UP tops transportation firms ranked on G.I. Jobs' military-friendly employers list

G.I. Jobs magazine recently named Union Pacific Railroad one of the nation's top military-friendly employers for 2015 — the 12th time in 13 years the Class I has been ranked on the annual list.

Rankings are based on the strength of a company's military initiatives or events, the percentage of new hires with prior military service, and company policies regarding service in the reserves and National Guard. This year, UP is ranked fourth, the highest among transportation companies. CSX Corp. is ranked sixth, BNSF Railway Co. is ranked 17th, CN also is ranked 17th, Norfolk Southern Corp. is ranked 84th and Amtrak is ranked 87th.

So far this year, UP has hired 1,425 military veterans, including 144 who are disabled. Veterans comprise about 28 percent of all new hires so far this year and about 20 percent of the railroad's total workforce. Since 2005, 24 percent of new hires have been veterans.

"We are incredibly proud to employ nearly 10,000 military veterans," said Jamie Herbert, UP's assistant vice president of human resources, in a press release. "Their familiarity with safety-sensitive operating environments and unparalleled work ethic translates very well to the railroad."

UP's reservist policy compensates all employees for any difference between military and company pay for employees called to duty, and provides continued health plan benefits for dependents when workers are deployed. The Class I's UPVETS employee resource group is devoted to attracting, developing and retaining employees who are military veterans.

The railroad also actively recruits veterans through its involvement with military transition offices, military education offices, reserve and National Guard units, career fairs, information sessions, employer panels and resume review assistance, and by serving on local military committees and boards.