Railroad Union Leaders Meet with Transportation Secretary to Discuss East Palestine Train Derailment and Need for Improved Safety Measures

Leaders from 12 railroad unions met with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to discuss the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio and the need for improved safety measures.

The meeting follows a letter sent to Buttigieg and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine by the Teamsters, criticizing Norfolk Southern for not providing personal protective equipment to workers and putting them at risk. The letter also asked for officials to intervene.

At the meeting, union presidents reported that many workers have fallen ill at the derailment site, with symptoms such as migraines and nausea. Mike Baldwin, president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, said “My hope is the stakeholders in this industry can work towards the same goals related to safety when transporting hazardous materials by rail.”

The derailment occurred on April 5th and resulted in the release of hazardous materials, including sulfuric acid. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.

The Biden administration has promised to prioritize safety in the rail industry, and this meeting is a step in that direction. The unions and the administration are working together to ensure that workers are protected and that hazardous materials are transported safely.