As many of you have heard, BNSF did not meet its financial expectations in 2023. It is truly hard to imagine how 5 billion dollars in operating profit can result in talks of reducing staffing levels, but that is exactly the scenario at BNSF.  Hundreds of mechanical department employees were furloughed recently, and other departments are hearing downsizing is a possibility for them as well.  In the signal department, what we have been informed of so far is that the hiring plan for 2024 will be reduced dramatically.

The original plan was to hire at or slightly above the anticipated attrition rate for 2024, which set the mark at 120 new assistant signalmen.  However, due to the “meager” 5-billion-dollar profit, that hiring plan has already been adjusted down to 70 for the year.  We were hoping to increase our headcount on BNSF in 2024, so this is disappointing news.  However, if a reduction in numbers is imminent, then getting there through attrition instead of furlough is always a better option.