For years, Railroad Workers United (RWU) has spoken out publicly concerning the conditions of employment on the railroad and about railroad issues in general. Our adversaries - the rail industry and its mouthpieces including the American Association of Railroads (AAR) - are not shy about promoting their perspectives to the media. They spend millions to get their viewpoint across to both elected representatives and the American people. Railroad workers AND our unions cannot remain quiet. We need to tell our side of the story!
Given our track record of speaking out on the issues, and due to the fact that the conservative and cautious rail craft union officials generally refrain from comment, media outlets have often come to RWU to hear the voice of working railroaders throughout this last year's struggle. Outfits like More Perfect Union and The Real News came knocking first with questions about harsh rail industry attendance policies. They paved the way for countless other magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations, online news sources - both large and small - of various political persuasions and audiences to come calling. Then it just snowballed and grew exponentially!
Our Media Committee - composed of ten working and three retired railroaders - have answered the call and done a heroic job of telling the workers' side of the story. Calling/zooming in from the away-from-home-terminal, or while on rest at home, or even while on vacation, these brave men and women tirelessly spoke out for all of us. Collectively, they were not only able to greatly influence the terms of debate and win public support for our struggle, but were able to encourage railroad workers to stand strong and proud, and to not give up the fight. And they were able to provide the spark, the catalyst, for endless media outlets to pile on, investigate the rail industry, and issue countless news articles and analysis.
We did our best to keep track of the hundreds of segments over the course of the past year. Below is a sampling. Our apologies if your favorite was not included. NOTE: If you have a link to a news segment not listed, please email it. info@railroadworkersunited.org. Thanks. Solidarity Forever!
