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From the January-February 2009 issue of Union Democracy Review #177
Rail Workers United off to a highballing start
Railroad workers in the United States are scattered among many unions. Railroad Workers United, a new alliance of rail workers, reaches across unions, craft lines, and employing rail lines to introduce the spirit of unity. It is not still another union but a movement which advocates common action by those unions that already bargain for rail workers. Under its ambitious watchword: "Unity- Solidarity- Democracy: the Rank and File in Action," RWU embarks on its own campaigns in their general interests.
Its founding convention in Dearborn, Michigan, in April last year, emerged with a formal membership structure, a set of officers, and a steering committee representing members of five different unions. It now comes equipped with all the accoutrements of organization: a newsletter, website, stickers, flyers, T-shirts.
Its newsletter, The Highball, announces campaigns on safety and on retirement. Highball argues that the safety programs of the various rail carriers "all have one common feature - they fail to address the real safety hazards that exist… focusing instead on workers’ behavior." RWU provides a "tool kit" of materials that union locals can use to build real safety programs. The campaign for pension improvements centers on a petition drive calling for a reduction of the retirement age from 60 to 58 after 30 years of service.
For information see www.railroadworkersunited.org. To call: (206) 984-3051.
See also:
Railroad
workers on right track for unity
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