Spokesman Steve Forsberg says 267 employees in its mechanical department are being furloughed. The reductions will happen in a variety of crafts at locations across the country. Ten of the positions are in Topeka. Another 40 positions are being reduced through departures and retirements. The furloughs were effected May 26, 2009.
Forsberg says the company is taking the action because of the economic recession. He says BNSF's volume is down 14-percent from the same period last year. BNSF’s active locomotive fleet is also down 17-percent due to aggressive lay ups and lease returns.
Forsberg says the furloughed workers will be called back when the economy improves and volume increases, but it's not known when that might happen.
