JANUARY 25, 2024 — 7% OF NON-UNION WORKFORCE
CEO Alan Shaw NOTED, “The overall macroeconomic environment and prolonged weak freight market has limited the amount of business we can attract, and our cost structure is too high for our top line.”
The layoffs will impact 330 employees.
JULY 22, 2021 — ENGINE HOUSE IN CRESSON, PENNSYLVANIA CLOSED
The company has announced that it will close its Cresson, Pennsylvania engine house at the end of July. The closure will affect 7 employees.
A Norfolk According to a spokesperson noted that the closure “is part of our long-term business plans to evolve our operations to best serve the needs of our customers.”
JULY 10, 2021— 86 LAYOFFS IN ALTOONA LOCOMOTIVE SHOP
The company has announced the layoff of 86 employees working in the mechanical department at its Juniata Locomotive Shop. The layoffs are part of the company’s long-term business plan.
JANUARY 12, 2021 — 17 LAYOFFS IN ALTOONA LOCOMOTIVE SHOP
The company has announced the layoff of 17 mechanical workers at its Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, Pennsylvania, including ten carmen, six boilermakers, and one laborer.
A company spokesperson noted that the layoffs were “needed to align our operations with the current economy.”
NOVEMBER 5, 2019 — ANOTHER 95 EMPLOYEES IN ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA
A company spokesperson noted “Today, Norfolk Southern's Mechanical Department announced furloughs for 95 employees at its Juniata Locomotive Shop. These furloughs are part of the railroad's organizational realignment announced earlier this year.
Consistent with our strategic plan and current business levels, our ability to streamline operations and use fewer locomotives has required the difficult but necessary decision to reduce our locomotive mechanical forces due to the decreased demand for locomotive maintenance and repair. Norfolk Southern will continue to evaluate staffing needs as our business evolves.”
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 — Previous post…
Norfolk, Virginia-based Norfolk Southern Railway, a Tier-1 freight railroad, has announced the layoffs of 230 workers in their two locomotive repair facilities in Roanoke, Virginia, including 80 employees from their East End Shop and 50 from their Shaffer’s Crossing Shop and another 100 employees in the company’s Juniata Locomotive facility in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
According to a Norfolk Southern spokesperson, “In today’s rapidly changing environment, Norfolk Southern continues to focus on ensuring that we have the optimal number of people and assets at every location across our system in order to operate safely and efficiently. As we execute our new strategic plan, we expect that targeted hiring and furloughing will remain components of our operating model. Today, that entailed the furlough of approximately 130 employees in Roanoke, Virginia. Consistent with our strategic plan and current business levels, our ability to streamline operations and use fewer locomotives has required the difficult but necessary decision to reduce our locomotive mechanical forces due to the decreased demand for locomotive repair. Norfolk Southern will continue to evaluate staffing needs as our business evolves.” A similar statement was issued confirming the layoffs in Altoona. This is the second layoff at Juniata Locomotive facility after 50 employees were laid off in May 2019.
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?
