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Season 4, Episode 56

Derailments caused by a reduced workforce and a lower bottom line

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Guest Name:


Scott Slawson

Guest Website:


http://uelocal506.com/ 

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Scott Slawson, President of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers Local 506, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and shared his thoughts on possible causes of train derailments throughout the U.S.

There are roughly 1,000 locomotive derailments in the U.S. each year, Slawsonsaid. While the vast majority of those derailments are minor, there are a handful of major train derailments, such as the one in East Palestine, Ohio. 

He believes the railroad industry’s push to save money has not only allowed derailments to continue, but has caused the number of derailments to increase. Slawson said electronic brakes could reduce the time it takes to stop locomoatives, but this safety feature was not implemented due to costs. Railroad lobbyists influence lawmakers and prevent needed change, he added.

The desire to reduce the bottom line has also led to fewer inspections and reduced maintenance time, which in turn creates safety issues. Furthermore, the major carriers have reduced their workforce, which is another factor that affects safety, he said.

By appeasing shareholders, Slawson believes the railroads are not investing enough in safer technologies. The railroads need to invest in personnel and new technology to make the industry safer, he said. 

Listen to the entire episode to learn more.


America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

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