Go To

Union Pacific

Railroad company serving 23 western states.

Headquarters:
1400 Douglas Street
Omaha, NE 68179
Employees: 43,531
CEO: James Young
Stock Symbol: UNP

Union Pacific Corporation is one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, is the largest railroad in North America, covering two-thirds of the United States.

The railroad serves 23 states, linking every major West Coast and Gulf Coast port and provides service to the east through its four major gateways in Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis and New Orleans. Additionally, Union Pacific operates key north/south corridors and is the only railroad to serve all six gateways to Mexico. UP also interchanges traffic with the Canadian rail systems.

Union Pacific has 8,400 locomotives and 104,700 freight cars traveling on a system of 32,094 route miles.

Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad emphasizes excellent customer service and offers competitive routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways.

Union Pacific's largest single customer is APL Limited, a steamship company that operates in the Pacific. Second is General Motors, followed by an assortment of chemical companies and utilities.

The railroad is the nation's largest hauler of chemicals, much of which originates along the Gulf Coast near Houston, Texas. Union Pacific is also one of the largest intermodal carriers that is the transport of truck trailers and containers.

Although the company focuses on freight, it also operates commuter train service in Chicago.

In 2009, Union Pacific had revenues of $14.1 billion, down from $17.9 billion, and net income of $1.89 billion. The company's annual payroll is $3.8 billion.

85% of the company's employees are represented by 14 rail unions.

History

In the 1800s, a railroad was considered the key to westward expansion and the future of the country. A transcontinental route would greatly reduce the time it took to cross the continent, develop the nation's vast interior, encourage settlement, promote trade and fuel industry. Congress determined that a railroad linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans was also essential to national defense. The route east from California, though an awesome engineering prospect, had already been surveyed by Theodore Judah, of the Central Pacific. But by what route west? It was, for the moment, up to Congress to decide.

Southerners in Congress wanted a southern route, while northerners wanted a northern one. With the onset of the Civil War, the South seceeded, leaving the North to do as it pleased. Thus, a northern route (but still the most southernly one possible within the free states), following the Platte River Valley was chosen.

The Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 made construction of the transcontinental railroad possible. It designated tasks for two companies: the Central Pacific Railroad of California (CP) was to build eastward from Sacramento, and a new company called the Union Pacific (UP) was to build westward up the Platte River Valley from Omaha, NE.

Benefits

- Health Care
- Dental Care
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life and Accident Insurance
- Long Term Disability

Union Pacific Pension Plan
This pension is available only to our non-union employees. Funds are deposited into a trust where they are held solely for the benefit of the employee and his or her beneficiaries. The Pension is fully paid by the company, and your benefits start to accrue on the day you are hired. You will be vested after five years. The amount of your annual benefit will be based on your years of service, your final average earnings and your age at retirement. You can use an online tool to keep track of and make plans based on your Pension.
Railroad Retirement
The Railroad Retirement Board administers retirement/survivor and unemployment/sickness insurance benefits for railroad workers and their families. This is a governmental system that requires payroll tax deductions, with contributions from both the company and the employee. You will be vested after five years. It works much like Social Security. Non-union participants receive Railroad Retirement benefits in addition to the Union Pacific Pension Plan.
401(k) Thrift Plan
The 401(k) is a flexible and convenient way to save for your retirement. It offers a variety of investment options, with up to 16 funds to choose from. For non-union employees, the company will match your 401(k) contributions – 50 cents for every dollar invested, up to 6 percent of your salary. Union employees must wait a year before using this plan, and are not eligible for company matching.
Educational Assistance
The Educational Assistance Program is offered by the company to encourage growth and development of employee skills, abilities and knowledge. It assists employees in obtaining academic training on a vocational and college level. Employees are reimbursed for 85% of tuition up to a maximum of $3,500 per year. There is no reimbursement for required books or fees. Courses reimbursable for college credit must be completed at an accredited school.
Lifecare.com
Will assist you in identifying providers of service for childcare and elderly care needs, educational and family services.
Optum Nurseline
Health information service you can call 24 hours a day to receive information, education, and support for any health-related concern at no cost to the employee.
Adoption Assistance
Designed to help pay for certain expenses incurred, up to maximum of $3,000 per adoption, when an employee adopts a child.
Matching Gifts
Union Pacific will match the contributions of its employees to certain educational, cultural, and medical institutions. Contributions to educational institutions are matched on a 2-for-1 basis, and to cultural and medical institutions on a 1-for-1 basis.
Employee Assistance
A confidential program designed to assist employees and their family members with personal situations and problems.
Short-Term Disability Plan
Designed to provide you with a source of income if you become temporarily sick or disabled. Your length of service determines the duration and the amount of your STD benefits.
Vacation
After the first full year of employment, employees are eligible for 2 to 5 weeks of vacation, based on years of service.
Holidays
Up to 11 days per year.
Transportation Spending Account
The Transportation Spending Account (TSA) Program is an easy-to-use fringe benefit that helps to reduce the burden of parking and commuter expenses. TSAs provide before-tax benefits for parking and commuter expenses incurred as a result of commuting between work and an employee's residence. Parking and commuter expenses not associated with work may not be reimbursed through the TSA Program.
Long Term Care
The LTC program provides benefits for preventative, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, or personal care services provided in a setting other than an acute care hospital. Benefits include skilled, intermediate, and custodial care (nursing home, home health care, adult day care centers, adult foster care, or assisted living), homemaker services, and respite care. Those eligible to participate in this coverage include active employees, their spouses, parents and parents-in-law, and grandparents and grandparents-in-law, as well as retirees and their spouses.

Updated February 5, 2010