BNSF rail bosses lay off workers in search of profits, undercut safety

Vol. 88/No. 12 - March 25, 2024

LINCOLN, Neb. — The bosses at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway announced Feb. 28 they were furloughing over 360 mechanical and rail-car inspectors, members of the International Association of Machinists and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen. These workers inspect,…


Derailment, evacuation in Minnesota

Vol. 87/No. 15 - April 17, 2023
Pile of burnt cars on BNSF Railway train hauling highly flammable ethanol that derailed in Raymond, Minnesota, March 30. Over 800 people live there, many are tied to farming.

RAYMOND, Minn. — In the early morning hours of March 30 a BNSF train derailed a mile south of here, putting 22 cars, including a number loaded with highly flammable ethanol, on the ground. Over 800 people live in the…


CN rail workers ‘strike for safety’ won broad backing

Vol. 83/No. 46 - December 16, 2019
More than 50 Teamster rail strikers picket Canadian National headquarters in Montreal Nov. 26 before tentative agreement was announced. Now debate over contract begins before vote.

MONTREAL — Following a Nov. 26 tentative agreement between Teamsters Canada Rail Conference officials and Canadian National Railway bosses, the 3,200 CN conductors, including yardmen and yardmasters, returned to work Nov. 27 after an eight-day “strike for safety.” The workers…