Rail & Labor News from RWU
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Weekly Digest Number 25 - June 20th, 2023 | |
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. 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!
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(Editor's Note: We run this is the lead article this week because of its significance to organized labor as a whole. And nearly half of rail labor are Teamster members. RWU has been working to build solidarity across the supply chain and this labor conflict offers the perfect opportunity for rail workers and truck drivers to stand together and win. See the RWU Resolution HERE.) | |
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With the largest private sector labor contract in the United States set to expire at midnight on July 31, the eyes of the American labor movement are on United Parcel Services (UPS) and the nearly 350,000 Teamsters like us that work there.
June 11, 2023 SEAN ORR, ELLIOT LEWIS JACOBIN
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The National League of Cities (NLC) launched an interactive map showing the frequency of train derailments across the country. The map allows users to see an overview of derailments and dive deeper into details on specific incidents. “With rail tracks running through the middle of thousands of cities, towns and villages, derailments are a big concern for residents who want to keep their families and businesses safe,” said Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities.
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(Editor's Note: This documentary from Al Jazeera has been months in the making. The first half focuses on the NS derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The second part focuses on PSR and its effect on safety. Many rail workers are interviewed from a number of crafts, many supplied by RWU.) | |
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Fault Lines Documentary -
Investigating What's Behind Train Derailments in the U.S.
Senior Producer: Kavitha Chekuru
East Palestine’s train derailment has raised questions about safety culture in the US railroad industry, with federal investigators stating that the toxic chemical spill and train derailment could have been prevented. During our investigation, Fault Lines spoke with workers at the main railroads, who described how their jobs have been affected by a corporate strategy that has prioritized profits over safety.
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(Editor's Note: RWU encourages as many railroad workers as possible to attend this live and show solidarity with the people of the area. There is an online option as well.) | |
(Editor's Note: CPKS's attempt to consolidate dispatching in one facility is an example of what is yet to come in the way of job consolidations, staff reductions and "efficiencies." This happens in all railroad mergers. One of many reasons why RWU opposed the merger and promulgated this Resolution.) | |
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Rail labor groups are rejecting efforts by CPKC to extend and potentially make permanent a waiver that enables the Class I railroad from its Calgary, Alberta, office to dispatch trains at three locations near the U.S.-Canada border. Labor groups say allowing the waiver to become permanent would set a bad precedent and encourage other Class I railroads to use waivers as a way to evade safety regulations.
Joanna Marsh Monday, June 12, 2023
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(Editor's Note: RWU believes that railroad workers have great power - given their key position in basic industry - to assist workers in struggle throughout the industrial sector. Here is a blatant case where rail workers and our unions can come to the aid and assistance of other workers "outside" of our industry, who happen to be in the same parent union - IBT - and work on railroad property.) | |
(Editor's Note: The lies and deceit swirling around rail safety legislation knows no bounds. Every politician and their brother wants to pose as the champion of safer rail operations in the country ... but almost none of them are willing to support straight-up no-nonsense, necessary measures that directly confront the rail carriers.) | |
(Editor's Note: While the feds endlessly amend and tinker with a bill that right out of the chute had so many glaring shortcomings, loopholes, and waiver options, state and local officials closer to the ground clamor for even the most stripped down basic rail safety language to keep their communities safe from blocked crossings and catastrophic derailments.) | |
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Joanna Marsh Thursday, June 15, 2023
The executive directors for the National Governors Association (NGA), the National League of Cities (NLC) and the National Association of Counties (NaCo) are pressing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to bring the Railway Safety Act of 2023 to the Senate floor for debate.
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(Editor's Note: In this day and age, it is not often you hear of rail workers - or any workers - engaging in an alleged sick out. New Jersey Transit has been a basket case in recent years, finding it difficult to recruit and retain engineers to run their trains, resorting to endless train cancellations due to lack of staff.) | |
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June 16, 2023
National union to pay $50,000, says it “does not condone unlawful strikes’
Engineers did not report for their assignments on June 17, 2022, leading to the cancellation of nearly 300 trains. A federal court decision that month found that the General Committee of Adjustment, the local union that organized a “sick-out” on that date, had violated the Railway Labor Act. A court order remains in effect and prohibits any further action by the local union, including action on this year’s Juneteenth Holiday.
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(Editor's Note: Again, FRA ":advisories" do not commit the railroad carriers to doing anything. We need regulation, legislation, and ultimately, nationalization of the rail industry. Check out RWU's position HERE.) | |
(Editor's Note: While the MBTA and its contract operator Keolis have made a mess of the commuter operation, there is hope for the future. Take part in this webinar and learn more.) | |
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Regional Rail in Boston with TransitMatters
Jun 30, 2023 12 noon Ventral Time
Come learn about TransitMatters' advocacy for Regional Rail in Boston. They envision a new business model centered around transforming the region's commuter rail network into a modern, electric network and fleet of vehicles to bring rapid-transit like frequent and reliable service to the entire Metro Boston region. This would be transformative for the region and their work is a good model for other commuter rail networks looking to make the switch to a Regional Rail system.
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(Editor's Note: Railroad Workers United is a proud ally of the Truckers' Movement for Justice. RWU works to build solidarity and unity among all workers along the supply chain including those in trucking, longshore, airline, waterway, and warehouse.) | |
(Editor's Note: Another life lost to Remote Control Operations. The carrier of course will deny - as they always do - that this tragedy had nothing to do with RCO.) | |
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June 16, 2023
Remote control operator helper fell from locomotive and was run over in 2022 accident in Denver. Slack action was the probable cause of the Feb. 9, 2022, death of a BNSF Railway remote control operator helper who fell from the front platform of his locomotive in Denver, the National Transportation Safety Board said today.
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Weekly Derailment Department | | | | |
