Tariffs are often promoted as a way to protect domestic industry. For railroad workers, the reality is far more concrete and far more immediate. Freight rail sits downstream of nearly every trade decision. When trade slows, rail volume falls. When volume falls, labor absorbs the shock long before capital does. Railroad workers do not experience…
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What “New York Dock” Is “New York Dock” refers to federally imposed employee‑protective conditions that automatically apply when the Surface Transportation Board (STB) approves a railroad merger, acquisition, consolidation, or similar transaction. The name comes from the ICC decision New York Dock Railway—Control—Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal (360 I.C.C. 60 (1979)). These protections bind the carrier…
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Union members at CSX, especially those represented by the International Association of Machinists (IAM), face a challenging landscape regarding healthcare costs. Paying 15% of the Carrier’s monthly payment for insurance seems like a straightforward deal, but it can have significant financial implications. The average increase in healthcare costs in America typically ranges between 3-5% annually,…
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A flexibility agreement between CSX and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) offers several significant advantages for members. This agreement introduces three key provisions: voluntary temporary transfers, a 4/10 workweek, and discussions regarding simple tasks. Additionally, machinists gain paid work boots through the amendment of the sick leave agreement, providing essential support for safety and…
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There has never been more appropriate a time to organize workforces. It is imperative that workers have a united voice in this era of economic upheaval and widening inequality. There are several advantages to organizing a workforce, including better pay and working conditions, job stability, and a bigger say in decisions. It gives employees greater…
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The deadline for President Joe Biden to intervene and keep 115,000 railroad workers from going on strike and disrupting deliveries of cars, crops, containers of imported goods, and countless other products and raw materials is looming. July 18th at 12:01 am to be exact. Biden is widely expected to name a board of arbitrators to…
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