Rail & Labor News from RWU
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Weekly Digest Number 9 - February 27, 2024 | |
Welcome to the RWU Rail & Labor News! This news bulletin is produced and emailed out each Tuesday morning. We hope you find each week's news and information useful. If so, please share with co-workers, friends, and colleagues. If you like, you can sign them up to get all the news from RWU HERE. Or forward them the link. Got a hot tip? Please forward the article and a link to raillabornews@gmail.com. Note: If you read over this news bulletin each week, you will be sure to never miss the important news of what is going on in the railroad world from a worker's perspective! | |
Editor's Note: While RWU applauds the STB taking a stand on this question, we must not get too excited about the current direction the current NS is taking either. Just as when we play "Republican vs. Democrat" politics, we miss for the forest for the trees if we start to take sides in this rich man's fight for control of the Board of Directors of a Fortune 500 Corporation. Until a slate composed of working railroaders, rail advocates, and community representatives challenges the Board, we do not really have a dog in the fight. And that ain't about to happen anytime soon. | |
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Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin Oberman is concerned about the potential of activist investors succeeding in their effort to replace Norfolk Southern Corp.'s top leadership in favor of a short-term strategy of cost-cutting and workforce reductions to boost profits. Such a strategy would be "a huge detriment" for the entire rail industry if activist investor Ancora Holdings Group LLC succeeds in its takeover attempt at NS, Oberman said. "At least for the last three years since I've been chairman, the board has been struggling with the effects of the Wall Street pressure move that began 10 or 12 years ago to press railroads into cutting resources substantially. The euphemism given to it was PSR, precision scheduled railroading," he said.
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Editor's Note: While the "activist investor" calling for change at the top at NS outs safety, justice for East Palestine residents and peace with workers, history makes it very clear that the real goal is a return to super profits in the here and now, which can only mean staffing cuts, a decline in safety and service, and shoddy operations. Whether or not FRA and STB can and will actually step in and do anything should the investor group gain control of NS is of course another story. | |
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Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose, in a Wednesday letter to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, has cautioned against “backsliding, as a result of a change in leadership or otherwise, on the safety-oriented path” the railroad has established since the February 2023 East Palestine derailment. Bose’s letter comes in response to an effort by activist investor group Ancora to unseat Shaw, replacing him with former UPS President Jim Barber Jr. and installing former CSX head of operations Jamie Boychuk as chief operating officer [see “Activist investor seeks to install former UPS president …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 20, 2023].
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Editor's Note: In recent decades, Canada's two big railroads - the CP and CN - have generally been incapable of reaching amicable agreement with any of their unions. It is not surprise that both railroads instituted PSR early on. | |
Progressive Railroading / Feb 20
CPKC has filed a notice of dispute with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service requesting the appointment of a federal conciliation officer to assist CPKC and TCRC's train and engine (T&E) and Rail Canada Traffic Controllers (RCTC) divisions in reaching negotiated collective agreements. Since September 2023, CPKC has been negotiating contracts with the T&E and RCTC divisions. Both CPKC and the union divisions remain far apart on the issues, CPKC officials said.
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Editor's Note: Breaking news that the group failed in its attempt to replace 8 Board members. Under public scrutiny and criticism after the East Palestine derailment in 2023, wiser heads prevailed and NS will continue - at least for the moment - to attempt to rebuild its credibility with shippers, workers, communities, and government officials. | |
Progressive Railroading / Feb 20
An investor group led by Ancora Holdings Group LLC, which holds a large equity stake in Norfolk Southern Corp., today announced the nomination of eight independent candidates for election to the NS board. The group also announced two proposed new leaders at NS: former United Parcel Service Inc. executive Jim Barber Jr. and former CSX executive Jamie Boychuk.
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Editor's Note: All rails are encouraged to better understand the Railroad Retirement system. While at it, please consider joining the National Association of Retired & Veteran Railroad Employees (NARVRE). Learn more HERE. | |
BMWED / Feb 21
[BE FOREWARNED - The above link goes to a video that starts abruptly so adjust your volume accordingly...]
