Union Pacific Expands Recruiting Effort Through U.S. Army Partnership

Veteran's Day Ceremony Reinforces Union Pacific's Strong Military Recruiting Tradition 


OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 10  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Union Pacific today became the Army's newest partner in its Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) program. The program is designed to help the Army attract, train and deploy talented young people who want to serve their country, but who also want to help secure their future success with employment opportunities with a U.S. corporation upon completion of their Army service.  With nearly 40 percent of its workforce reaching retirement age in the next five years, Union Pacific is aggressively recruiting and hiring new employees to ensure consumer products, automobiles, coal and food continue to move across the nation's rail system.

The Commander, U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion - Des Moines, Lieutenant Colonel William Melendez, signed the formal memorandum of agreement with Union Pacific senior vice president of human resources Barbara Schaefer in a special ceremony on Veteran's Day here at the Durham Western Heritage Museum.

"The U.S. Army is excited to add Union Pacific Railroad to its team of corporate partners in the Partnership for Youth Success program," said LTC William Melendez.  "We are so proud of our partnerships like this that enable our recruiters to offer applicants quality employment opportunities during and after their Army service."

Under the terms of the agreement between the U.S. Army and Union Pacific, enlistees interested in gaining specific job training and qualifications will receive that training while in the U.S. Army.  As they near the end of their enlistments, the soldiers will have the opportunity to discuss employment opportunities with North America's largest freight railroad.

"Our participation in the Army PaYS program highlights a long-standing tradition of excellence that helps us recruit dedicated and motivated former military employees for years to come," said Schaefer.  "We want to be the employer of choice for veterans who are transitioning into the private sector."

G.I. Jobs magazine recently named Union Pacific the nation's top Military Friendly Employer for 2006.  Union Pacific is especially proud to have retained the top ranking it received from the magazine's inaugural 2005 ranking.  The magazine commended the railroad's resource-laden effort and high-performance results in recruiting transitioning military personnel.

Union Pacific is also dedicated to its Reservists and National Guard members.  Following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, UP Chairman Dick Davidson reaffirmed the company's long-standing policy of making up any difference in pay or benefits between what UP employees receive while serving in operation Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom, and what they would have received on the job.  Davidson expressed his belief that UP employees called to service should be free to focus on their military tasks without having to worry about their financial or medical situation at home.

Union Pacific's history of hiring military personnel dates back to the railroad's very beginnings.  At the end of the Civil War, many soldiers were hired by Union Pacific to help build the transcontinental railroad.  Today, military veterans make up nearly 20 percent of Union Pacific's active workforce.

PaYS was developed to help the Army attract, train, and deploy talented young people who want to not only serve their country, but also want to help secure their future success once their Army service is complete.  Currently, Union Pacific -- the first and largest Nebraska-based company participating in the Army PaYS program -- has employment opportunities in train service, skilled disciplines such as diesel mechanics and electricians, and management at many locations throughout its 23-state operating system.  These positions are listed in the PaYS database.  For more information, interested applicants may visit their local recruiter or log on to http://www.armypays.com/.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America's leading transportation companies.  Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves the fastest- growing U.S. population centers.  Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal.  The railroad offers competitive long-haul routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways.  Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America's premier rail franchise.  For more information, visit http://www.up.com/.

ABOUT PaYS:

PaYS is a strategic partnership program between the Army and a cross section of U.S. corporations and public sector agencies.  The program was developed to help the Army attract, train and deploy talented young people who want to serve their country, but also want to help secure their future success once their Army service is complete.  Employers that sign as corporate partners in PaYS agree to consider appropriately qualified soldiers leaving Army service for positions at those companies.

Under terms of the agreement between USAREC and its PaYS partners, enlistees interested in gaining specific job training and qualifications will receive that training while in the U.S. Army.  Participation by the company, soldier and Army is secured with an agreement that gives the Soldier consideration in the employment process.  However, the company reserves the right to determine whether to ultimately hire the PaYS soldier.  For more information, visit http://armypays.com/

For further information, contact James Barnes [phone]. 

DATASOURCE: Union Pacific Corporation



CONTACT:  James Barnes, [phone], for Union Pacific Corporation



Web site:  http://www.up.com/

http://www.armypays.com/ 

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