The IAM Union Rail Division is monitoring the proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern by Union Pacific. The union has expressed concerns about the impact of the merger on community safety, job security, workers’ rights, competition, and the long-term stability of the freight rail industry.
In a statement, the IAM Union Rail Division called for transparency during the Surface Transportation Board’s regulatory review process. The union said it would work to protect its members’ jobs, rights, and livelihoods. “We hope that this merger will value workers over the corporate bottom line,” the statement read.
The union emphasized that its main priorities are public safety and economic security for its members. “As this proposal progresses, we will use every available resource to hold carriers and regulators accountable,” according to the statement.
The IAM Rail Division includes members from both the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) and IAM District 19. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) represents around 600,000 active and retired members across several industries in North America, including aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, manufacturing, transit, healthcare, and automotive.
