One year on from the catastrophic East Palestine derailment, rail union leaders have renewed their call for urgent safety reforms in the freight rail sector. They highlighted the freight rail industry's persistent safety failures, which contribute to more than 1,000 derailments and more than 1,500 accidents annually, including hazardous spills and fires in several states.
Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD), criticized rail companies for their continuous disregard for public safety, lobbying against critical safety measures like the two-person crew mandate, and delaying the adoption of a federal safety reporting program designed to protect workers reporting safety concerns. Despite some progress, with Norfolk Southern initiating a pilot safety reporting program, the response from rail companies has been sluggish and insufficient.
Unions also pointed to recent job cuts and continuing problems with unreasonable attendance policies, which exacerbate safety risks by contributing to worker fatigue and turnover. These conditions have led to accidents resulting in injuries and deaths among railway workers.
As the East Palestine community continues to recover, rail union leaders vow to keep pushing for comprehensive safety legislation, stressing that Congress must act decisively to prevent future tragedies. Their message is clear: without substantial federal intervention, rail safety will continue to be compromised.
