Union Pacific is cutting 60 jobs in central Arkansas as part of a second round of layoffs nationwide. A spokeswoman said Monday the local positions come from the railroad’s locomotive servicing and car repair shops in North Little Rock.
The company is eliminating 675 positions nationwide during the fourth quarter of the year. A further reduction in the size of its workforce is planned, company officials say, as Union Pacific works to improve profitability.
The railroad serves 23 states in the western two-thirds of the U.S. and employs about 2,500 people in Arkansas.
Spokeswoman Kristen South said the layoffs are being spread throughout the system.
"The workforce reduction is an effort to reduce our general and administrative support structure as we continue implementing our new operating plan, Unified Plan 2020, which ensures Union Pacific remains a strong, competitive and vibrant company," South said.