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WEBVTT FURLOUGHED. THE COMPANY CITING MORE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES ARE STILL TO COME. 150 PEOPLE WON’T BE COMING BACK TO WORK HERE AFTER THE LATEST ROUND OF LAYOFFS AT UNION PACIFIC. >> THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, FORTUNATELY, MOST OF THOSE MIDDLE MANAGERS WERE ABSORBED BY OTHER COMPANIES IN OMAHA MOST OF THEM. SAME THING WITH CONAGRA WHEN IT HAPPENED THERE, BUT THERE’S ONLY SO MUCH THAT OMAHA CAN ABSORB FROM THESE REDUCTIONS. >> UNO BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR PHANI TEJ ADIDAM SAYS THAT TYP OF TALENT MAY BE FORCED TO LEAVE THE METRO. DAVID BROWN CEO OF THE GREATER OMAHA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAID IN STATEMENT, "WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT UNION PACIFIC AND THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY PLAY IN OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY AND EXPECT THAT THESE CHANGES ARE NECESSARY STEPS TO SUSTAINING A COMPETITIVE AND EFFICIENT POSITION IN THE MARKETPLACE. -- MARKETPLACE." A CHECK OF OUR RECORDS SHOW THE COMPANY ELIMINATED NEARLY 2,000 JOBS FROM 2015 TO NOW. U.P. HAS BEEN BUYING BACK STOCK AND IT ANNOUNCED A NEW OPERATNG PLAN, SIMILAR TO THAT OF ITS COMPETITOR. WE ASKED ADIDAM IF THESE MOVES COULD BE SIGN OF BIGGER CHANGES. >> NO OTHER COMPANY IS GOING TO TAKE OVER UNION PACIFIC. THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY IS HEAVILY REGULATED. ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. >> ADIDAM BELIEVES THE LAYOFFS ARE MEANT TO IMPROVE THE BOTTOM LINE. >> THEY ARE DOING VERY WELL EXCEPT THEY SET THEMSELVES SOME EVEN HIGHER GOALS. THEY BELIEVE THAT BY LAYING OFF THESE EMPLOYEES THEY ARE ACTUALLY LAYING SEEDS FOR EVEN BETTER PERFORMANCE. >> THOUGH HE ADDS THE CONTINUOUS NATURE COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON EMPLOYEE MORALE. >> YOU ARE CREATING THAT SENSE OF DISENGAGEMENT IN THE COMPANY WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOW CONSTANTLY, PROACTIVLEY LOOKING

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Omaha-based Union Pacific eliminated approximately 250 jobs in the company Tuesday, including about 150 positions in Omaha. UP said the move is part of the company's Unified Plan 2020 to "boost efficiency and productivity."A memo available to Union Pacific staff said: "These initiatives also are allowing the company to better compete in our marketplace against other railroads and freight transportation modes."UP warned more organizational and operating charges are still to come, but noted it had already made significant improvements."With more than 1,000 locomotives recently idled, UP's Mechanical department recently furloughed 450 employees across the system," the memo said. Additionally, UP announced a series of internal restructuring. Union Pacific stock was up 1.7% as of 2:20 p.m. Tuesday.A check of KETV Newswatch 7 archives shows Union Pacific has eliminated nearly 2,000 jobs since September 2015. Phani Tej Adidam, Professor and Chairman of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of Nebraska Omaha said the continuous nature of the layoffs could have an impact on employee morale. "You are creating that sense of disengagement in the company where people are now constantly, proactively looking for opportunities elsewhere," Adidam said. Adidam also said, this latest round of layoffs may mean talented employees are forced to leave the metro. "The last time it happened, fortunately, most of those middle managers were absorbed by other companies in Omaha," he said, "Same thing with Conagra, when it happened there. But there's only so much that Omaha can absorb from these reductions." David Brown, President and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber said in a statement: “We know from experience, that when organizations like Union Pacific make reduction of workforce announcements, it is not done without first undertaking very thoughtful planning and consideration. We recognize the important role that Union Pacific and the transportation industry play in our regional economy and expect that these changes are necessary steps to sustaining a competitive and efficient position in the marketplace. It is our hope that our vibrant regional economy will be fertile ground for these dislocated employees to find new job opportunities right here in Greater Omaha.”