Written by Mike Efaw, National Legislative Director, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
WASHINGTON, D.C. –– The members of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen install, inspect and maintain the signal systems that govern train movements through thousands of American communities. When a gate comes down at a grade crossing or a signal turns red ahead of a stopped train, our members go to work protecting your family.
Know this: We don’t speak from corporate boardrooms. We speak from the front lines of rail safety, which is why we can confidently say that the proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern is a danger to workers and the public. (Left: Mike Efaw, BRS)
Union Pacific has answered every concern about this merger the same way: with empty promises about jobs, better service and a stronger network. Here is the problem: Union Pacific’s own record proves that its promises ring hollow, and the Surface Transportation Board should not accept a single commitment from this company at face value.
Start with safety, where the stakes are highest. In 2024, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) began a safety culture assessment of Union Pacific, part of a review of every major railroad after the East Palestine disaster. Two weeks in, the FRA shut the assessment down…