Federal Railroad Administration Accuses Union Pacific of Intimidating Employees

TheFederal Railroad Administration (FRA)has suspended its safety assessment of Union Pacific Railroad due to allegations that the company's managers intimidated employees to hinder the inspection process. This move comes after several high-profile derailments across the industry.

Why this matters: The allegations of intimidation by Union Pacific managers undermine the integrity of safety inspections, potentially putting the lives of employees and the general public at risk. This incident highlights the need for stronger regulations and oversight in the railroad industry to prevent accidents and ensure accountability.

The FRA launched safety assessments of all major US railroads in response to the Norfolk Southern derailment in February 2023. However, Union Pacific managers allegedly coached employees on how to respond to FRA questions and suggested they might be disciplined if they didn't comply.

Karl Alexy, the FRA's chief safety officer, stated,"FRA has discovered that numerous employees were coached to provide specific responses to FRA questions if they were approached for a safety culture interview. "He added that some employees were reluctant to participate in field interviews due to intimidation or fear of retaliation.

The FRA suspended its safety assessment of Union Pacific due to the widespread nature of the issue across the company's 23-state network. Jared Cassity, chief of safety at the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers' Transportation Division (SMART-TD), expressed disbelief at the company's actions, saying,"To think that a company the size of Union Pacific is willing to go to great lengths to intimidate and harass their employees, so that they're not honest in their assessment of a company's safety culture. That begs the question of what else are you covering up?"

Union Pacific President Beth Whited defended the company's actions, stating, "The steps we took were intended to help, not hinder, and were taken to educate and prepare our team for the assessment ethically and compliantly." However, the FRA found defects in Union Pacific's locomotives and railcars last year and is still investigating a railcar explosion in western Nebraska.

Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown called Union Pacific's actions "unacceptable" and pledged to fight for a vote on a bipartisan railroad safety bill in the Senate soon. The bill would set standards for trackside detectors and inspections to catch problems before they cause derailments.

The National Transportation Safety Board's final report on the East Palestine derailment is expected to be released in late June 2024. As the investigation into Union Pacific's alleged intimidation tactics continues, the railroad industry faces increased scrutiny over its safety practices and the need for stronger regulations to prevent future accidents.

Key Takeaways

• FRA suspends Union Pacific safety assessment due to allegations of employee intimidation.
• Managers allegedly coached employees on how to respond to FRA questions, potentially hiding safety issues.
• FRA found defects in Union Pacific's locomotives and railcars, and is investigating a railcar explosion.
• Sen. Sherrod Brown pledges to fight for a vote on a bipartisan railroad safety bill in the Senate.
• NTSB's final report on the East Palestine derailment is expected in late June 2024.