(Bloomberg News distributed the following article on December 2.)
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Corp. should be denied a request to end U.S. testing of equipment on international cargo from Mexico after four people died in crashes in Texas in the past year, railroad employee unions said.
The Teamsters, representing about 65,000 rail workers, and a clerical employees’ union urged Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta to block the railroad from inspecting trains only in Mexico because that country has fewer safety rules.
The company in July asked the Federal Railroad Administration, part of the agency, to end U.S. mechanical and braking tests because the same review occurs just before trains cross the border from Mexico.
“It is indeed troubling that the FRA would even consider granting U.P. a waiver from safety regulations at the same time the railroad has experienced a rash of serious accidents,” Teamsters President James Hoffa said in a letter. “It is unwise to grant a waiver that will weaken border inspections” as the United States is urging more rail security to prevent terrorist attacks.
Union Pacific, the biggest U.S. railroad, is facing scrutiny in Texas after at least five crashes near San Antonio this year, two resulting in fatalities.
The railroad two weeks ago admitted that it failed to follow employee-training rules in the state, and the federal government sent 10 inspectors to oversee railroad activities.
The department didn’t comment on the unions’ letter.
“We think it is unnecessary to do the inspections again 10 miles up the road” after the same tests are performed in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, said John Bromley, a spokesman for the railroad.
He declined to comment on union claims that eliminating the U.S. test would compromise safety and security. The railroad said in a 646-page request that skipping the U.S. test would trim delays by at least five hours and cut costs $2 million.