Union Pacific Ordered to Reinstate Injured Worker

Union Pacific has been ordered to pay $350,000 and reinstate a worker who federal regulators say was fired after reporting an injury to the railroad.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday that the payment the railroad owes would compensate the employee for back pay and damages.

A Union Pacific spokesman did not immediately respond to a message left Tuesday afternoon.

Regulators say the employee was a top performer who won awards at Union Pacific during a career of more than 30 years before reporting his injury in December 2010. Then OSHA says UP charged the employee with misusing his company vehicle and eventually fired him.

But OSHA released few details about the employee and his injury because regulators consider the employee a whistleblower.