For years, railroads have argued that a worker’s pursuit of collective bargaining agreement arbitration constitutes an “election of remedies” defense to a Federal Rail Safety Act claim. But after being rejected by half a dozen judges, that bogus defense was on life support. Now, in a devastating decision, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has
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Why Railroad Managers Retaliate
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act
Here’s an open secret: retaliation is the hallmark of an insecure manager who has no clue how to lead workers and who knows in his heart he is not qualified to be in a position of power.
Insecure rail managers perceive reports of safety concerns or injuries as a personal affront to their authority and…
New Head of FRA Raises Hopes
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Federal Rail Safety Act, Railroad Safety
Sounds like Joe Szabo will be the next Head of the Federal Railroad Administration. If so, this is good news for rail labor and anyone concerned with promoting rail safety. Joe’s background is as a conductor for both freight and passenger railroads, and until recently he served as Illinois state legislative director for the UTU.