BRS’s Response Regarding the Statement from President Joe Biden on Averting a Rail Shutdown

November 29, 2022 — The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) has negotiated using reason, evidence, and logic to demonstrate our members’ importance to the industry as the custodians of public safety and rail traffic’s efficiency. The quality-of-life issues are not just a fad that will pass quickly, they are a core concern that must be dealt with, as they are not going away.

We are disappointed in President Biden’s lack of vocal support for paid sick leave. The BRS appreciates Senator Sanders and others in Congress standing firm in the belief that our members deserve more in the form of paid sick leave. We encourage the Biden Administration to stick to its pro-worker roots and stand in solidarity with the American rail workers who have held up their end of the contract. BRS Members continually provided essential services to keep the supply chain running throughout a pandemic, to ensure that all Americans and industries had necessary commodities. In addition to a pandemic, Signalmen have also repeatedly been asked to do more with less as their employers have implemented the so-called “Precision Scheduled Railroading” operating model. Rail is not an antiquated industry, as demonstrated by the record profits reported by each railroad party to these negotiations, and it is time the rank and file are shown the respect they deserve. BRS Members have spoken; President Biden and Congress need to listen.

 

The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen represents nearly 6,500 men and women currently in National Agreement negotiations with the Nation’s major freight railroads.