Episode Details

In 2022, the United States nearly experienced its first national railroad strike in decades, until then-President Joe Biden, along with Democrats and Republicans in Congress, stepped in to block a strike before it could begin. Rail labor unions were forced to accept contracts that did not substantively address long-brewing crises in the freight rail industry that have had disastrous consequences for frontline workers, trackside communities like East Palestine, Ohio, the passenger rail system, and the US supply chain writ large. In this episode of Working People, we speak with returning guest “Jay,” a veteran train dispatcher who’s been in the industry for 22 years, about what has changed—and what hasn’t—for rank-and-file railroad workers on the job over the last four years. 

Additional links/info: 

• Maximillian Alvarez, Working People / TRNN, “Ask a railroad worker: How did railroad jobs get so bad?””
• Maximillian Alvarez, Working People / TRNN, “Freight workers explain why a national railroad strike is looming”
• Maximillian Alvarez, Working People / TRNN, “Railroad workers speak out after Congress and Biden block rail strike”
• Mike L, TRNN, “A carman's perspective on the East Palestine derailment and the railroad industry as a whole”
• Maximillian Alvarez, TRNN, “US freight workers say it's time to nationalize the railroads”

Featured Music: 

• Jules Taylor, Working People Theme Song

Credits: 

• Audio Post-Production: Jules Taylor

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