Rail Labor Day brings rail unions together to promote safety standards

Jeff Joines, the Director of Government Affairs for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED-IBT), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about Rail Labor Day on May 1 in Washington, D.C. and how it could help to bring better safety regulations to the rail industry.

Rail Labor Day, a planned day of action for rail unions on Capitol Hill, will occur on May 1. Joines talked about the event's history and how it came to be. With the hazards in the rail industry and recent notable accidents involving railroads, the unions involved will be trying to share the importance of proper safety legislation.

After the derailment of a Union Pacific train in East Palestine, Ohio, the focus of rail safety was given the spotlight it deserves. Through the Rail Safety Act, Joines said several of the bill's pieces would help prevent a future accident like in East Palestine or the recent derailment in New Mexico. He said the rail unions are hoping to stress the need for a vote from Congress. While he’s not sure there are enough votes, knowing which members of Congress are voting yes and which are voting no is important for the future efforts, he said.

Joines finally talked about the specifics of the Rail Safety Act and how it will benefit the communities and workers on the rail. As trains have gotten longer it’s important that workers are given enough time and the correct tools to inspect the cars properly. Due to the Precision Scheduled Railroading business model, many trains are being lengthened to more than a mile long, and only one or two workers are being tasked with inspecting the entire train, Joines said. At the end of the events on Rail Labor Day, Joines hopes to take the next steps to work with lawmakers to bring better safety regulations to the rail industry.

To hear more about Rail Labor Day, please listen to the show above.