norfolk southern covid policy for employees

Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Use without authority or in excess of authority constitutes a violation of company policy and may constitute a crime. These results include an initial $387 million charge Norfolk Southern estimates Ohio derailment will cost $387M, New treatment for newborns with opioid withdrawal shows promise, study says, Manhunt continues for man accused of gunning down neighbors, Feds: Hospitals that denied emergency abortion broke the law, House Speaker McCarthy to address Israels Knesset. However, the need for social distancing as a result of COVID-19 necessitated the expanded use of remote simulation monitoring and training. Digitization needs to happen very soon, and on a large scale or railroads will find themselves up against hard deadlines that leave them few choices to consider. And in light of COVID, safety has expanded to include a focus on resiliency, as a tighter headcount requires a more proactive approach to keep trains running on schedule. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com. Adjusting for the Eastern Ohio Incident, diluted earnings per share were $3.32, up 13%, or $0.39 compared to the first quarter 2022. Neither will the 91 city employees currently on furlough due to facility closures related to COVID-19. But, as mentioned, when detailing how to lessen the spread of disease with technologysustainability efforts would benefit as well. Yet the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Railroad Administration are investigating the railroads practices to see where they can be improved. Then Norfolk Southern eliminated that role in September. Fully automated freight trains began running in Australia about a year ago, a possible precursor of whats to come. Adjusting for the effects of the incident charge, first quarter results includedadjusted income from railway operations of$1.1 billion and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $3.32 improvements of 1% and 13%, respectively, compared to first quarter 2022. The law also bars strikes and similar conduct by workers in cases involving minor disputes. "We will get through the challenges ahead and emerge as an even stronger company," Squires said. Yet the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Railroad Administration are investigating the railroads practices to see where they can be improved. For helpful informationvisit our FAQ page. 2 killed, 4 wounded in Mississippi shooting; man arrested, 150 years later, Dixon bridge tragedy among nation's worst, Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says he wants to 'shut down the FBI' and replace it with something that sounds a lot like the FBI, Sanders: Biden could win in a landslide, Sacred Mysteries: A vaulted cavern of gold mosaic off Goodge Street. It makes for very bad train handling. Moving forward, Norfolk southern will be known for safe operations, Shaw said. After reviewing the order carefully to be certain, we determined that we are covered under the mandate. These efficiency gains helped the railroad achieve an adjusted operating ratio of 63.7% in the first quarter of 2020, when excluding the charge related to the disposition of locomotives. For the As the call for sustainability grows, impacts will be assessed by every industry. 5. Join OAR in bridging connections with first responders. For further information: Media Inquiries: Media Relations, Click here to open the mobile navigation dropdown. Norfolk Southern and other major freight railroads have announced new safety measures, including installing more than 1,000 more trackside detectors. Will your logo be here as well?. Adjusting for the Eastern Ohio Incident, income from railway operations was $1.1 billion, up $13 million or 1% compared to first quarter 2022. Earick said he used to love his job. From the start of the pandemic, weve put a priority on maintaining safe and healthy workplaces as we pull together to keep our economy moving. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally and believes this information provides useful supplemental information to investors to facilitate making period-to-period comparisons by excluding the effects of the Incident. Hello, you need to have JavaScript enabled to view this website. CEO Alan Shawtold Congressthat he backs some proposals like enhanced standards for tank cars, but insists the data doesnt support other ideas like minimum two-person crews. Squires addressed shareholders during the company's first virtual-only annual meeting, a board decision made in light of public health concerns and social distancing guidance arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. WebCOVID-19 Masking Policy at Norfolk Department of Public Health Visitors can now enter non-clinical spaces in the Norfolk Department of Public Health facilities without using a The railroad will also have to reimburse the Environmental Protection Agency for its oversight of the cleanup. President Trumps trade war has hit agriculture and manufacturing hard, causing lower demand for companies that move freight. BNSF, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific are three of the largest U.S. railroads. The railroads have said that employees will be disciplined if they fail to comply with the vaccine mandate. from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. Rail workers rarely speak to the media out of fear of losing their jobs, but more than a dozen spoke with The Washington Post, mainly because of concerns over how PSR is changing the industry in ways they say causes unnecessary job losses and creates an unsafe environment. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. Thats better than the three previous years but still worse than a decade earlier when it reported 11.4 total accidents per million miles. Rail Group News offers news and analysis from Railway Age, IRJ and RT&S by email. The RLA distinguishes between minor disputes involving interpretation of terms of a CBA, which must be heard in arbitration, and major disputes over changes to agreements. