CLEVELAND, August 6 — The Texas AFL-CIO has become the second state AFL-CIO affiliate, joining the Arizona AFL-CIO, to support the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers’ position on the issue of remote control.
In a recent resolution, the Texas AFL-CIO called for an examination of the implementation of remote control train operations. The resolution urges the state of Texas and the Federal Railroad Administration to develop and adhere to comprehensive guidelines for remote control operations.
BLE Texas State Legislative Board Chairman Terry Briggs, along with members of his board, introduced the resolution to the Texas AFL-CIO meeting on July 26.
The resolution noted that Texas leads the nation in the transportation of hazardous materials, including nuclear materials, and that these materials could endanger lives if released in an accident.
The Texas AFL-CIO and the Arizona AFL-CIO join 34 communities across the United States in asking for improved safety requirements for remote control locomotive operations.
The Texas AFL-CIO resolution follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE TEXAS AFL-CIO ON THE MATTER OF RAILROADS OPERATING REMOTE CONTROL LOCOMOTIVES WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS
Submitted by Delegates of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Whereas, a primary goal of The Texas AFL-CIO is to help secure a safe workplace for all Texas workers; and
Whereas, the Texas AFL-CIO takes an active interest in the safety of all Texas citizens, and the security of our homeland; and
Whereas, the State of Texas leads the nation in the transport of hazardous materials by rail; and
Whereas, a significant amount of these hazardous chemicals, soon to include nuclear waste, that are transported on the 12,000 miles of railroads in Texas travel through our cities and neighborhoods and in close proximity to our homes, schools and hospitals; and
Whereas, hazardous materials are subject to uncontrolled release if their container is ruptured during a railroad derailment or collision; and
Whereas, railroads in Texas are now using Remote Control Locomotive Technology (unmanned locomotives) in their rail operations; and
Whereas, railroads in Texas are conducting these remote control operations with employees who receive as little as two weeks training; and
Whereas, heretofore all railroads have manned their locomotives with Locomotive Engineers, who are rigorously certified and fully qualified by standards established by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); and
Whereas, The Railroad Commission of Texas has adopted the provisions of those same regulations as minimum railroad safety requirements for Texas; and
Whereas, The Federal Railroad Administration has allowed railroads to establish a new program of lessened training, testing, and qualification requirements for remote control operators, without regard to the wishes of the Citizens of the State of Texas; and
Whereas, The FRA has issued only non-binding guidelines to govern the day-to-day operational practices involving Remote Control locomotives; and
Whereas, railroads have failed to adopt all the provisions of these minimal FRA guidelines for operational practices;
Now, Therefore Be it resolved, that The Texas AFL-CIO supports the position of The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and hereby admonishes all railroads within the State of Texas to continue to use fully qualified Train Service Engineers to operate all locomotives, including those remotely controlled; and
Be It Further Resolved, that The Texas AFL-CIO calls on the Railroad Commission of Texas to require railroads operating Remote Control Locomotive Technology to; (1) fully comply with the minimum railroad safety requirements adopted by the Railroad Commission of Texas; and (2) notify the Railroad Commission as to the nature and location of remote control railroad operations, so that the Railroad Commission may coordinate with local emergency planning agencies in the areas where such operations are being used; and
Be It Further Resolved, that, in the interest of public safety, The Texas AFL-CIO admonishes the Federal Railroad Administration to develop comprehensive safety regulations for the use of remote control locomotives, and that those regulations ensure the highest level of skill and qualification of persons operating all locomotives; and
Be It Finally Resolved, that The President of the Texas AFL-CIO will send a letter to FRA Finance Docket No. 2000-8422, which was established at the request of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and ask Alan Rutter, administrator of the FRA, to promulgate enforceable regulations governing Remote Control Locomotive Technology that will ensure the safety of the employees, citizens and communities of the State of Texas.