(The Associated Press circulated the following on January 22, 2009.)
ALLIANCE, Neb. — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. will be furloughing 68 workers in the Alliance area.
Railroad spokesman Steve Forsberg confirmed the layoffs and said the affected employers could be recalled when the economy recovers. No timeframe was given.
On Wednesday, the railroad said it expects to reduce its work force by 5% – about 2,500 employees – in the first part of 2009 as it works to trim costs and compensate for dwindling rail traffic.
Forsberg says the company’s cost-cutting efforts include not replacing workers lost to attrition and eliminating merit increases.
BNSF is based in Fort Worth, Texas.