HOME RUN ON RAIL SAFETY

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- House Republicans and Democrats reasoned and voted together Oct. 17 to give the Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act, H.R. 2095, veto-proof majority approval -- 377-38. Now it is up to the Senate.

The House bill is intended to transform America's railroads from a rolling and deadly pyrotechnics show by eliminating employee fatigue, improving employee training, increasing investments in safe operation, and boosting federal safety inspections.

"Railroads have been thumbing their noses at public safety, national security and their workers' well-being, and now a bi-partisan super majority in the House has shoved that arrogant thumb back up the railroads' egos," said UTU International President Paul Thompson.

UTU National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer said, "Lawmakers are not going into an election year seen as lackeys to a railroad industry that places record profits ahead of employee and public safety. The bill's supporters have put themselves on record that they want every railroader to return home to their family in one piece."

Mike Sullivan, who on Jan. 1 becomes general president of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers -- which joins the UTU with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association -- called passage of H.R. 2095 "the first of many legislative and bargaining victories we anticipate by combining resources and energies to benefit each of our 230,000 active members."
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Among its provisions, H.R. 2095 would:

* Reduce limbo time to a maximum of 10 hours monthly, virtually eliminating it;

* Guarantee 10 hours undisturbed rest, and one 24-hour off-duty period every seven days;

* Strengthen whistleblower protections and permit conductors to refuse to authorize use of unsafe or hazardous equipment;

* Require certification of conductors;

* Establish minimum and uniform training standards, and periodic retraining;

* Mandate installation of positive train control by 2014;

* Require mainline switch monitors in dark territory;

* Require an almost doubling of FRA safety inspectors -- from 421 to 800 -- by 2011;

* Require a study of cab ergonomics and require emergency breathing apparatus in all cabs;

* Put an end to harassment and intimidation of workers who report personal injuries;

* Require prompt medical treatment of injured employees;

* Increase civil penalties for safety violations; 

* Require that rail safety inspections performed in Mexico meet the same standards as those performed in the U.S.

* Change the name of the Federal Railroad Administration to the Federal Railroad Safety Administration, and require the agency to concentrate all its resources on safety.

Brunkenhoefer, who led the House lobbying effort on behalf of labor, said, "This House victory shows what happens when members want something and work hard by making the phone calls and sending the e-mails to ensure its achievement. Member efforts, which include UTU PAC contributions, were a crucial element of this victory," Brunkenhoefer said.

H.R. 2095 was introduced by Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

In the Senate, the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act, S. 1889, introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), chairman of the Surface Transportation Subcommittee, awaits Senate floor action after being unanimously approved by the Senate Commerce Committee.