U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) at a news conference in 2023 calling for passage of the bipartisan Railway Safety Act.
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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has a long history of supporting rail unions and the rights of workers. His commitment to workers extends beyond speeches and photo opportunities — his actions speak for themselves.
Last month, he stood up for workers at CSX when the railroad announced it would implement a plan to remove train crew stops at Collinwood Rail Yard in Cleveland, Ohio. The plan would force employees to relocate to other CSX rail yards roughly 180 miles away in Buffalo, N.Y., or 80 miles away in Willard, Ohio — or be laid off. Those union jobs are now safe after Senator Brown publicly pressured CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs on behalf of the workers. In 2024, Senator Brown authored the Railway Safety Act in response to the fiery rail disaster in East Palestine, Ohio.
Actions like these are part of the reason why the BLET endorsed Senator Brown for reelection. BLET National President Eddie Hall said: “Senator Sherrod Brown has consistently fought to protect the rights of union workers. As Ohio faces critical challenges in rail safety and labor rights, the stakes could not be higher. Ohioans need a senator who will stand up for workers, not corporate profits. Sherrod Brown is that senator, and his proven track record of supporting unions and promoting safety makes him the right choice for Ohio’s working families.”
Want to know more about the record of candidates on this Fall’s presidential election ballot and if promises made were promises kept? The National Division has published an analysis to compare and contrast how each administration (2016-2020 vs. 2020- to the present) has handled various issues of importance to the BLET, rail labor, rail safety, and the industry as a whole. To read these points of comparison between the two administrations — which include issues such as Railroad Retirement funding, Amtrak funding, two-person crews, and Mexican crews operating in the United States — please visit the National Division website.
This is the most critical election in our lifetimes. Early voting is already underway in States that allow it, as well as vote by mail and absentee voting. Check with your state to see the requirements to vote. You can find out your state’s voting requirements by entering your address in the Take Action portal and it will provide you with all the details about voting requirements and polling places in your state. You should make every attempt to vote early and think of November 5 as the final day to do so, not the only day. The BLET National Division also published a list of voting recommendations prepared by BLET’s State Legislative Board Chairmen. These recommendations can be found in the Members’ Area of the National Division website. You must first log in to access the information. First-time users will need to register, a quick and easy process that takes just a few minutes. Click here to view in the Members’ Area.