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or our achievements or those of our industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. We fundamentally changed the way we operate over the last 2 years, said Bryan Tucker, vice president of communications at CSX. The railroad does have insurance coverage that will kick in after the first $75 million spent on damage to peoples property and after the first $75 million of damage on its own. Volume was flat overall. Norfolk Southern Railway Co has filed a lawsuit seeking to block its employees' unions from suing over a COVID-19 vaccine mandate and to prevent its (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) Updated with Norfolk Southern Intermodal provides 24/7 automated information services for shipment tracing, billing verification, and storage charges (including the Last Free Day) through our Touch-Trace voice response system at 800-497-2919. Media Inquiries: 650 W. Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30308, Establishing Rail Service on Privately Owned Track, Establishing Rail Service on NS Owned Track, Dual Mission Reward Program: Memphis-Rossville, Announcement for Public Tariff NSRQ 70220 & NSRQ 66326, Effective 9-1-2022, Sharonville Primary Gate Temporary Closure - Update, Board of Directors & Committee Membership, Norfolk Southern Declares Quarterly Dividend, Norfolk Southern reports second quarter 2022 results, Norfolk Southern increases conductor trainee pay to $25 an hour; adds biweekly $300 incentive, Norfolk Southern announces Board of Directors changes, Income from railway operations in the first quarter 2023 was, Adjusting for the Eastern Ohio Incident, income from railway operations was, Adjusting for the Eastern Ohio Incident, diluted earnings per share were. Information included within this filing includes non-GAAP financial measures, as defined by SEC Regulation G. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, the financial measures reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Adopting Digitization to Keep Workers Safe and Evolve. Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Some routes are now gone or downsized. To learn how to enable JavaScript in your browser, click here. The mandate stems from an Executive Order and associated guidance mandating that federal contractors require vaccinations for all employees. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. Now the situation has changed. ATLANTA, April 26, 2023 / PRNewswire / -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) announced Wednesday its first quarter 2023 financial results. These and other important factors, including those discussed under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), as supplemented in Part II, Item 1A of our Form 10-Q to be filed with the SEC on the same date as this press release, may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward- looking statements. Norfolk Southerns history spans nearly two centuries to the earliest days of American railroading. NORFOLK SOUTHERN COVID-19 UPDATE: Based on the social distancing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and as a prudent precaution, Norfolk Southern is transitioning to remote working arrangements for employees whose job functions permit. Norfolk Southern is a major transporter of industrial products, including chemicals, agriculture, and metals and construction materials. Earick lost that job in April but opted to take a pay cut to continue working as a rail yard laborer. Theyve gone from a mile, mile and a quarter, to two to three miles long, said Scott Wilcox. Freight declines have typically foreshadowed trouble for the broader economy because theyre a barometer of how much stuff is heading to market. For the quarter, income from railway operations was $711 million, and diluted earnings per share were $2 .04 down by 34% and 30%, respectively, compared to the first quarter 2022. For our industry, trade has become just a huge part of what we do. OUR MISSION. Expenses jumped 32% to $2.4 billion, along with labor expenses tied to significant hiring over the past year and a new contract for employees. CFR 49 Part 243 Virtual Training, with the Federal Railroad Administration and Heartwood: RAIL GROUP ON AIR, NS, SMART-TD Reach Tentative Agreement on Workplace Enhancements, UP Embargo Update: Were Making Significant Progress, NARS 2023 Annual Meeting: A New Era in Railroading, MxV Rail Speeds PuebloPlex Track Construction Projects, Canadian Regulator Announces VRCPIs for Crop Year 2023-24, CARB Passes New In-Use Locomotive Regulation, FRA Safety Advisory: Train Length a Critical Factor, CN, UP, GMXT Launching Falcon Premium (Updated April 26 with UP STB Service Metrics), Class I Briefs: BNSF, CN, CPKC, CSX, CPKC/NS/UP. In addition to this strong employee performance, Squires said the company's Reimagine '21 strategic plan, rolled out in 2019 and built on the tenets of precision scheduled railroading, is driving long-term, transformational improvements in operating efficiencies and customer service. He pointed to dramatic improvement in on-time delivery to about 90percent, up from around 50percent before PSR. Thats down from $703 million, or $2.93 per share, a year ago. The Biden Administration has issued an executive order and associated guidance mandating that federal contractors require vaccinations for all employees. Yetthose who livenear the derailment site close to the Ohio-Pennsylvania border are fearful ofpossible long term health impactseven though officials say that repeated testing hasnt shown harmful levels of chemicals in the air or drinking water. All rights reserved. . The railroads defend their record as the safest way to transport hazardous chemicals over land and say recent changes to eliminate nearly one-third of all rail jobs and rely more on fewer, longer trains havent compromised safety. Workers say they are concerned that radio signals sometimes go down between the front and back of long trains and that Americans dont like waiting for long trains to pass. Shaw reiterated his often-stated promise Wednesday to do whatever it takes to make it right for East Palestine and the surrounding areas.. BNSF filed a Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) announced Wednesday its first quarter 2023 financial results. Now, after PSR, railroads are running more trains with mixed goods and on a set schedule that leaves no matter what. