The TWU won a significant victory against Brightline – and its shameful, ongoing effort to squash workers’ rights.
Workers have the right to join a union to better address work schedules, wages, and other job-related issues. Outrageously, Brightline is suing in federal court to invalidate the workers’ January vote to join The TWU.
In a major development, the Federal Railway Administration in Washington, D.C., last week clearly stated that Brightline is completely wrong on the law. The FRA essentially told the company’s wealthy executives and billionaire owners to stop the delay tactics and negotiate a contract with worker representatives. The message came in the form of a letter that the FRA sent to TWU International President John Samuelsen and Brightline lawyers.
“This was a big win,” President Samuelsen said. “The FRA has flat-out told Brightline it doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on. Brightline President Patrick Goddard should drop the company’s shameful union-busting tactics and drop the lawsuit immediately. They are showing workers a total lack of respect. It’s really deplorable.”