Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen

On March 16, PEB 254, the second POTUS 47-appointed board assigned to the long-running contract dispute between a coalition of five unions and LIRR, “like an earlier appointed board of experts, recommended raises and retroactive pay for rail workers,” reported the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, which is part of the coalition. (LIRR Photograph)

Labor Updates: LIRR, TTC

The second Presidential Advisory Board (PEB) to help settle a years-long contract dispute at MTA Long Island Rail Road in New York issues recommendations. Also, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) formally files for conciliation with Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2, a bargaining unit representing some 700 electrical, signal and cable technicians.

(CSX Photograph)

CSX Signalman, Boilermakers Ratify Five-Year Deals

CSX on April 30 reported securing the ratification of new five-year collective bargaining agreements with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Forgers & Helpers (IBB).

(NTSB Diagram)

NTSB Issues Preliminary Report on 2024 CSX Head-On Collision

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report for its ongoing investigation of the April 15, 2024, head-on collision of a CSX train with a CSX stationary, loaded rock train in Folkston, Ga. The agency said future work will focus on “the industry-wide operational procedures for train movements during a signal suspension, training standards on the manual operation of dual-controlled switches, and the effectiveness of job briefings.”

NS, BRS Partner to Enhance Safety

Norfolk Southern (NS) and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) on Oct. 19 announced a partnership to create the Signal Safety Collaboration initiative, a one-year pilot program developed with input from the

NTSB-provided photographs from the July 6, 2023, Norfolk Southern derailment in Virginia: Derailed gondola cars (left) and a wheelset with a burned-off bearing (right) from unit coal train 814V404. (Sources: NS, left; Federal Railroad Administration, right.)

NTSB Issues Preliminary Report on NS Coal Train Derailment

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report for the investigation of Norfolk Southern’s (NS) July 6, 2023, coal train derailment near Elliston, Va. The agency said future activity will focus on the wheelset and reconditioned bearings of the 71st railcar of the 105-car train; NS’s use of hot bearing detectors (HBD); and NS’s operating rules for defective equipment detectors.

“We thank the unions for their partnership on improving safety and quality of life for every employee,” Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan H. Shaw said during his railroad’s June 1 town hall meeting, which included labor leader speakers. “We said we wanted to partner more effectively with union leadership—and today you see management and labor keeping that promise.” (Norfolk Southern Photograph)

NS Hosts Inaugural Safety-Focused Town Hall

Safety, union collaboration and “creating long-term value” were the three main topics of Norfolk Southern’s (NS) first company-wide town hall meeting. Held June 1 in Bellevue, Ohio, 20,000 railroaders from across the

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