By Justin Franz
OMAHA — Following an outcry from railroaders and the public, it appears some of the nation’s Class I railroads are revising their employee attendance policies. Although it has yet to be seen if the changes will appease railroaders whose morale is at an all-time low, according to some observers.
Attendance policies were a key sticking point in national contract negotiations earlier this year. Railroads said they were needed to ensure they had enough people to move freight. But labor officials called them “draconian” and the result of massive cuts to the workforce (The U.S. Surface Transportation Board said earlier this year that Class Is had let more than 45,000 people (29 percent) of its workforce go in the last six years).
Among the most criticized attendance policies came from BNSF Railway, which assigned employees points every time they were not available for work. If a railroader got 30 points, they would be terminated. The railroad later reversed course and made some revisions. But that program was not unique to BNSF and now other railroads are also making changes, including Union Pacific and CSX Transportation.
CSX’s new attendance policy will go into effect on January 1. Among the changes are that points accrued during a calendar year will disappear at the start of a new year and that employees who are available for work three months in a row will get five “good attendance credits.” Points will also not be issued for documented hospitalizations, emergency treatment or scheduled medical appointments.
“The new policy will also be non-disciplinary and non-punitive, and CSX will no longer subject employees to formal investigations, hearings or disciplinary suspensions,” a CSX spokesperson told Railfan & Railroad. “Instead, employees who exceed certain point thresholds will receive timely notifications and encouragement to correct their attendance records.”
Union Pacific also made changes to its policy, specifically offering credits to employees working on holidays.
“Union Pacific recognizes the importance of addressing quality-of-life concerns and is actively engaged in discussions with union representatives and craft professionals through surveys and focus groups on ways to enhance our attendance policy,” a spokesperson told Railfan & Railroad.
