Rail workers are rallying calling for action, after they say their employer fired dozens of people for joining a union.– Clad in rain gear and dodging early morning showers, a group of rail workers rallied Friday outside the headquarters of Genesee & Wyoming’s Railroad Engineering Services near JTB and Hodges in Jacksonville after they say the company fired more than 30 people because they joined a union.
It goes on to specifically reference a group known as “Tie Gang 2,” which it said included 31 of the most passionate union supporters. “Those members are struggling. They’ve tried to go out and find work immediately. They need paychecks. They need to be able to feed their babies,” said Thomas Kirby, director of organizing for BMWED. “So we’ve got a lot of members, some were fortunate enough to be able to get out and find good jobs. Some of them are still looking.”
“There’s a shortage of railroad workers in the country, and we want them workers to get back to doing, making sure that my family, your family are safe. And that’s what they do. They make sure stuff it’s safe for us. So, we don’t have another East Palestine,” Saulter said.“Get them compensated and then ask G & W Services to come to the table and negotiate with us, like we’re supposed to do under the Railroad Labor Act,” Saulter said.