102 Dems to STB: Put labor first in UP-NS rail merger review
More than 100 House Democrats urged the Surface Transportation Board to prioritize rail jobs in its review of the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. The post 102 Dems to STB: Put labor first in UP-NS rail merger review appeared first on FreightWaves .
Over one hundred House Democrats, headed by Rep. Valerie Hoyle (D-Ore.), penned a letter on September 3 to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) urging a primary focus on labor, safety, and accountability in evaluating the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger. The $85 billion deal, which would form the largest rail network in the nation, is set to undergo its final review phase by the STB.
Hoyle emphasized that "railroad workers are the backbone of our supply chain, and their rights and security must come first." The letter aligns with the Teamsters Rail Conference union and extends the party's pre-election campaign, raising concerns over potential monopolistic pricing from a merged railroad. This comes just a year after the merger was first announced in July 2025.
Mark Wallace, national president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and leader of the Teamsters Rail Conference, noted that Union Pacific's promise of "lifetime employment" for union members isn't entirely protective of certain job roles. The congressional letter adds pressure on the STB as it prepares comments, protests, and conditions by the November 18 deadline, and an environmental impact statement is also under preparation.
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