UNION PACIFIC TO CUT 2,000 JOBS
Union Pacific Corp., based in Omaha, Neb., has announced that it will cut 2,000 management and union jobs and take a $70 million charge due to lower-than-expected fourth quarter earnings.
The railroad said it would earn 87 to 90 cents a share in the last quarter, less than an average estimate of 93 cents expected by Wall Street analysts.
Union Pacific employs 50,000 workers. The job cuts will occur during the first half of 2001. About half of the work force reduction will come from not replacing employees when they retire or leave the railroad.
The company said that severe winter storms, coupled with fuel prices that continue to run 70 percent above normal, are contributing to the reduction in earnings.