Western Railroad Discussion > UP Dispatchers: A few questions

Hey everyone,

Was curious if anybody knows:

Are the Dispatchers Union or Managers? I remember the SP Dispatchers were Union.  

Secondly,  if on the Extra Board, how many territories do they need to be qualified on.

Third, what are the maximum hours they can work and how much time off between shifts.
(When I was a dispatcher for Caltrain we could only work a max of Nine hours and needed 15 hours off)

Laslty, are they paid hourly or salary and does anyone know the average salary.

Thanks everyone, have a good day.

TopCat

A little history.  Before 1958, Union Pacific Dispatchers were Union.  That year, the Dispatcher son of a high-ranking official was sent to the rank and file with the offer of receiving the "Harriman Pension" in return for going non-union.  Following a certification vote, the ATDA was thrown out.  The Dispatchers then went from a five-day work week to seven days!  They did receive some other perks, as well as an extra week of vacation.  The seven-day week ended in (I think) 1974, when they went to six days.  Eventually, it became five days in the later seventies.  There were a couple of attempts to bring the Union back at various times, but it never came to pass, and the UP was still non-Union with the advent of the HDC in Omaha, where the various companies merged and Union and non-Union  battled it out.  After that, maybe someone else can add to the story as I'm sure it was complex and volatile, with various seniority disputes and company agreements to be reconciled.  

UP disptachers are non agreement employees. They can work up to 9 hours and then are required to have 15 hours off.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/26 18:13 by ble692.