In recent decades, the railroad industry has consolidated from more than 40 Class One Rail carriers to only six with disastrous results for the rail workers and the public. Despite a 1990’s moratorium on mergers, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are applying for a new merger, the first one to be transcontinental. Workers, passengers, farmers, and other industries are joining forces to stop this merger. Clearing the FOG speaks with Ron Kamikow, a co-founder of Railroad Workers United, about the state of our rail system, the impact of the potential merger and the campaign against it. Kamikow says the UP-NS merger would definitely lead to further consolidation and would disrupt the supply chain at a time when it is already fragile.
Listen here:
Review us on iTunes! Click here … Then click on “View in iTunes … Then click “Ratings and Reviews.”Guest:
Ron Kamikow – Prior to hiring out as a brakeman with Conrail in 1996, Brother Ron served as President of AFSCME Local #634 in Madison, WI. In 2005, Ron co-founded Railroad Operating Crafts United (ROCU), and in 2008, was a Founding Member of Railroad Workers United (RWU), serving on the Steering Committee until 2024 as General Secretary and Organizer. A former brakeman, conductor, and engineer on Conrail and later Norfolk Southern in Chicago (UTU #168) and Elkhart, IN (UTU #194), Ron has worked for Amtrak in Milwaukee (BLET #27), Chicago (BLET #40), and Reno, NV (BLET #51) where he recently retired (2023) after 20 years as a passenger engineer with the company. Ron recently served as his Division’s Vice President and Delegate, and continues to represent the local as Delegate to the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council (NNCLC). He remains active in RWU, serving on various committees.
