Around The Railroad

G.I. Jobs Magazine

UP Named a Top Employer for Military Men and Women

November 20, 2008 | 08:10 a.m. CST

For the fifth time in six years, G.I. Jobs magazine has named Union Pacific one of the nation's top Military-Friendly Employers for 2008.

"Many of the railroad's technical jobs, such as diesel locomotive mechanics and electricians, and freight car repairers, are well-suited for military members who have developed similar skills working with Armed Forces large equipment such as airplanes, ships, tanks and trucks," said Barb Schaefer, senior vice president-Human Resources. "We continue to reach out to retiring and transitioning military personnel so they know we are looking for men and women with armed services experience to join our workforce, where they receive great wages, benefits and opportunity for advancement."

G.I. Jobs is a national monthly magazine that assists transitioning military members and veterans in their search for civilian employment. UP placed third on it's annual list of 50 companies, which is drawn from a pool of nearly 2,500. Criteria for the rankings include assets dedicated to military hiring, Reserve/Guard policies, percentage of new hires that are veterans, veteran training programs and previous three years' rankings.

"Hiring military veterans is good business," said Rich McCormack, who heads G.I. Jobs' list research. "The companies on our list understand that."

Lifestyles and working conditions are very similar between the military and the railroad. Many positions involve outdoor work with non-traditional working hours. Military personnel also tend to be flexible when it comes to relocation, which can be helpful in gaining familiarity with UP's 32,000-mile network, and in potentially advancing careers at the railroad.

"We have hired approximately 27,000 new employees nationwide over the past five years," Schaefer said. "We expect workforce attrition of more than 40 percent, or more than 22,000 employees, over the next five years. There has never been a better time for employment and advancement opportunities at Union Pacific."

In addition to being recognized by G.I. Jobs, Union Pacific this year earned the Freedom Award for Military Support from the Department of Defense. The honor recognized Union Pacific for its outstanding dedication to employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.

Union Pacific recently was named by BusinessWeek as one of the top 50 places to launch a career and also has been recognized by Working Mother and Latina Style for the opportunities the company provides its workforce.