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures click here. But the details of how much insurance will actually cover will be worked out over time. If you need an accommodation, please seek one. When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. Historically, railroads have carried headcount that can be quickly shed on a seasonal basis to correspond with traffic declines, offering steady employment nine months out of the year. David Earick had eight years of seniority with Norfolk Southern in Roanoke as a pipe fitter, a job similar to a diesel mechanic. The seven major freight railroads have idled nearly 30percent of locomotives in the past year, according to the economist Blaze, as they aim to run fewer but longer trains. The price they quote you is guaranteed and if your load comes in on the scales below the pounds they quote you they will refund you the difference you paid. Multiple rail executives took the stage at the Stephens Nashville Investment Conference that month to stress that while rail volumes were down, employee head count and other costs were down even more, ensuring the companies remained highly profitable. 2. The railroad provided a detailed estimate of the cost of Feb. 3 derailment outside East Palestine, Ohio, Wednesday along with first-quarter earnings. Norfolk Southern said it has already spent about $55 million to dig up and remove nearly 34,000 tons of contaminated soil and trucked away another 13.2 million Regulatorsandmembers of Congresshave proposed reforms like capping freight trains lengths and setting standards for the trackside detectors used to spot problems. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the countrys population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Workers in this longtime railroad hub are on edge, saying this feels different from past rail downturns. That means we are obligated by law to require vaccinations for our employees. Eliminating Assets Requires Precision Maintenance. This system is for the use of authorized users only. They Refused to Fight for Russia. PSR is aided by new technology such as drones and artificial intelligence to monitor tracks and send customers alerts about train locations. Rail freight carloads were down 7.4percent this November versus the prior year, according to closely watched data from the Association of American Railroads. All photographs taken prior to onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. About Norfolk SouthernNorfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. New covid variant: A new coronavirus subvariant, XBB. The railroad provided a detailed estimate of the cost of Feb. 3 derailment outside East Palestine, Ohio, Wednesday along with first-quarter earnings. And also more susceptible to risk than ever. "As a result of our transformation, we've set records for metrics such as train speed, terminal dwell, and shipment consistency," Squires said. That estimate doesnt include money Norfolk Southern, based in Atlanta, will put into funds to help cover any long-term health issues, protect drinking water and compensate residents for the loss in their property values because the details are still being worked out with Ohios attorney general. But railroad stocks soared in 2019 after rail executives embraced automation and cost-cutting to remain profitable, doubling down on the idea that rails future entails longer, faster trains and fewer workers. While acknowledging that Norfolk Southern is not immune to COVID-19 disruptions, Squires reaffirmed his confidence in the company's overall financial standing, with access to ample liquidity and the lowest levels of capital expenditures since 2010. WebHealth Questionnaire for employee returning to work from non-medical absence of six months or longer Return to Work Form Medical Condition and Medication Guidance: The non-negotiated bonuses and unilateral decision to discipline employees who are not vaccinated functioned to undermine the collectedly-bargained agreements and reduce Norfolk Southerns obligations under those agreements, the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Transportation Division, or SMART-TD, union said in its response to Norfolk Southern. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. This cloud. Our approach has worked. ATLANTA, May 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Despite economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Norfolk Southern is well-positioned to safely and successfully weather the unprecedented situation, CEO James A. Squires said Thursday at the company's annual meeting of shareholders. The railroads that have imposed vaccine mandates say they are complying with President Joe Biden's executive order requiring all federal contractors to have their employees vaccinated. We know that employees thrive in a workplace where differing viewpoints, ideas, and experiences are freely shared and valued. Without the derailment costs, the railroad estimated that it would have made $1.1 billion, or $3.32 per share, exceeding the $3.15 Wall Street expected, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research. A worker safety advocacy group, the National Council on Occupational Safety and Health, issued a report Wednesday labeling Norfolk Southern and the other major freight railroads as some of the most dangerous employers in the nation because of those labor concerns about the impact of the cost cutting. The derailment cleanup has slowed traffic on a busy east-west corridor for the railroad because it has only had one of its two tracks in service since March while it is digging up contaminated soil. Railroad worker checking up wheels and braking system of freight train. If youve been vaccinated, please share your status through the confidential process. But the employment losses are being exacerbated by the industrys embrace of new technology and a newly efficient technique of directing rail traffic known as Precision Scheduled Railroading, or PSR, that is transforming the economics of the business. BNSF and Union Pacific are putting their vaccine mandates on hold following a federal court decision on Tuesday. I was told this furlough was indefinite. