There has been growing concern from our members about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, commonly referred to in the media as the “Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB), currently making its way through Congress. That is because beauty is in the eye of the beholder; and the legislation looks beautiful if you are a CEO of a corporation or a silver-spoon-fed billionaire. Some believe rail labor leadership stood by and did nothing while this bill moved forward—that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Let’s break down what’s really happening and where we stand now.
Why We Oppose the Bill as a Whole
From the beginning, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), along with our partners in the Rail Labor Division, have opposed the BBB because it puts working people last. While it includes flashy tax breaks for some, the deeper cuts are aimed squarely at workers and families, and all the data shows that the majority of the benefits go to the rich and the corporations. The corporate donor class is getting a huge3 return on its investment from the billions of dollars spent on campaign contributions.
Here are just a few of the most concerning pieces:
- Cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid.
- Stricter work requirements threatening essential benefits.
- Massive increases in defense and border spending while gutting worker protections.
- Rollbacks of clean energy and job investment programs that support long-term infrastructure growth.
- No meaningful labor protections—and in our case, a specific carve-out excluding railroaders from the benefits they were promised.
- Put it on the Tab – this legislation would add, by conservative estimates, $3 trillion to the deficit, which will increase rates and interest that everyday Americans pay. This is a handout to billionaires and corporate CEOs, and we, the working-class citizens, are the ones that are paying for it.
This is not a pro-worker bill. It is a repackaged austerity plan that creates winners and losers—and once again, working railroaders are being pushed to the margins.
The Overtime Tax Exemption: A Broken Promise
During the 2024 campaign, President Trump promised that all workers would be exempt from federal taxes on overtime pay. Naturally, our unions supported that idea—as we know, railroaders put in plenty of overtime hours.
But when the legislative text for the BBB was written, it only applied the overtime tax exemption for workers covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Railroaders are excluded from the FLSA because we fall under a separate law: the Railway Labor Act (RLA).
That legal distinction means unless Congress explicitly includes RLA-covered workers, we’re automatically left out. And that’s exactly what has happened.
We Fought to Fix It
Before this bill even hit the Senate floor, rail labor worked with Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) to introduce language that would have included rail workers by protecting workers covered by collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). That fix was smart, simple, and widely supported. The BRS endorsed it; the Teamsters did as well. Then, as the BBB moved forward without that language, we worked with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to introduce Amendment No. 2613, which would have corrected the exclusion of rail workers from the tax exemption. Cantwell’s amendment was clean and targeted—but Senate Republicans refused to allow a vote on it, even while advancing dozens of other amendments.
This wasn’t a case of being caught off guard. We were active at every step—but political gatekeeping blocked the fix.
What Needs to Happen
The BBB passed the Senate without the rail fix, it’s now in the hands of the House. While we still oppose the bill in its entirety, we know the reality: this bill is likely to pass. And if it does, we must do everything in our power to ensure rail workers are not left behind.
That’s why we’re mobilizing now to pressure the House of Representatives to fix this bill before it reaches the President’s desk. They have the power to restore the original intent of the overtime provision—and we need every voice raised to make that happen.
Don’t Let Congress Forget Railroaders
Some lawmakers don’t even realize rail workers were left out. Others don’t understand the difference between the FLSA and the RLA. That’s why your calls and emails matter.
We’ve been fighting behind the scenes—but now we need a loud, public show of support from the people who are directly affected.
Call your Representative. Send an email. Tell them, NO fix, NO vote. We’re not asking for special treatment—we’re demanding fairness.
The fight is not over.
Let them hear from the people who keep this country moving!
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Every phone call and email make a difference. Many lawmakers and especially their staff are not aware that rail workers were left out of the overtime tax relief provision. Without hearing directly from us, they may unknowingly cast a vote that excludes thousands of hard-working union members. This is our opportunity to speak out, set the record straight, and demand fair treatment! Congressional offices track constituent messages, and a wave of outreach from rail workers can be the difference between being ignored or being included. Time is short—reach out now and make your voice heard!
Call Your Representative
- Dial the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
- Ask to be connected to your House Representative (even if you think they already agree with you).
- You may use the provided script.
Email Your Representative
- Go to: house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.
- Enter your ZIP code to find your member of Congress.
- Use the provided template (copy/paste and personalize):
EMAIL TEMPLATE:
Dear Representative [LAST NAME],
I am writing to urge you to oppose final passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” unless it is amended to include railroad workers in the “No Taxation on Overtime” provision.
As currently written, the bill excludes workers covered under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), despite earlier versions and proposed amendments that would have fixed this issue. Senator Marshall’s bill included language to protect rail workers through their collective bargaining agreements, and Senator Cantwell’s Amendment No.2613 would have ensured this protection in the BBB.
I am a [your job title, e.g., signalman/signal maintainer] and a proud union member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen. My work often includes long hours and overtime. To be excluded from this tax benefit unfairly singles out essential workers in rail who were promised otherwise.
I respectfully ask that you stand up for working rail families and refuse to support this bill until rail workers are included in the overtime tax exemption.
Thank you for your time and commitment to fair representation.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address or ZIP Code]
PHONE CALL SCRIPT:
“Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I live in [City]. I’m calling to urge [name of your Representative] to vote NO on the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ unless it is amended to include rail workers in the overtime tax exemption.
Right now, the No Tax on Overtime only covers workers protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA—a law that sets things like minimum wage and overtime rules. But rail workers are exempt from the FLSA because we’re covered under a separate federal law called the Railway Labor Act. That means we’re automatically left out unless Congress specifically includes us. Earlier drafts of the bill included that fix, and Senator Maria Cantwell even offered Amendment No. 2613 to restore it; but, Senate Republicans blocked it.
I work long hours, including overtime, just like the workers this bill is supposed to help—Rail workers should not be excluded. I demand that rail workers be included in this bill before it moves forward.
Thank you for your time.”
