Officials continue to conduct operation and inspect the area after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, United States on February 17, 2023. The train derailment happened on Feb. 3 in which 38 cars derailed, including 11 containing hazardous materials, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate for several days.
US Environmental Protection Agency/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Various rail workers unions blame working conditions for the Ohio derailment, per The Guardian.
Staff shortages and no paid sick days will lead to more disasters, union leaders said.
This comes two months after Congress halted a railroad workers strike.
Months after preparing to strike, train workers unions are blaming US railroad companies’ labor practices for the disaster in Ohio — and say without change, it’s only a matter of time before tragedy strikes again.
Residents and local leaders of East Palestine, Ohio, along with EPA officials are reeling after an 150-car freight train derailment in the town propelled plumes of toxic dust and debris into the sky on Feb. 3. While the National Transit Safety Board is still completing its investigation, it has indicated that the accident could have been the result of a wheel overheating — a mechanical error that unions say could have been prevented if rail companies had better working conditions.
Railroad Workers United, and others claim companies get away with short staffing, long hours and no paid sick days, jeopardizing safety protocol in the name of profit, the Guardian reported.
“It’s just intrinsic, with short staffing. Corners get cut and safety is compromised,” Ron Kaminkow, Railroad Workers United secretary and Amtrak engineer told The Guardian. As rail profits grew over the past five years, the total number of workers declined, the publication reported.
Workers are not the only ones who put blame on the rail companies: in Congress, there has been bipartisan outrage, and lawmakers are calling for the Biden administration to start an inquiry.
In a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, pointed out that there were only three railroad workers managing all 150 cars. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas endorsed a tweet from from Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, calling on Buttigieg to open an inquiry into the events of the crash.
The disaster comes after just over two months after Congress voted to halt a railroad workers’ strike — fearing that it would wreak havoc on the US economy ahead of the holidays — while simultaneously striking down a measure that would guarantee 7 paid sick days per year in rail workers’ contract.
Railroad workers had been in contract negotiations for three years before planning to strike in late November; sick days were one of the biggest impasses holding the contract up.
“I think the votes are despicable, not necessarily surprising,” Kaminkow told Insider in December of Congress’ vote.