This video is designed to provide a better understanding of Railroad Retirement and explores the differences between the Tier I and Tier II benefits. We hope this educational tool will provide our members with a deeper understanding of how Railroad Retirement differs from traditional Social Security and pension plans, empowering you to make informed decisions regarding your financial future.
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Editor's Note: If even just half of the new proposed routes were implemented, this plan would represent a giant step forward for the revitalization of passenger train service in the U.S., connecting millions of rural people and creating thousands of good rail union jobs. While this plan certainly raises hopes for rail workers, passengers, and small town America, one can only speculate that the Class One freight carriers - who (unlike in most countries) own the infrastructure and are hostile to passenger operations - will dig their heels in and fight this tooth and nail. | |
David Peter Allen / Feb 21
The FRA presented the proposed routes and gave detailed information about the study on a website devoted to it. The study group considered potential routes in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, and Central (from Texas north to Kansas and east to Mississippi) regions. States that have connections to two adjoining regions were involved with studying potential routes in both. The list of routes just released constitutes the third phase of a four-phase program, the Route Identification phase. It is anticipated that the study group will suggest “Recommended Actions” during the coming spring. The FRA is accepting feedback at contactus@fralongdistancerailstudy.org., but only until March 8. All materials cited here can be found on the FRA study website.
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Editor's Note: RWU encourages all individual railroad workers, rail unions, and all citizens who support expanded rail to weigh in favorably using the link (in blue) below. | |
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High Speed Rail Alliance / Feb 23
In 2021, Congress directed the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to study potential restored and new “long-distance” routes. The High Speed Rail Alliance is a member of the stakeholder group providing input into study. Last week, the FRA presented a proposed list of routes to be studied, as well as, some initial thoughts about governance. The initial proposal would add 15 long-distance routes, serving 61 additional metropolitan areas to create a true national network. They are seeking public input by Friday, March 8. After public comment, the FRA will make capital and operating cost estimates, and make recommendations to Congress. The comment form and presentation are located here.
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Editor's Note: RWU agrees the rail industry is at a crossroads ... but not simply deciding between this or that Fortune 500 corporation choice of a Board of Directors. Wall Street calls the shots in our economy and THAT is the problem that must be addressed. RWU believes that the rail network must be taken out of private hands (much like the highways, inland waterways, etc.) and placed in public hands. | |
Editor's Note: While the Signalmen's union (BRS) has every right to be fuming over the "activist investor" group attempting to replace the current NS Board and CEO with a set more favorably disposed to short-term profits, the union should remember that the NS is still the company that gouged the workforce, cut maintenance and inspections, played hardball with the unions, and been a major proponent of so-called "Precision Scheduled Railroading." Rail workers do not want to get involved in support for one set of managers vs. another, no more than we want to get involved in one set of politicians over another. For the most part, they are ALL in the pocket of big business and represent the interest of the super rich - not us. | |
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The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen has become the first rail labor union to come out against the activist investor group that’s plotting to oust Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw and gain control of the railroad’s board. The union today expressed “grave concern” with Ancora Holdings’ proxy battle. The union said Ancora would reduce employment at NS, “a move that poses a direct threat to the safety and well-being of both our workforce and the communities we serve.”
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Editor's Note: The Rail Electrification Coalition is in its 4th year and gaining traction. In another industry this might be the role of corporate research and development departments, but those evaporated with PSR so thankfully REC is there to provide coordination and leadership for rail's switch to zero emissions motive power. | |
Save the Date - Next major workshop on Rail Electrification, April 30, 2024 | |
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This upcoming semi-annual meeting will be a landmark gathering about the future of railroad motive power, the role of high voltage transmission, and technological innovation. We will examine and critique case studies and discuss rail electrification trends and where we go from here. Last November's meeting was attended by Class Ones, locomotive manufacturers, union leaders, and electric transmission providers and regulators.
