The announcement comes hours after the company’s chief financial officer, Mark George, told investors that it is still struggling to fill the open positions it has at almost all 95 locations where staff is based, George also said the company may have cut staff too deep during the early days of the pandemic, and that it has had trouble bringing back laid-off staff members.
The agreement, announced by the railroad late Wednesday, also comes as the company struggles with the bad public relations caused by a derailment of one of its freight trains in East Palestine, Ohio, which led to the release of toxic chemicals into the air and water. The company has pledged to give affected residents about $6.5 million in compensation and assistance, and says it will comply with a demand by the Environmental Protection Agency to pay for the cleanup.
My best friend, a 30-year engineer for Milwaukee RR didn't use sick leave. He sat on the locomotives for hours, until such time as he could barely walk any longer. He fell and ended up in hip surgery, died in surgery at VA Hospital, Reno. Railroad workers must have sick leave. 🥺
🙏🏾
Feeling guilty? or just worried about the people finally realizing they need to nationalize the railways?
Like this will any way shape of form give any good public trust back. 😐