Railroad Workers Preparing for Layoffs In Buffalo

At a joint meeting Wednesday night, leaders of two local railroad unions, the United Transportation Union and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) told members to prepare for big layoffs in Buffalo.

Together, the unions represent about 800 workers at the Frontier Yards on Broadway, a major "hump" terminus in the northeast United States.

Jim Louis, General Chairman of the BLET locals in several Northeast states, confirmed for 2 On Your Side that a CSX official told him in a meeting on Tuesday to prepare for half the work force to be furloughed.

Dave McKinley" "You have been told by a CSX official that you could see upwards of 50% of the people laid off in Buffalo?

Jim Louis: "That's the words we're hearing."

Dave McKinley: "And that could equate to 400 people?"

Jim Louis "Yes sir."

CSX Corp. reported on Tuesday its first-quarter earnings dropped 30 percent.

The Jacksonville, Fla.-based company said Wednesday in a conference call with analysts that sales will continue to be hurt as demand to ship goods by rail plummets, and that CSX Corp. expects double-digit declines in shipping volume to continue through the second quarter.

Reached by WGRZ-TV for comment, CSX Spokesman Bob Sullivan issued a statement, which read in part:

"CSX volumes are down by double digits in every part of the economy we serve. We have no choice but to act swiftly to adopt our resources in response to the significant decline in volume. We have had to furlough 2,400 employees (as) we have about 30,000 cars in storage and 500 locomotives sitting idle."

The statement continued:

"No decision has been made regarding the Frontier Yard (Buffalo) operation, however CSX--like any other company--cannot rule out any potential option or action as we fight our way through these difficult economic times."

Workers from other railroads now are worried about the potential impact on thier jobs.

Among them is Tommy Curran, and Engineer for the Norfolk and Southern.

"We interchange cars from the Norfolk and Southern Railway to CSX, so it's a ripple effect that will be felt throughout the industry," Curran explained.

Beyond lost jobs others bemoan how this could permanently derail Buffalo's once lofty status as the second busiest railroad hub in the nation, a scenerio summed up by Louis in four words.

"Not a pretty day," he said.