Rail Blog
After Years of TWU Pressure, Amtrak Gives Executive Bonuses to Frontline Workers
Posted OnDecember 12, 2025 by“TWU workers get a much-deserved bonus. The Amtrak suits sitting in offices get a much-deserved reality check.” The Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak announced that all frontline Amtrak workers, including Transport Workers Union members, will receive $900 bonuses during the holiday season – redistributing executive bonuses to the workers that move America’s passenger rail system. …Read More…
New TWU Contract for Union Tank Car Workers Provides Gains on Wages, Health Insurance, and Time Off
Posted OnNovember 7, 2025 byWorkers at Union Tank Car in Altoona, Pennsylvania overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract that provides retroactive pay increases and a nine percent raise through August of 2027. The TWU Rail Division and Local 2017 officers negotiated the contract with Union Tank Car Company. In addition to three percent raises each August, the contract increases shift differential pay for second and third…Read More…
TWU Strongly Opposes Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Merger
Posted OnJuly 29, 2025 byBillions for Wall Street while workers get shafted The Transport Workers Union of America strongly opposes the planned merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern and urges federal regulators, lawmakers, shippers, and unions to block the deal. “Union Pacific has a shameful safety record and was caught by the federal government trying to…Read More…
Conrail Rail Workers Ratify New Contract with Significant Pay Increases
Posted OnJune 26, 2025 byConrail TWU members in Detroit, Philadelphia, and New Jersey voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new five-year contract, delivering a 17.5% wage increase, with Journeyman Carmen making over $100,000 a year by contract’s end. “This is a big win for TWU railroad workers,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “This new contract locks in real wage…Read More…
TWU Persistence Pays Off, Amtrak Graduates First Apprentice Class in 31 Years
Posted OnMarch 31, 2025 byFor years, Rail Division Director John Feltz pressured Amtrak officials to revive a long-shuttered apprentice program that provides critical training to become a Journeyman Carman, only to be told he was “beating a dead horse.” “My response was, ‘I’ll beat that horse until it comes back to life,’” Feltz said at the first graduation…Read More…
Victory! Onboard Workers at Brightline Vote to Join the TWU
Posted OnJanuary 14, 2025 byOnboard Attendants and Lead Attendants on the Brightline railroad in Florida voted today, Tuesday, January 14, 2025, to join the Transport Workers Union of America. The National Mediation Board announced the election results in Washington, D.C., after weeks of balloting and an aggressive anti-union campaign by the privately-owned company. Brightline has about 100 Onboard…Read More…
Unemployment and Sick Benefits for Rail Workers to Get a Boost
Posted OnDecember 11, 2024 byBig Win for unemployed, sick, and injured railroad workers that restores benefits unfairly slashed over a decade ago The newly released text of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act includes language that boosts unemployment and sick benefits to eligible railroad workers by 5.7%. Railroad workers who are laid off or sidelined by a long-term illness or…Read More…
The TWU Beats Brightline as National Mediation Board Rejects Brightline Delay Tactics
Posted OnNovember 12, 2024 byThe Transport Workers Union of America won a significant victory on Tuesday over Brightline’s attempt to delay a union election for Onboard Service Workers at the Florida railroad. The TWU’s arguments stating that Brightline is a railroad and subject to the Railway Labor Act for the purposes of forming a union were upheld in…Read More…
Florida Elected Officials Support Brightline Workers Organizing With the TWU
Posted OnSeptember 30, 2024 byEight members of Congress representing Florida’s entire Democratic U.S. House delegation sent a statement of support for Brightline Florida workers’ right to organize. The statement comes as the company continues to fight an ongoing unionization effort among on-board attendants and lead attendants to join the Transport Workers Union. The lawmakers, led by Rep. Debbie Wasserman…Read More…
Brightline Florida Workers File for a Union – Starting the Path for a Voice on the Job
Posted OnAugust 8, 2024 byThe Transport Workers Union of America is helping to organize on-board rail workers at Brightline Florida, with an overwhelming majority filing for recognition on Thursday with the National Mediation Board. On-board workers at Brightline are critical for the operations of the nation’s only privately owned intercity passenger railroad and reached out to the TWU…Read More…