FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:Jenifer McCormick
202/628-9262
JeniferM@ttd.org
Union Pacific Withdraws Request to Outsource Safety Inspections to Mexico
Washington, D.C. – The following statement was issued today by Edward Wytkind, President of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department, in response to Union Pacific Corp. withdrawing its request before the Federal Railroad Administration to contract out safety inspections of U.S.-bound trains from Mexico.
“The drive for higher profits cannot dictate all business decisions. There are certain functions in the railroad business that are too important to be done on the cheap, and safety inspections top the list. Outsourcing safety inspections to Mexico is a bad idea that would have dire consequences. We are pleased that Union Pacific withdrew its request – one that faced mounting public and Congressional criticism.
Union Pacific cites ‘the current political climate’ as why it will abandon its safety inspections outsourcing plans. We contend that the safety and security of railroad workers and the American public is not about politics and never will be.
We would like to thank Members of Congress, state and local officials and safety advocates who opposed this troubling proposal now and in years past.”
TTD represents 32 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit ttd.org.
Union Pacific Withdraws Request to Outsource Safety Inspections to Mexico