Rail Safety Town Hall to Take Place Near East Palestine
The Teamsters Rail Conference, which includes the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), will conduct a significant rail safety town hall on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 12 p.m. The event will take place just outside East Palestine, Ohio, an area recently impacted by one of the country's most disastrous rail incidents.
Key Speakers and Topics
The town hall aims to address multiple pressing concerns regarding rail safety, including automation and its implications for worker and public safety. Notable speakers include Tony Cardwell, President of BMWED, and Vincent Verna, Vice President of BLET. Cardwell will emphasize the dangers posed by railroads' attempts to circumvent essential safety regulations through automated track inspections. Verna will discuss the hazards associated with the so-called zero-to-zero technology, which leverages computers to manage freight train operations, effectively stripping locomotive engineers of their operational authority.
This critical gathering is timed perfectly, as it occurs only a stone’s throw away from a location that witnessed one of the worst rail safety catastrophes in U.S. history. The tragic incident serves as a backdrop and a reminder of the importance of maintaining stringent safety measures within the railroad industry to protect both workers and nearby communities.
Event Details
What: Rail Safety Town Hall
Who: Members of the Teamsters Rail Conference and other allied unions, local elected officials
When: Saturday, July 19, 2025, 12 p.m.
Where: Best Western Plus Dutch Haus Inn & Suites, 150 East OH-14, Columbiana, Ohio, 44408
Visuals:
- - Panelists engaging with attendees at the venue, providing ample opportunity for interaction and discussion
- - Community members and union leaders sharing insights and personal experiences relating to rail safety
The Teamsters Rail Conference emphasizes that ensuring safety is a collective responsibility shared by railroad companies, workers, and the communities they serve. By attending this town hall, participants will not only raise awareness of the challenges they face but also unite in their commitment to improving safety for all.
The event is open to the public and aims to draw attention to the ongoing risks posed by current rail technologies and strategies. As discussions unfold, community members can expect to learn how they can advocate for better safety standards and hold rail companies accountable.
Through collaborative efforts at the town hall, participants will forge a stronger path forward, advocating for systems that prioritize safety rather than profit at the expense of human lives. The outcomes of this gathering are expected to reach beyond mere discussions, resulting in collective action aimed at reforming rail safety for the betterment of all.
For additional information, media inquiries can be directed to Roy Morrison, while onsite contact Daniel Inclima will be available for immediate assistance during the event.
This town hall represents just one critical step in the ongoing journey toward ensuring rail safety remains at the forefront of national attention and policy-making, especially in light of recent events that have underscored the dire need for reform in the rail industry.