AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE! - Instructor Union Pacific Employee Review

1.0
Feb 12, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If there are any, I have failed to identify them.

Cons

After they hire you for a promised 40 hour work week they then tell you you're 24/7 and mean it. The leadership in this organization is non-existent at all lower and middle levels. The benefits are paid by union dues and "tier 2" retirement contributions that you lose should you ever quit. .... i.e. this is not a 401k. The base salary is decent but once they get done taking out union dues and retirement (both required) you lose about 8k a year. This company is run by morons who are stuck in the past and think that because they have been around for 150 years they don't need to change with the times. Someone ought to clue them into Kodak and others. While the career opportunities are abundant, they are only abundant if you want to move or aren't interested in what you enjoy.

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5.0
Apr 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great flexibility and opportunity to move around within the company

Cons

You travel a good amount for the role depending on your work location.

3.0
Jul 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good benefits Work about every other day Pay has potential to be good

Cons

New hires do 100% of the work for 80% of the pay and won’t get fully compensated for the first 4 years. They are also expected to know every transportation job on site rather than focusing on one area like guys who have been here longer so 20% less pay but required to know more, do more, have to wear orange hats for a full year allowing management to easily identify them on camera or in person so they can watch them more closely hoping to catch them breaking a rule. So less pay but a more stressful work place requiring you to know more and get singled out hoping to catch them in a mistake. There is absolutely zero work life balance. Coming from a place where I had 20 plus years and able to hold a decent amount of PTO to getting a single day of paid vacation the first year and trying to balance a family life while also trying to provide for them is impossible. You sacrifice seeing your children grow up, play sports, go on vacations with them so you can provide for them. By the time you have enough years in to take a vacation with them they are grown and you missed the most important years of their lives. I know this as a child of a railroader and now as a parent who’s children barely get to see him.

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