Why do railroad workers keep dying on the job? | Working People

“Last Wednesday, a fellow rail worker was gravely injured on the job and lost his life,” a Feb. 6 email from Railroad Workers United reads. “Our brother Chris Wilson, who worked for Norfolk Southern, was critically injured in its Decatur rail yard Wednesday and died Thursday at Huntsville Hospital.” Another email from Feb. 9 reads, “On January 15th, a fellow rail worker was killed on the job in Ohio.” Then, on Feb. 17, another email: “On February 13th, a fellow rail worker was killed on the job in North Carolina. Brother Randall M. Howell, 41, of Allied Federation Lodge 563, died following a road crossing incident in Roanoke Rapids, N.C.” Why are railroad workers all over the country dying on the job? And what can be done to stop these needless deaths? We talk with four railroad workers and members of Railroad Workers United (RWU). Panelists include; Nick Wurst, a freight conductor in Massachusetts, legislative rep for his union local, and currently serving on the RWU international steering committee; Matt Weaver, a member of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED-IBT) for nearly 30 years, legislative director for his union in Ohio, and a founding member of RWU; Mark Burrows, a retired locomotive engineer with 37 years in the industry, and the editor of “The Highball,” RWU’s quarterly newsletter: and Ross Grooters, RWU co-chair, member of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, also serving on the BLET-IBT Iowa state legislative board, with over 20 years in the industry.Additional links/info below…

• Railroad Workers United website, Facebook page, and Twitter page
• Ross’s Twitter page
• Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, “They Were Just Another East Palestine Family—Until Norfolk Southern Set Off a Bomb in Their Lives“
• Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, “East Palestine Residents Still Need Help—the Labor Movement Should Be an Ally“
• Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, “He Tried to Raise the Alarm about Railroad Safety. Then He Got Fired“
• Mike L, The Real News Network, “A Carman’s Perspective on the East Palestine Derailment and the Railroad Industry as a Whole“
• Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, “US Freight Workers Say It’s Time to Nationalize the Railroads“
• Maximillian Alvarez, Breaking Points, “Rail Worker EXPOSES Ohio Disaster COVERUP“
• Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, ““This Was Preventable”: Railroad Workers Explain How Wall St Caused the East Palestine Derailment“
• Working People, “East Palestine, Ohio: A Hell of Wall Street’s Making (w/ Matt Weaver)“
• Kari Lydersen, In These Times, “The Case for Nationalizing the Railroads“

Permanent links below…

• Leave us a voicemail and we might play it on the show!
• Labor Radio / Podcast Network website, Facebook page, and Twitter page
• In These Times website, Facebook page, and Twitter page
• The Real News Network website, YouTube channel, podcast feeds, Facebook page, and Twitter page

Featured Music…

• Jules Taylor, “Working People” Theme Song
• Jules Taylor, “John L. Handcox Remix”
• Jules Taylor, “Her Water”

Post-Production: Jules Taylor

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