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American, Norfolk Southern and SMART-TD reach comprehensive tentative agreement on quality-of-life benefits, Norfolk Southern reports first quarter 2023 results. About Norfolk SouthernSince 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Question: How has Norfolk Southern Corp responded to the COVID-19 outbreak? Norfolk Norfolk has access to roughly $26 million in federal money to help the city government respond to the coronavirus pandemic. If you need to ONLY access mainframe HORSE functions such as CREW CALL or MEMO, you may do so Everyone took really good care of our things. "We are making progress every day and I'm proud of our people. This article was published more than3 years ago. All photographs taken prior to onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. By continuing to execute our strategic plan and provide superior service to our customers, we will move through this period successfully and be ready to capture opportunities as the economy recovers. They found they can hook two trains together and cut a crew, said a Union Pacific engineer based in Cheyenne, Wyo., who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear for his job. It was enormous and only had two people working it. That derailment, andotherssince then, sparked anationwide focuson railroad safety. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, the occurrence of certain events, or otherwise, unless otherwise required by applicable securities law. Digitizing these processes eliminates maintenance costs and frees real estate for other purposes. Hello, you need to have JavaScript enabled to view this website. Having an immediately accessible and mobile approach to these maintenance tasks for refresher trainers at set intervals will be crucial. Volume was flat overall. "The entire Norfolk Southern team has rallied around our customers, and we're delivering with the best service product in the history of our company. While the Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating the Companys business, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and is not meant to be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. This information will be treated as confidential medical information and handled as such. Customers and dray carriers can also utilize AccessNS and ExpressNS+TM for information concerning their Casey Moving Systems is family owned and has been servicing Northern California for over 25 years. We are making progress every day and Im proud of our people. 1. The rail industry, which once employed more than a million Americans, fell below 200,000 employees in 2019, the first time that has happened since the Labor Department started keeping track of railroad employment in the 1940s. Fact-checking Trumps reaction to Bidens reelection announcement. Were seeing trains that are 2 miles long on a daily basis, said Jeremy Ferguson, president of the SMART TD Union (short for International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, Transportation Division). Spokeswomen for two other major major U.S. railroads, CSX and Kansas City Southern, said officials at those railroads are still considering whether to impose vaccine mandates in response to the executive order, but both railroads are encouraging employees to get the shots. Hiring and Furloughing Practices Require Rethinking. Norfolk Southern has let more than 3,500 employees go in the past year, including 175 in Roanoke, part of an aggressive push across the railroad industry to slash costs. OMAHA, Neb. Beyond not being sustainable, its not the best for safety either. We have based these forward- looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates, beliefs, and projections. Our areas of expertise include Commercial Moving Services, Warehousing, Document Shredding and Storage Solutions. Norfolk Southern reports first quarter 2023 results. With at least two workers (conductor and engineer) occupying the same space (locomotive cab) for 8 to 12 hours, and oftentimes with a different person every day, one trip with an infected co-worker can lead to the rapid erosion of workforce availability, delaying trains and terminal operations significantly. For the quarter, income from railway operations was $711 million, and diluted earnings per share were $2.04 down by 34% and 30%, respectively, compared to the first quarter 2022. He was a locomotive engineer for Norfolk Southern for 20 years. They have lots of options for moving. Prior to Covid, railroads sought to shed assets and reduce workforce size to increase shareholder return and decrease operating ratios. As it has with everything else in the world, COVID-19 has impacted railroading in a variety of waysand staffing is one of them. According the NS petition, Reuters reported, the unions contend that imposition of a mandate constitutes a unilateral change to bargaining agreements in violation of the federal Railway Labor Act. Its very difficult for the operating crews and the towns and cities we operate through. Probably in the range of 35 to 45percent of our business, said John Gray, senior vice president of policy and economics at the Association of American Railroads, the industrys main trade group. Every economic downturn since World War II has been precipitated by nose-diving freight traffic. But theyre not likely to totally abandon the lean operating model adopted over the past six years that labor unions say has made the industry riskier because so many jobs have been cut, forcing inspections to be rushed and leaving train crews on call 24-7. For example, eliminating inefficient train miles by eliminating stops, closing terminals and other actions has helped reduce headcount significantly, but this means our lean, mean train and engine workforce team are more valuable than ever. PSR touts itself on reducing assets such as track, cars and locomotives, but little is discussed about maintaining the assets that remain. That work is expected to wrap up in early June, which will boost traffic in the area. (AP) Another major railroad has gone to court to determine whether it has the authority to require all its employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

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