Farm work has long been excluded from federal protections. In fact, during the fight to pass the New Deal there were two types of work specifically excluded from the reforms passed (like social security). This was at the insistence of Representatives and Senators from Southern states. Anyone want to guess what color skin most of those workers had at the time?

The majority of railway employees are also unfortunately not safeguarded by the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Instead, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is tasked with regulating our industry, however, their protocols can often be perceived as grossly inadequate. Employees attempting to adhere strictly to safety guidelines risk termination, while ironically, those who suffer injuries due to non-compliance with a rule are also at risk of losing their jobs.

Furthermore, railway workers are legally prohibited from striking. The employment conditions for many require round-the-clock availability throughout the year with NO days off, necessitating immediate response to any operational issue (such as what a firefighter may face). As a Signal Maintainer, for instance, should one struggle to stay awake during a long, three-hour drive to a remote railway crossing, there are no alternatives but to continue the journey, perform necessary repair work often in physically challenging and deadly environments, and then drive home only to turn back around and resume a standard eight-hour work shift when the sun rises.

Regrettably, our hours of service laws, intended to regulate the balance between work and rest periods, are incredibly insufficient. Employers can exploit loopholes to bypass these regulations, further endangering employee well-being.

Moreover, OSHA’s regulatory enforcement does not extend to most railway workers, leaving the FRA in charge. Rather than focusing on enforcing the multitude of safety regulations designed to shield both employees and the public from harm, the FRA appears to prioritize minor infractions such as slightly dim light units at a crossing, or protecting the financial interests of the railway companies. This situation necessitates a reevaluation of our current safety and regulatory framework.

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Disgusting.