Judge Dismisses Brightline Lawsuit. Union Election Upheld.
A federal judge dismissed a Brightline railroad lawsuit that, if successful, would have invalidated a vote by its workers to join the Transport Workers Union of America.
The judge found Brightline’s legal argument – that the National Mediation Board lacked jurisdiction to conduct and certify the union election in January 2025 – too weak to merit advancing the case to trial. Justice Darrin Gayles, of the U.S. District Court of Southern Florida, granted summary judgment to the NMB in the case that the TWU joined against Brightline.
“This is a huge victory for the workers and the TWU,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “Brightline should finally realize it has reached the end of the line. The railroad’s multi-year attempt to silence its workers and deny them the right to negotiate for fair wages and benefits has been nothing short of shameful.”
TWU Rail Division Director John Feltz said: “Brightline can now stop wasting money on high-priced lawyers who tried to overturn our members’ right to join the TWU. The company should now use its resources to provide our members a contract that provides a fair living wage and better benefits for them and their families.”
The TWU represents about 100 Brightline Onboard Attendants and Lead Attendants. Workers contacted the TWU in 2024 to seek representation, aiming to gain a voice in the workplace and address several issues. These include a draconian sick time policy, heavy-handed discipline without due process, and unpredictable work schedules.
Despite an ugly, anti-union campaign waged by Brightline and its hired gun “union avoidance” law firm, workers voted to join the TWU in January 2025. Brightline challenged the NMB’s jurisdiction with several filings to the agency, before and after the election, and lost. It filed a federal lawsuit in December 2024.
Brightline claimed it is not a railroad as defined by the National Railway Labor Act and therefore not subject to the National Mediation Board’s oversight. Justice Gales ruled that this is an inaccurate interpretation of the law. He also noted that Brightline accepted federal grants that can be awarded only to rail carriers governed by the RLA.