EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Nearly a year and a half after the Norfolk Southern train derailment and resulting catastrophe here, the National Transportation Safety Board returned June 24-25 to report that the railroad bosses bear full responsibility. Their faulty equipment, lies to government officials, slashed work crews, and dangerous working conditions upended the lives of people in the region and spread toxic chemicals over 16 states.
“The railroads have boosted profits by cutting the workforce by nearly a third over the past seven years,” Eddie Hall, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said in a statement passed out at the meeting.
“To hear that they purposely and premeditated the poisoning of thousands of people,” Jami Wallace, president of the Unity Council for the East Palestine Train Derailment, above, told Associated Press. “How are they allowed to do that and get away with it?” The Militant will run more complete coverage of these developments in the next issue.