Union Pacific to renew push for 1-person crews by testing conductors in trucks

[Omaha Steve]

https://omaha.com/news/local/business/union-pacific-to-renew-push-for-1-person-crews-by-testing-conductors-in-trucks/article_a7bc72da-2589-11ee-8568-3fd78a5b8f9a.html

Union Pacific will renew its push for one-person train crews later this summer when the railroad tests out the idea of having a conductor in a truck respond to problems on trains in Nebraska and Colorado

By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer Jul 18, 2023 Updated 1 hr ago

Union Pacific will renew its push for one-person train crews this summer when the railroad tests out the idea of having a conductor in a truck respond to problems on trains in Nebraska and Colorado.

The railroad will continue using two crew members on its trains during the test, but officials say this could bolster their case in future negotiations for cutting crew size if it is successful.


The crew on a Union Pacific freight train works at a siding area south of Tucson, Ariz.
DAVID BOE, ASSOCIATED PRESS

UP's Jason Pinder confirmed the pilot program Monday when he testified against a proposed Kansas rule that would require two-person crews. The Omaha-based railroad has long been a leading proponent in the industry's push to go down to one-person crews.

This plan had to be shelved earlier this year after the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers union that represents conductors opposed it. But that union later agreed to let Union Pacific test out ground-based conductors as long as it maintained current crew sizes and agreed to drop ongoing negotiations over reducing crew size. Even though UP abandoned its current proposal to eliminate conductors on trains, the railroad can reintroduce the idea in the next contract negotiations that begin in 2025.

FULL story at link above.

[Midnight Writer]

1. Fer Christ's sake, how much money will they lose by having more than one man on a "crew"?

Is it really that big of a profit drain to have more than one crew member on a train of over 100 cars?

[brush]

2. One person manning these huge, many cars-long, mega ton vehicles....

Last edited Tue Jul 18, 2023, 02:50 PM - Edit history (1)

seems ridiculous to even consider. And railroads don't want to grant workers sick leave either.

That's some cruel industry there.

[3auld6phart]

3. Now what ?

Last edited Tue Jul 18, 2023, 04:16 PM - Edit history (1)

That doesn’t make sense. The Conductors chasing the trains in a pick up. I can see it now driving the Donner Pass in winter to throw switches, and other weird things. but the bottom line is more coin
for the share holders, I guess..Two sets of eyes are better than one. I see more train accidents in
the future. Pison the backbone of your industry, your labour force.

[Blue Owl]

4. While they're at it, they should make Bad Idea Jeans the official pants of the U.P.