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Editor's Note: It stands to reason that anytime a huge piece of equipment is in motion without the ability to "see" where it is going, the chance of disaster increases exponentially. And now the Class Ones are moving towards using RCO outside of the confines of the yard, over public crossings and more. | |
BLET / Feb 23
"Last week, on February 16, a woman was struck and killed by a remote controlled locomotive (RCL) in CSX Transportation’s Frontier Yard in Buffalo, New York. This is at least the second time in the past year that a CSX RCL has been involved with hitting a local resident in a neighborhood bisected by CSX tracks in Buffalo. Last June, an 8-year-old child lost his leg to an RCL at almost the same spot. Frontier Yard, like many rail yards, is not completely closed to the public. Whenever RCLs are used in uncontrolled environments they pose a significant public safety risk. BLET has been outspoken on this issue. BLET National President Eddie Hall in a guest editorial in the Houston Chronicle raised questions about the safety of RCLs and said their use, especially outside of rail yards, should be ended."
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Editor's Note: It appears that yet another state will go on the books outlawing single person crews. Momentum is in our favor, and we should keep on pushing for legislation at the state level, but we must have PLAN B, being prepared for the courts to side with the rail carriers and to rule all of these state laws unconstitutional. | |
SMART / Feb21
Parliamentary procedures between the two chambers of the Virginia Legislature concluded Tuesday, and a two-person crew bill now awaits the governor’s signature. “It was a big day and a big win in our state for rail safety for the public and the men and women who work on the railroad in Virginia,” Virginia State Legislative Director Ronnie Hobbs said. [SMART} Members are encouraged to send a message to Gov. Youngkin through the Legislative Action Center (LAC) letting him know that signing the bill is the correct course of action to keep safe train operations on Virginia’s rails.
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Editor's Note: The rail industry with its reach and tendencies toward massive fraud and worker abuse has been the venue for all sorts of change in North America, from business and legal practices to coalescing the forces for civil rights. A. Phillip Randolph (with the support of his entrepreneurial wife Lucille) organized the Pullman Porters and took on both corporate avarice and racism. | |
BLET / Feb 21
Asa Philip Randolph (1889-1979) was the founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first African American-led union to receive a charter from the American Federation of Labor (AFL). In addition to serving as a union leader, Randolph was a civil rights activist. He had a prominent voice in the early Civil Rights movement and helped to successfully lobby the federal government to end racist practices in defense industries and the armed services. Randolph also was the head of the March on Washington in 1963, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech.
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE LABOR MOVEMENT | |
Southern Workers Assembly
Operation Dixie was launched by the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in early 1946 and ended in 1953. It was an ambitious attempt by the CIO to organize industry, particularly textiles, across the South. However overdue and necessary this initiative was, it is largely regarded as a failure. As the UAW opens up new organizing drives across the South, and workers in many sectors in the region are stepping forward to organize and fight back, what lessons can be learned from this period and applied to our work today? How can we build a workers movement that can address the urgent need to build worker organization and power across the U.S. South? Join us for this discussion that will take up these and other questions.
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Editor's Note: The super wealthy elites are playing their hand more and more out in the open; i.e., crush unions and workers' power, and stop ANY infringement whatsoever upon the rights of the wealthy to make money off of our labor. | |
Harold Meyerson / Feb 24
We are engaged in a war with the rulers of the new economy, who, having already downsized that middle class by appropriating an ever larger share of the proceeds from its work for themselves, actually want to strike down the NLRA. In the past few weeks, three pillars of that economy—Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Jeff Bezos’s Amazon, and the Albrecht family’s Trader Joe’s—have all asked federal courts to declare the core functions of the NLRA unconstitutional, on the grounds that the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) administrative courts, like those of other regulatory agencies, mix judicial functions with executive branch functions.
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Weekly Derailment Department | | | | |
