(Union Pacific issued the following news release on January 21.)
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific today announced that it increased its 2003 supplier diversity spending by $44 million over 2002. The railroad spent $207 million with minority- and women-owned businesses during 2003, an increase of 27 percent over the $163 million spent in 2002.
Union Pacific’s supplier diversity program is the oldest of the nation’s railroads. It began in 1982 and has more than tripled during the last six years. Additionally, Union Pacific is the only railroad active on the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).
“We embrace supplier diversity in a very serious way,” said Bob Morgan, director of Supplier Diversity for Union Pacific. “We have full support from top management and continue to investigate new ways of engaging minority- and women-owned businesses across our supply chain. We are also now asking our other suppliers to tell us how they are including minority- and women-owned businesses in their supply chains. It is very important to us to maintain a strong program.”
Union Pacific purchases a variety of supplies and services through its supplier diversity program, ranging from diesel fuel to maintenance services. And, the railroad is actively developing new suppliers through its membership on the NMSDC and other organizations.
“We are proud of our achievement in 2003, but know we can always do better,” Morgan added. “Through our membership on the NMSDC, and our work with other companies, we are always investigating ways to strengthen our supplier diversity program while helping to develop stronger minority- and women-owned suppliers.”
Union Pacific Corporation is one of America’s leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, is the largest railroad in North America, covering 23 states across the western two- thirds of the United States. A strong focus on quality and a strategically advantageous route structure enable the company to serve customers in critical and fast growing markets. It is a leading carrier of low-sulfur coal used in electrical power generation and has broad coverage of the large chemical- producing areas along the Gulf Coast. With competitive long-haul routes between all major West Coast ports and eastern gateways, and as the only railroad to serve six gateways to Mexico, Union Pacific has the premier rail franchise in North America.