years ago, the Omaha-based railroad was laying off thousands of workers, taking engines off the tracks and holding off on big projects. Now U.P.'s hiring has picked up to its highest rate since before the recession. The vast majority of the 5,300 workers who were furloughed have been given the chance to return to work. By year's end, the company hopes to have boosted its workforce by an additional 1,500 people.

"It's across the board ... everything from track labor to IT professionals to people with an MBA," said Jim Young, chairman and CEO. "It covers the whole spectrum."

BNSF Railway Co., owned by Omaha's Berkshire Hathaway, and with a strong presence in Alliance and Lincoln, also is hiring. That railroad hired 1,500 people last year and, seven months into 2011, already has added another 3,500.

Railroad executives and industry watchers said the rail carriers' interest in beefing up their workforces is related to expectations about an economic turnaround. It's about being ready to haul more grain, coal, cars, lumber and store merchandise as soon as other industries pick up speed.

FULL story and more photos at link.

Railroad jobs pay well

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists median hourly wages nationally for conductors and yardmasters at $25.40; brake, signal and switch operators, $22.94; locomotive engineers and operators, $22.54; and all others, $21.12.
Among the hires Union Pacific is planning:

>> About 500 people for nonunion positions in fields such as human resources, information technology, operations management and dispatch. Many of those jobs require a college degree.

>> Other positions are suited to people with trade experience. Some do not require a degree or specific experience, and U.P. provides on-the-job training.

>> Some 1,800 new train crew employees, ranging from brake and switch operators to conductors and engineers.

>> Another 1,300 in the engineering division, including about 375 signal workers and about 300 track laborers.

>> Between 600 and 650 to work as diesel mechanics, electricians and freight car repairers.

[MADem]

They have a nice pension plan too. NT

[MADem]

1. Pardon me--inadvertent duplication. nt

[murphyj87]

2. I worked for....

I worked for a Canadian railway company for 35 years and your wage levels seem an awful lot lower than ours were. In Canada, locomotive engineers made nearer $60.00 an hour, and conductors made nearer $50.00 an hour, or at least they did over 5 years ago when I retired. I would have been under "all others" and what you say the wage level is in the US is what I made about 10 years ago. Our pension plan gave us a pension of 70% of the average of our best 5 years salary after 35 years and indexed to the cost of living.... 2% per year for those retiring before 35 years (and a rail pass for life to travel anywhere in Canada), plus Canada Pension (like your Social Security) at age 60, and Old Age Security Pension over and above Canada Pension at age 65, .

[pinto]

3. Kick

:kick:

[Pooka Fey]

4. K&R

[jschurchin]

5. I work for the railroad

And I have been telling everyone I know to apply. It is a good job with very good benefits, however it's not for everyone long hours and days away from home. It can be difficult on familys with small children. That said, it is a very good job.