RWU Extends Gratitude to Departing Public Rail Now Staff

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Railroad Workers United extends gratitude to departing staff as Public Rail Now campaign establishes organizational independence

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Thursday, May 22, 2025 — The Railroad Workers United (RWU) International Steering Committee, Alternates and Trustees wish to express our profound gratitude to our immensely talented staff members — Tabitha Tripp, Adam Barrington and Maddock Thomas — for their exceptional service to our organization. In a new restructuring, they have formally departed RWU, owing to the remarkable success of their work growing the campaign to build a movement for public ownership of the North American rail system. Public Rail Now (PRN) will henceforth operate as an independent organization, staffed by the three of them, with its own fiscal and governance structures separate from Railroad Workers United.

RWU originated the campaign for public rail ownership with a resolution and an organizing commitment in 2022. We anticipated from the start that the campaign, as it grew, would need to form its own organization to activate a truly widespread coalition of stakeholders from labor, transportation justice, environmental and economic justice groups. We're thrilled that our gifted staff members have ushered the campaign to this point.

During his tenure of over a year as RWU’s National PRN Campaign Organizer, Adam Barrington made substantial and impressive progress in advancing the campaign’s work. He established vital connections with rail workers and forged crucial alliances with labor, community, environmental and academic partners across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Adam also launched a podcast where he continues to host compelling conversations with dynamic voices in the rail labor movement and allied campaigns.

As Public Rail Now’s head of research, Maddock Thomas developed a comprehensive and invaluable white paper along with a compelling presentation and conference paper highlighting the failures of the private rail system and the urgent need for public rail. He presented his findings at events and meetings nationwide and online, all while continuing his full-time undergraduate studies at Brown University and participating in other allied organizing.

Crucially, Tabitha Tripp, serving as both Public Rail Now Campaign Director and RWU Director of Grants & Fundraising, applied her wide ranging talents and extensive experience to deliver the successes that have enabled Public Rail Now's growth and independence. As RWU fundraising director, she secured multiple rounds of substantial foundation and donor support which facilitated the hiring of Adam and Maddock, but also Keegan Wallace, RWU’s newly appointed national organizer. 

Her contributions extended far beyond fundraising to include impressive communications, organizing and operational leadership. Notable achievements include completely redesigning the RWU website, co-organizing RWU's 9th Biennial Convention, managing fundraising for both RWU and PRN, creating and directing the PRN website, overseeing the research and publication of the Public Rail Now white paper and economic impact study, handling budgeting, events, and strategic planning for both organizations, and managing general operations for RWU and PRN — among many other accomplishments.

Railroad Workers United salutes Tabitha, Adam and Maddock for their outstanding efforts on behalf of RWU, the movement for public rail ownership and the advancement of railroad workers' struggles. We are deeply grateful to them, and look forward to supporting Public Rail Now, their continued work and future endeavors.

Please donate to the Public Rail Now campaign, sign up to get involved, and follow them on Facebook, Bluesky and Instagram.

Solidarity Forever!

The RWU International Steering Committee, Alternates and Trustees