Samantha Brown, Communications Director for the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed how the Presidential Emergency Board, appointed by President Biden, seeks to reach a contractual agreement between the United Rail Unions and the railroads.
Biden recently announced the formation of the board under the process laid out by the Railway Labor Act after voluntary bargaining between the unions and the freight railroads stalled. Brown explained this was due to the railroads negotiating in bad faith. It is the final attempt to reach an agreement before a work stoppage or a lockout occurs, she added.
Brown noted the railroads continue to ask for extreme demands not tenable in the current work environment and discussed the worker shortage that has plagued the railroad industry.
She also shared some recent good news from the Federal Transit Administration regarding the classification of worker assault.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.