Attendees at the Roundtable, from left: BLET Ohio SLBC John Esterly, BLET VP and NLR Vince Verna, Ohio U.S. Rep Mike Rulli (R-OH), and Division 255 LR and LC Bruce Tatgenhorst.
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Leaders of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) selected East Palestine for the Saturday, July 19 rail safety roundtable to explain to residents how little the rail industry has done to improve rail safety since the fiery Norfolk Southern derailment and chemical spill in February 2023. BMWED leaders spoke about the rail industry’s dangerous push to cut back on critical human track and equipment inspections.
“We have to keep reminding (the railroads) of what happened. We have to keep reminding them of their promises and obligations,” said BMWED President Tony Cardwell. “The railroads aren’t going to grow a conscience. So, our job is to remind the people that can control these issues, that can pass laws, that this can be done. Perseverance will win in this.”
Along with BMWED, participating in the roundtable discussions were representatives from BLET and other rail labor unions, along with Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH) and Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA). Both Congressmen represent districts affected by the devastating East Palestine derailment.
“It was a good discussion,” said BLET Vice President and National Legislative Representative Vince Verna. “We had two Congressmen participating, one is a Republican and one is a Democrat, both working to increase rail safety, and that’s what we’re all here for.”
BMWED President Cardwell raised concerns about a waiver request submitted by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). If granted, the waiver would reduce federally required visual track inspections from twice a week to just twice a month. It also would allow railroads up to 72 hours to repair known defects versus the current requirement that human track inspectors act immediately.
“We want detectors, but not in place of inspectors,” Verna said. “When technology works and it catches a defect, the railroads tell you to ignore it. It’s just a disgrace.”
Congressmen Rulli and Deluzio reiterated their commitment to advancing rail safety legislation and outlined the complex legislative landscape through which these bills must be navigated in order to secure passage. Both members highlighted the need for Congress to pass H.R. 928, their bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2025.
“We’re here to tell this community and to let everyone know we’re going to keep pushing Congress to do the right thing,” Verna said. “It’s clear to me that when Congress wants to do something they can move really quickly. We demand something for the safety of the public and for our members. No one should die at work.”
