“Nothing is going to change” is a common message delivered to employees when the ownership of their company changes.

While that might be true initially, a new owner eventually makes judgments about ways to improve operations and develops plans and procedures for making those adjustments reality. Sometimes those

judgments prove correct and sometimes not. Sometimes those judgments affect employees directly, sometimes not.

Nevertheless, new ideas and changes are a reality daily in the business world, whether or not those ideas and changes are built upon new ownership, new management, emergency circumstances or situations not so urgent.

Changes are part of businesses. Still, prospects for changes can be as unnerving as rumors about plant closings and layoffs, and it is reasonable to be sympathetic for those beset with anxiety over such prospects.

What actually might be on the minds of individual Norfolk Southern railway employees — here and in other parts of the NS system — is anyone’s guess, but it is reasonable to suggest activist investors’ current attempt to take control of the company’s board is looming heavily among many workers.

Really, that is as it should be, considering the impacts that could have on the lives of employees and their families, as well as on the company itself.

As an Associated Press article published in the Mirror’s April 30 edition reported, the main issue in the takeover bid is whether the strategy of current CEO Alan Shaw to keep additional resources on hand during a downturn, along with his investments in safety, are the best course for NS.

Shaw believes his strategy is the best in the long run for investors, customers and workers. Shaw has said he believes the railroad is on track to improve its bottom line over the next couple of years, particularly since the hiring of a new chief operating officer about a month ago.

“We make promises and we’ve continued to keep our promises, and we will continue to deliver,” he said.

The activist investors trying to take control of the NS board disagree, pointing to profits that have fallen short of Wall Street expectations — profits described as consistently worse than Norfolk’s peers.

Ancora Holdings, which is attempting to elect seven new directors and replace management at Atlanta-based Norfolk Southern, argues that a dramatic overhaul of the railroad’s operations is needed to streamline the way its trains move and bring Norfolk’s profits in line with its peers.

Meanwhile, Shaw contends that shareholders will win under his long-term vision and that shareholders will lose under what he describes as the short-term, erratic approach of the activist investors.

For NS employees here and everywhere, Thursday, May 9 is the day to watch. That’s when a shareholders vote will take place.

Shaw believes he still has the support of most of the railroad’s workers, investors and customers. On the other hand, Ancora reportedly has gained the backing of a major proxy advisory firm, one of the railroad’s biggest customers and two of its largest labor unions.

Since February 2023, the fiery derailment in eastern Ohio has hung over Norfolk Southern, subjecting the company to much scrutiny and second-guessing. Now the activist investors, presumably with good intentions, have opened a new chapter in NS history.

Regardless of who wins on May 9, the railroad must not lose.