I haven’t been at UP for a very long time, but I saw everything that was happening in the past months. I do an office job and the folks at my office are generally stressed out all of the time, as they are afraid for their jobs. There is even a saying that folks at my location keep on repeating. They say if you don’t see an actual locomotive during your business day or don’t do any actual railroading within your job, you re in constant danger of being cut, as the company always considers you “non-essential” for the business. Can we really consider that to be true, and will the day come when we won’t be so stressed out and worried about our jobs?
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I don't think it matters....they just pillaged the mechanical department this week and that's all we do is deal with locomotives
Why are you worried about how people react to the layoffs? Get on with your own business. Some people are trying to plan their futures and getting derailed by corporate greed is not pleasant. Worry is justified. I know a lot of guys in their mid to late fifties who may or may not have a long history in the railroad and they have bills to pay. Employers aren’t that enthusiastic to hire people in that situation. You probably are safe in your little job. Try losing it unexpectedly with no skill but railroading. Better come up with a plan. Unemployment won’t carry you far.
I would say that is untrue. There are many, many positions within UP that do not physically see trains but their job function is essential. And at this very moment there are A LOT of people who work with trains everyday that are being cut. So it sounds like a lot of the people you work with are scared about losing their jobs and the only way they know how to deal with that is to be negative and anxious. It is not good to go to work every day waiting for the other shoe to drop, its not healthy and its not productive. UP has gone through this several times. A lot of companies have done the same thing. All you can do is go to work every day and live your best life.