CLEVELAND, May 18 — The Utah AFL-CIO joined 16 other state federations in condemning the use of remote control train operations.
The resolution, which was passed unanimously by the Utah AFL-CIO Executive Board, asks the Federal Railroad Administration to develop comprehensive regulations that will ensure the safety of the operation of remote control locomotives.
The resolution was passed thanks in part to the work of BLET Utah State Legislative Board First Vice-Chairman Jeff Worthington. Brother Worthington, a member of BLET Division 846 (Salt Lake City), made a presentation to the Utah State AFL-CIO Executive Board and as a result of his work, the resolution was passed. In addition to Brother Worthington, BLET Utah State Legislative Board Chairman Walt Webster, Utah State Legislative Board Secretary-Treasurer Patrick Whalen and BLET Division 713 (Salt Lake City) member Mac Hunt all worked for the resolution’s passage.
In addition to Utah, the following AFL-CIO State Federations have passed remote control resolutions: Arizona; Texas; Michigan; Nevada; North Carolina; Missouri; North Dakota; Nebraska; Wisconsin; Georgia; Illinois; Pennsylvania; Kentucky; Alabama; Iowa; and West Virginia.
Also, 55 different communities throughout the United States have passed remote control safety resolutions.
A PDF of the Utah AFL-CIO resolution is available at:
https://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/utahaflcio.pdf
For more information on remote control locomotives, visit:
https://www.ble-t.org/remotecontrol