Biden & Democratic Party Abandonment Of Rail Workers Union Contributes To Yet Another Worker Death
When it comes to determining what is needed to bring needed safety improvements for the rail workers we all depend upon, the voices of the rail workers are the only ones that count.
When it comes to determining what is needed to bring needed safety improvements for the rail workers we all depend upon, the voices of the rail workers are the only ones that count.
By Mark Taylor
DeMOCKracy.ink (4/13/24)
President Joe Biden’s 2022 breaking of a possible railworkers strike has ongoing consequences for the workers who do the hard and dangerous work of running the unraveling rickety rail system the economy depends upon. The trains we all depend upon. The Rail Workers Union reported rail worker Brent Wilkens, 42, was killed April 11 near Texarkana, Texas after being struck by heavy equipment while doing track repair work.
Photo by Mark Taylor / DeMOCKracy.ink
When it comes to determining what is needed to bring needed safety improvements for the rail workers we all depend upon, the voices of the rail workers are the only ones that count. I follow the Rail Workers Union newsletter and reports of rail worker deaths and injuries come up regularly. One thing I never hear of are Democratic Party congress members — much less the worker-betraying Biden White House — calling out the rail industry for their longstanding dangerous, irresponsible labor policies and work conditions.
Joe Biden’s role
Since Biden — in compliance and collusion with a large majority of democrats in congress and the rail industry — smothered the growing movement by the Rail Workers Union to conduct a much-needed national strike, the issue has evaporated from the Democratic Party and most “left” (whatever that means anymore) groups. When it comes to determining what is needed to bring needed safety improvements for the rail workers we all depend upon, the voices of the rail workers are the only ones that count. They are the experts.
And they need to be listened to by the Democrats.
Democrats were once — rightly — called the “party of the working people”. Any legitimate claim to that evaporated with the election of Jimmy Carter and a spike was driven through the corpse by Bill Clinton. Since then, the only attention the Democrats give working people is to browbeat and shame them for donations and votes every other year, which is too often echoed by often corrupt and compromised union leadership.
Take a moment and give a thought to Brent Wilkens and his family and the precious family of abandoned and betrayed American labor upon which we all owe everything we depend upon today, and every day.
Time for the left to get back to their roots of standing with and for American workers against the venal corporate corruption and collusion that has bought out both political parties. Every day they betray that tradition, they feed the fascist movement in the Republican party … and within their own ranks that will consume them.
Union Pacific Track Worker Danny Brent Wilkins, 42, Killed April 11
Dear Fellow Railroad Workers:
On April 11th a fellow rail was killed on the job in McNeil Arkansas.
Brother Danny Brent Wilkins, 42, was struck and killed by a piece of heavy equipment while repairing track Thursday after heavy rains. Investigators from the Sheriff’s Office, Union Pacific, NTSB, and Arkansas State Police are continuing their investigation. McNeil is approximately 50 miles east of Texarkana, Texas, on UP’s Pine Bluff Subdivision.
While we are saddened at the news of our brother's death, we must double our resolve to build a safer workplace where such tragedies are not so commonplace.
The Railroad Workers United Program for Fallen Rails urges you to do the following on behalf of our fallen brother, or sister their friends and family, co-workers and all railroad workers:
Commit yourself to following up on how and why our brother or sister was killed. What is the behind-the-scenes story? What role did unsafe conditions, including short staffing, crew fatigue, inadequate training and/or qualifying, deferred maintenance, or other factors play in this fellow worker’s death?
Get involved in the national movement against blame the worker “behavior-based safety” programs. Help build real union-based safety committees and programs that focus on hazard elimination and do not ignore the underlying causes of accidents, injuries and fatalities sustained on the job. For more information, see the webpage https://www.railroadworkersunited.org/oppose-behavior-based-safety
Take part in the RWU annual Railroad Workers Memorial Day each April 28th. For more information, see the webpage https://www.railroadworkersunited.org/remember-fallen-rails
Join RWU and fight to build solidarity and unity among all railroad workers, and make safer workplaces for all.
Thank you.
Railroad Workers United
P.S. Please forward this email to fellow railroad workers.
Man dies while working to repair railroad track near McNeil
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I haven’t forgotten about this. I was praying for a strike. Ever since Covid, I’ve maintained that a general strike would bring the economy to a halt, and that is the only thing that would get the attention of these politicians. Still hoping it would happen.
Thank you, Mark. I subscribe to RWU Newsletter - they actually care about the workers. Another preventable tragedy, another man lost to profit. RIP, Brent.