Union Pacific Settles Worker Suit Over Hearing Protection, Exams

Union Pacific Railroad Co. reached a deal to end a class action alleging its hearing protection and testing requirements discriminate against hearing-impaired employees.

The parties on Wednesday notified the US District Court for the District of Nebraska of a settlement. Charles Waldschmidt and Charlie Grigg, former train conductors for Union Pacific, alleged the company required employees to undergo periodic hearing tests that discriminate against hearing-impaired workers. Employees who use hearing aids, for example, were allegedly required to take the exam without them and while wearing protection that frequently makes their hearing worse. Any employee who fails the test is ...