Labor Department orders Union Pacific to pay disciplined worker $350,000; railroad will appeal

Federal regulators have ordered Union Pacific to pay $350,000 to a long-time employee who was disciplined after reporting an injury, but the railroad plans to appeal.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday this is the third time since 2011 that Union Pacific had violated federal rules by disciplining workers who reported injuries and sought treatment.

OSHA says a locomotive engineer based in North Platte, Neb., who was hurt in a December 2013 collision, was disciplined afterward. The worker had never been disciplined before in 35 years of working for the railroad.

Union Pacific spokesman Aaron Hunt says the railroad strongly disagrees with regulators' findings and will appeal.