Why do railroad workers keep dying? | 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: workingpeople.libsyn.com/why-...
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[@1987Confused]

Former railroader before watching the video it's because people are forced to work schedules that don't allow for healthy sleep

[@katiekane5247]

Nursing is like that. I've worked a double 7-3 & 3-11 and been expected to be sharp at 7am the next day. Rotating to nights is very disruptive as well. I did straight 10 hour nights so 4 on, 3 off for over a year. It's better than rotating but ruins your life.

[@jeremyhansen8186]

​@katiekane5247 Thanks for caring and helping those in need. While your life is not in jeopardy working these long hours, a railroad workers is bc of the inherent danger involved in working with hundreds of tons of moving metal. Where the rubber meets the proverbial road is the danger to those you are caring for. That's the danger for you working long hours. I hung steel for a living and was almost killed bc of greed. It was a matter of safety that I addressed to my super and was told just get it done we don't have time to make it safe. I was dressed down and decided rather than loose a payday I would just suck it up and get it done. Turns out that decision almost killed me. We were working twelves climbing up n down big iron all day so the outfit I was working for got the bonuses for finishing under time and budget. We are talking fifty thousand dollars so the shortcuts and pressure was literally life-threatening. It's greed over valuing one's life and limb. I rehabbed for close to three years till I was physically able to climb the steel till they finally released me medically. The money enticed me to go back but the first day I got up twenty feet and started shaking so badly I couldn't mentally get over just twenty feet. The greed of the whole thing took me years to unpack. I could not understand how money was more important than my survival.

[@nickzivs]

The TL;DW of this is that executives have gutted the companies and demanded more with less to the benefit of shareholders (themselves included) at the expense of worker safety and also compensation. It’s gross and it’s common trend.

[@seansmith4833]

It keeps getting worse as a locomotive engineer for a class 1, our engines are in the worse condition they’ve ever been and they keep reducing staff that maintain them.

[@bearmister]

RIP to all the workers who lost their live's on the job. I experienced similiar problems in the trucking industry with force dispatched loads and tight, unrealistic deadlines despite heavy traffic congestion along with horse and buggy designed city streets. Bluntly put, it seems volume of freight moved and company profit prioritizes worker and public safety with a combination of tight deadlines, brain-dead safety regulations and poor preventative maintanance.

[@lisasmith8164]

I can't help but notice the use of double stacked cars routinely anymore. That used to be something you never would see.

[@JAY1892]

What I know about railroads/workers, you could write on the back of a stamp. Either way, I found this talk very interesting and do appreciate what you guys do.

[@katiekane5247]

It's like every other sector of workers in America. What used to be a good job we could be proud to be part of is now a stress filled, life shortening drudgery for the stockholders. Joey Santoro was wise to quit, Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't. He likely learned a few things from the railroad, he still swears 😂 If the workers doing the hard dangerous jobs got the equipment and consideration cops do, we'd all be better off IMO

[@VicTicklish]

Just the way it was planned by the commitee of 300. We must fight back as this has been in progress for decades & all over the world.

[@margaretreid5655]

It looks like stock interest

[@dennisg-ski7829]

Comment on the Railway Labor Act (RLA). Pres. Biden could have directed the congress to enter into mediation with management and labor. Member's of congress could have called for this option. This action could have taken place without the interruption of rail operations. Instead, there was silence, and the action taken was to force a contract and support management's focus on cutting labor costs over safe operations. But anyone with railroad stock is at fault, too. Speak out to state and federal politicians to mandate safe rail and airline operations by holding management and boards accountable.

[@thangd7124]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@joekulik999]

Choo !!! Choo !!!

[@jimtrack3786]

PSR is a death sentence to the lone trainman having a heart attack. Sure the train stops, but with no one else to call 911 and do first aid, that brother is a goner. Where's the "Precision" in that?

[@MariDutton]

I don't know, shut it down? Sounds like a plan.

[@debravictoria7452]

Why are so many derailments close to waterways? Coincidence? Heard that they are making trains longer, even with toxic chemicals. Maybe those cars should be put on trains with less cars and not mixed with cars carrying food, etc.

[@Papawcanner]

Warren Buffet needs more profit .Shutup worker and get your nose back on the grindstone .

[@publicutility]

Capitalism 101

[@publicutility]

PS Psychopaths are more prevalent than people realize. They occupy the seats of unchecked abuse of power.

[@moirat9317]

Why do the 💉💉💉 keep dying? No Disrepect! Who ARE The “Big Boys” of #Spotify #Patreon and The Like? 🤔

[@jsmandrake]

WT hell? invited guests w/o details? i iunderstand the layout of "business" today ie cutting everything to maximize profit, but Pretend you're in court and come strapped to lay out your case. Educate the public & persuade for alliances

[@batags3388]

dumb 1950s

[@The7thSine]

videos are whats supposed to go on youtube... spotify is where you need to be

[@blue18404]

Good riddence

[@mE-zx7pt]

To who?

[@JAY1892]

Good riddance to who?