Railroad Workers

What’s Behind The LIRR Strike?

May 19, 2026 Marc Kagan, Left Voice. Resist! LIRR, New York City (NYC), Railroad Workers, Strikes, Unions

I’m sure you know that five unions of Long Island Rail Road workers are on strike for the first time since 1994. The workers on strike include locomotive engineers, electrical and mechanical maintenance (repair) workers, signal workers, train dispatchers, and some clerical workers. (Much of the information below comes from the linked March 16, 2026 Presidential Emergency Board report). Here’s a link to picketing sites. Unlike NYC transit workers, who are prohibited to strike under the NYS Taylor Law, LIRR workers are covered by the Railway Labor Act, which allows strikes after lengthy mandated mediation and “cooling off” periods.

Working People Oppose Corporate Railroad Merger

April 2, 2026 Otis Grotewohl, Workers World. Resist! Farmers, Food and Agriculture, Norfolk Southern, Railroad Merger, Railroad Workers, Union Pacific

Rail workers and small family farmers are united in opposition to the proposed $85 billion merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS). The idea was first proposed by UP-NS bosses and capitalist shareholders in July 2025. The merger would combine the two major railroad companies, which span tracks across 43 states, and would create the first single-line railroad linking the North American coasts. Several labor unions and organizations representing small farmers have raised concerns about how the merger would impact their jobs and raise costs for consumers.

RWU Opposes Merger, Responds To Latest Fratricide In Rail Labor

November 24, 2025 Railroad Workers United. Organize! Merger, Norfolk Southern, Railroad Workers, Railroads, Union Pacific, Unions, Worker Rights and Jobs

When Railroad Workers United (RWU) was founded in 2008, delegates agreed that rail labor’s strength depends on solidarity, unity, and democracy across all crafts. That remains our position today. Sentiment alone does not win better wages, benefits, and working conditions; strategy and coordinated action do. As Eugene V. Debs reminded us, the success of the labor movement rests on real - not rhetorical - solidarity. Unfortunately, recent developments have undermined these principles. In its latest statement, SMART-TD abandoned solidarity, unity, and democratic process.

Canada Ends Lockout Of Rail Workers

August 23, 2024 Joe DeManuelle-Hall, Labor Notes. Resist! Canada, Lockout, Railroad Workers, Railroads, Strikes, Unions

Ten thousand Canadian railroad workers were locked out early this morning after two sets of major contracts expired. Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) forced out locomotive engineers, conductors, and yard workers who are organized under the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference. The major issues for the unions are scheduling and rest period protections in the contracts—areas where they say the railroads are demanding concessions. Through contracts and governmental regulations, union members have maintained some level of protection against increasingly demanding schedules. Workers have the right to rest periods between shifts and protections around how many hours they can be forced to work.

French Rail Workers Share Their Struggle For Better Conditions

May 14, 2024 Axel Persson, Rail Workers United. Strategize! France, International Solidarity, Railroad Workers, Strikes, Unions, Worker's Rights

The French railway workers have been under constant all-round attack for the past two decades, as has the entire French working class. The ruling class has been on the offensive to try to destroy everything French labour has fought to win with the CGT union since the aftermath of the Second World War. In the crosshairs of our class enemies is our social security system, our right to benefit from pensions at a decent age, our right to job security and protection against unfair dismissal, and our capacity to forge collective agreements that currently cover 95% of the workforce, both in the private and public sector.

Rail Workers Are Fighting On After Biden Blocked A National Strike

January 19, 2023 Jeff Schuhrke, In These Times. Resist! Joe Biden, Railroad Workers, Railroads, Strikes, Unions, Worker Rights and Jobs

While the high-stakes labor dispute on U.S. freight railroads has receded from headlines since President Joe Biden and Congress imposed a new contract last month, rail workers are continuing their fight for dignity and better conditions — albeit without the threat of a national strike on the table. “The American people should know that while this round of collective bargaining is over, the underlying issues facing the workforce and rail customers remain,” the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department said in a statement. The major underlying issue remains precision scheduled railroading (PSR), the business model adopted in recent years by Class I rail carriers like Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern and CSX. Designed to maximize shareholder profits by cutting costs to the bone, PSR has been blamed for a dramatic reduction in the freight rail workforce, increased supply-chain congestion and deteriorating safety — all while investors rake in record profits.

New York City: Sick Days Are A Human Right

December 9, 2022 Workers World New York Bureau, Workers.org. Resist! Paid Sick Leave, Railroad Workers, Solidarity, Worker Rights

A coalition of unions, activists and workers’ rights groups protested Dec. 7, outside and inside Grand Central Station in New York City, to demand full sick pay and labor rights for the 115,000 rail workers who transport essential goods. Their 11 unions were denied the constitutional right to strike by a bill passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden Dec. 2. Coalition organizers called out Biden for his assistance to Wall Street and the rail corporations, which loot billions in profits from rail workers’ labor, while endangering their health and safety. “If Biden wants to avoid disrupting the economy during the holidays,” said Larry Holmes, a leader with Workers Assembly Against Racism, one of the coalitions calling the action, “with the stroke of his pen, he can extend Obama’s legislation requiring paid sick leave for employees of companies with federal government contracts to rail workers.

Solidarity Rally For Railroad Workers

December 9, 2022 Railroad Workers United, Popular Resistance. Resist! Congress, Railroad Workers, Railroads, Unions

After missing-in-action the past few weeks, some rail union chiefs have called for a major rally in Washington, DC at the Capitol Building. In addition, the unions are assisting to build rallies at rail terminals in towns and cities across the country. RWU urges all railroad workers from every craft, family, members, other working class friends and allies to take part. These rallies are intended to draw the public’s attention towards: The need for increased rail safety – prioritizing the need to maintain two-person crews. The devastating effects of so-called “precision scheduled railroading” on the nation's rail workers, shippers, passengers and economy. NOTE: The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is conducting a major hearing on this very question today. The need for paid sick leave.

Threat Of Rail Work Stoppage Growing

October 27, 2022 Frank N. Wilner, Railway Age. Resist! Labor Unions, National Strike, Railroad Workers, Railroads

The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) on Oct. 26 became the second of 12 rail unions to reject a tentative agreement amending wages, benefits and work rules on most Class I railroads and many smaller ones. More than 60% of signalmen voted to reject the agreement, mirroring the 57% rejection rate of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division of the Teamsters Union whose votes were announced Oct. 10. All 12 unions and the railroads previously agreed to maintain a status quo until “early December,” meaning no strike or management lockout until all 12 rail labor unions have completed the contract vote ratification process and made one last attempt to avert a strike or lockout. Unless carriers agree for a third time to offer deal sweeteners, a nationwide rail shutdown—the first since 1992—is looming, as a strike by even one union likely will cause picket lines to be honored by employees of all other unions.

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