After the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, the nation’s major freight railroads agreed to join a federal program for workers to report safety issues. But first, they want it to be overhauled.
The industry has used its muscle to prevent federal, state and local governments from penalizing companies that park freight trains across roads for hours or days.
Safety experts said the East Palestine derailment might not have happened had Norfolk Southern placed sensors closer together. The federal government doesn’t require or regulate their use.
The single best thing President Biden and the Democratic Party could do for workers is to give them the tools and support to build power for themselves.