Do BNSF Conductors get laid off? If they do how does it work? Do they have a seniority system?

Question

Do BNSF Conductors get laid off? If they do how does it work? Do they have a seniority system?

Answer 1

It can happen, they have huge seniority systems, I dont think it is systemwide but they are quite large.

Being laid off or furloughed is always a possibility but not common.

It would have to take a huge turndown in business for that to happen.

You might have to go to a different location to work temporarily but there are many many thousands of BNSF conductors that have never been furloughed or had to relocate, that is in fact the norm.

There are no guarantees though, you take your chances same as everybody else.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

All railroads have seniority systems.  At BNSF, I believe that they have 2 different seniority districts.  They have the Northern Lines (former Northern Pacific and Great Northern lines).  Those mainly run through Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and Washington.  The other seniority district is everything else.  I was told that you can transfer anywhere within your seniority district, if you have enough seniority.  But, if you transfer out of your seniority district, then you lose your seniority.  

Furloughs (layoffs) are very much a part of railroading.  Last year I was furloughed with another class 1 for 5 months.  I was lucky enough to be able to transfer to another location where I won't be furloughed this winter.  I read on another web site that CSX has over 700 furloughed conductors.  I'm sure that there have been furloughs again this winter as rail traffic has been down because of the recession.