Union Pacific hasn't yet lived up to deal to give all its engineers predictable schedules

abcnews.go.com:

The union that represents train engineers says Union Pacific is holding back on its promises to make their schedules more predictable

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific is holding back on its promises to make schedules more predictable for train crews to address the quality of life concerns that nearly caused a nationwide rail strike two years ago, according to the union that represents engineers.

The nation's largest railroad has told the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union that Union Pacific isn't getting enough work out of its engineers anymore under the new schedules and had to hire more workers than it planned, so the company wants to change the schedule improvement agreement it signed and touted last year.

Where they have been implemented, the new schedules make it possible for engineers to attend doctor's appointments and keep important promises to show up for their kids' activities or family gatherings, union members say.

“It’s been a game changer,” said Mark Ganong, who has worked for Union Pacific in Texas for 22 years. “I think it’s improved my quality of life — well, I know it has. I think it’s improved my overall health, my attitude and my ability to schedule things.”

The railroad says it still plans to live up to the schedule agreement it signed, but CEO Jim Vena said Union Pacific needs to tweak the deal that forced it to hire additional engineers to cover the shifts of workers getting regular time off.

“The amount of work we’re getting — the starts per the 11 days that they’re available — is not anywhere near where both us or the union thought it was going to be,” Vena said. “So we’re just trying to figure out how we can fix or tweak it. But at the end of the day, we’ve committed to people.