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      railroad workers united

      This aerial photo shows the aftermath of a fiery BNSF train derailment that occurred near Raymond, Minnesota on March 30, 2023.

      Derailment Spree Proves Railway Regulations Urgently Needed, Say Union Members

      "These companies siphon billions into share buybacks, dividends, and bonuses rather than into the vital maintenance and infrastructure growth we need to build a safe, modern, and thriving rail industry," said one worker.

      Kenny Stancil
      Apr 03, 2023

      After at least six major freight train derailments occurred across the United States over the past week, the need for stronger rail safety rules couldn't be clearer, an interunion alliance of rail workers said Monday.

      "The recent uptick in derailments across the U.S. highlights the dire need for stricter regulations on the length and weight of trains, as well as a focus on preventing unsafe operational practices such as precision scheduled railroading (PSR) which prioritizes short-term financial gains for Wall Street over the safety of communities and railroad workers," Jason Doering, a locomotive engineer and general secretary of Railroad Workers United (RWU), said in a statement.

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      railroad workers united
      Workers service the tracks at a railroad yard

      Norfolk Southern's 'Safety Plan' Includes Automation That Could Further Endanger Workers

      "You can't just replace the manpower with a machine when it's not always as effective," said one railroad worker.

      Julia Conley
      Mar 08, 2023

      With railroad operator Norfolk Southern involved in numerous significant train derailments and other accidents in recent weeks, the company on Monday unveiled a "six-point safety plan" that officials claimed would "immediately enhance the safety of its operations."

      But critics including rail workers were quick to point out that one aspect of the plan could worsen the growing problem of reduced railroad crews, which they say has contributed to dangerous conditions on railroads.

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      Smoke rises from a derailed cargo train in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 4, 2023.

      To Prevent More 'Catastrophic Derailments,' Rail Workers Outline Plan for Immediate Reforms

      "We demand that the railroad be run safely, efficiently, and professionally, and not as some 'cash cow' for Wall Street investors and billionaires," said one union leader. "Much of what is wrong with the rail industry today can be fixed easily and quickly."

      Kenny Stancil
      Feb 24, 2023

      Three weeks after the lives of East Palestine, Ohio residents were upended by a fiery wreck involving a Norfolk Southern-owned train overloaded with hazardous materials, rail union leaders on Friday implored federal regulators and lawmakers to "focus on the primary reasons for the derailment and take immediate action to prevent future disasters."

      In a statement, Railroad Workers United (RWU) pointed to the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) newly published preliminary report on the February 3 crash and subsequent burnoff of vinyl chloride and other carcinogenic chemicals, which suggests that an overheated wheel bearing likely caused the train to derail. The inter-union alliance of rail workers also cited NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, who said Thursday at a press conference: "This was 100% preventable. We call things accidents—there is no accident. Every single event that we investigate is preventable."

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