NS Closing Roanoke Offices

ah man, I don't like that.  I'm sure it makes sense to them, but . . . 

Norfolk is not a railroad town; it's all about the USN... and for a good reason.

Roanoke on the other hand...

Hate to see it. Can imagine what my Roanoke-born and bred grandfather would say.

Yet another cased of corporate consolidation of facilities and functions.  I've seen too much of that. The loss of maybe 500 jobs - that's never good.  I hope that some people can take advantage of any relocation if that is offered.

When my wife worked for Bank Of America she worked out of the NS building in Norfolk.  I believe there were more BOA employees in the building than there were NS employees, not sure who worked out of the BOA building right next door

Bring your wallet with you, living in Norfolk or Va. Beach is expensive and going thru the tunnels has hit everybody's wallets, I don't know how the military can keep above water around here.  But...I can't imagine Atlanta being any less expensive, maybe this link will tell:

http://www.bestplaces.net/compare-cities/

Above water is the case... the place is slowly sinking and perhaps the water rising!  The Navy is starting to make long term plans to either leave or levy up the place.

Bob

The video mentioned the drop in coal perhaps being an issue but this move is mostly affecting non-operations personnel.

 My wife showed this to me earlier and I was floored to see that.I don't think there was much scuttle-butt around work about it either.

 Usually we hear a little about this stuff from folks who have close friends up in Roanoke but nothing was ever heard on this,shocker .

Ugghhh....  I always hate to hear closings that affect so many workers and their families.  All too often these decisions are made by executive "suits" or corporate bean-counters sitting behind computer screens all day, and those decisions lack heart and first-hand business acumen.  Very similar to how weather forecasters rely solely on computer models nowadays and forget to walk outside and look at the sky. 

Any one of us here on the forum could have recited what the NS executive said on those video clips.  Too much corporate-speak and very little thought into the real implications of moving 500 jobs and the families that make those jobs click.     Must look great on a spreadsheet though.

I realize not all decisions are easy, but 130 years???  Wow... that's gotta count for something too.  I guess I'd be a dinosaur in today's corporate world, and I'd last all of about two minutes listening to the gibberish that goes into making these kinds of decisions in the board room. 

David

Whats even more odd is that building was only built in 1993ish.  Where did the management staff come from at the point?

I'm guessing the marketing folks, which likely means the pricing managers, will be relocated here to Atlanta.  Insofar as they are concerned, this makes sense.  There is a large base of NS sales people in this area as well as a considerable customer base.  NS has been sending their pricing people out to interact more with customers in recent years and this will facilitate that if for no other reason than access to a major airport that eliminates connections and commuter flights.

Curt

Having recently left the Railroad Industry after 37 years to me it makes sense. Streamlining is now the future. While this will hurt some that are displaced and having to move, it will be good for the company.It may be a blessing for some as well.

CSX just reduced 300 jobs by consolidating. Some were offered early retirement, severance packages, or relocated within the system. Not going to make everyone happy. But to me you have to look at what is best for the overall picture. Do I want to work for a profitable company or one who continues to be not so profitable? I have seen some business dealings that never made sense to me at the time. Later on, it was a no brainer, I was glad someone had the foresight to do it.

They have been in business for a long time and will continue. 

Gene

I have had to relocate several times in my career, and it was difficult for my family. I emphasize with the NS employees affected.

The news connotation is that 500 jobs will be lost, but that is not true as NS is offering relocation packages to its affected employees.

Unless you own stock in that company.

Yeppir... yes indeed.  And that's what many corporate executives tell themselves every morning when they look in the mirror.  After all, somebody's gotta convince themselves why they're worth those big bucks, right?  

David 

From what I've been told if these employees don't take what is offered then they've effectively quit their jobs and will not receive unemployment.  Can someone enlighten me on this?

Bob:

I'm not a lawyer but, I can speak from my own personal experience. 

In 1998, the company I was working for in Houston was purchased by a competitor in Chicago.  The competitor offered me a job up there which I turned down, having no desire to experience northern winters again.  Even though I refused the new job and transfer offer, I was still eligible for severance and unemployment.  Remaining eligible for the severance package would have been a company policy but, remaining eligible for unemployment would have been covered under either state or Federal law, I would imagine.

Curt

Thanks Curt, I'd hate to see someone lose their job/compensation based on moving/not moving alone.

Hopefully the downsize and consolidation will result in a healthier railroad that will continue to operate many years into the future. You can be sure that when any organization makes decision like this the managers wrestle with all sides of the issue - organizational and financial benefits, impact on employees and families, impact on operations and so on. Looking forward to a better railroad. 

Yeppir... yes indeed.  And that's what many corporate executives tell themselves every morning when they look in the mirror.  After all, somebody's gotta convince themselves why they're worth those big bucks, right?  

David 

It was not done to make themselves look good.  They did not need to convince themselves, no matter what you think. They did it for the best of the company and for the future. 

I have been on both sides of the fence as a contract and non contract employee. NS is be a better RR for this and stronger to survive the future. Just as CSX will. 

I for one, are thankful that people in the company have their head out of the sand and have the foresight to do what it takes to survive.

What a shame that it is all about the money!

Granted, the jobs are there if the people want to move. Let's put that aside for the moment and think about this:

What happens to this world when the powers that be are able to use machines, computers, etc. in order to put people out of work so that they can have more money for themselves?

I guess it is called business. They have bottom lines just we do in our everyday lives. Gas pumps that are self service, self check out lines in stores.

How many of us do some of our own repairs to cars, houses, internet shopping instead of going to stores. to save money. That takes away jobs from someone. We are all guilty. 

And lets not forget, Ordering trains on line!

Their will only be more in the future.  

Sometimes. Had United stock. Company with cash "downsized" to end union contracts? Managers all got bonuses and stock, shareholders did not fair so well!

Probably had to do with United filing for Chapter 11?

It did. Normal shareholders lost all, corporate management got raises and new stock

Wow..a sad loss for Roanoke. 

I feel this is a way for NS to consolidate offices...and at the same time thin the workforce.  They know everyone will not want to move.  

Is this going to result in not serving all customers equally?

Andrew

Exactly... and for those who've been through this before -- whichever side of the decision you've been on, you'll know that if a worker doesn't relocate, there's a chance their job function will be "absorbed" by existing personnel at the destination location.  That won't be blasted in an official press release, of course.  But it's been known to happen.    Let's be honest.

David

I hope it doesn't work that way David.  I work with five different pricing managers for NS who will be impacted by this and all of them are already seriously overworked.  I get e-mails and quotes from them until midnight on weeknights and anytime on Saturdays and Sundays.  I have concluded all of them are already working a seven day week.

Curt

Ahhh...but just recently...a local track inspection crew fell asleep in their high rail truck and crashed...NS couldn't fire them!

The bottom line (no pun intended) is that downsizing is a short-term fix for short-term gain; if done for the long-term, it hurts the value of the company and thus the shareholders positions.  That said, it appears that NS will benefit from the resulting attrition of the employees who choose not to relocate.