Union leaders and lawmakers gathered at the Capitol on the anniversary of the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment to urge Congress to pass the Railway Safety Act and other safety measures. The event brought together representatives from several labor organizations, including the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM), Brotherhood of Railway Signalmen, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and leaders from the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD).
Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President for the IAM Rail Division, said, “It should not take another catastrophic derailment for Congress to move on rail safety. One was enough. The issue is bipartisan. Congress needs to do what’s right and act now.”
Michael Baldwin, President of the Brotherhood of Railway Signalmen and Chairman of the Rail Labor Division of TTD, reflected on the incident: “We are gathered here today to mark an anniversary that never should have happened. Three years ago in East Palestine, Ohio, a freight train derailed and unleashed toxic chemicals into a community that did nothing to deserve it. This was not a fluke, this was not bad luck, it was the foreseeable result of a system that has been allowed, even encouraged, to put profits ahead of safety.”
Union officials such as IAM Rail Division head Josh Hartford; TCU/IAM Legislative Director Dave Arouca; Legislative Representative Connor Vargo; IAM Legislative Assistant Director Ty Richardson; and IAM District 19 President Reece Murtagh joined their colleagues in calling for legislative action.
Several members of Congress also spoke at the event. U.S. Representatives Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Michael Rulli (R-Ohio), and John Garamendi (D-Calif.) expressed support for advancing the bipartisan Railway Safety Act. Mayors Matt Pacifico of Altoona, Pa., and Michael Lambardo of Pittston, Pa., were also present.
Three years after the East Palestine derailment released hazardous chemicals into a local community—an incident that union leaders argue could have been prevented—Congress has yet to implement stricter rail industry regulations. Supporters say that passing new legislation would help prevent similar accidents in the future by increasing oversight and improving standards for railroad operations.
Greg Regan, President of TTD, emphasized cooperation across political lines: “This is not a partisan issue. Former President Biden and current President Trump both voice support for railway safety. This is something that can and needs to be addressed. The labor movement is ready to work with you all to make sure we can actually achieve a rail system that we can all be proud of.”
The unions continue their advocacy efforts by encouraging citizens to contact legislators in support of enhanced rail safety measures.
