ProPublica: "Railroad companies have penalized workers for taking the time to make needed repairs and created a culture in which supervisors threaten and fire the very people hired to keep trains running safely"
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has criticized Union Pacific, the largest freight rail carrier in the US, for failing to maintain its fleet and continuing to use faulty equipment. The FRA found that more than 70% of the train engines in the company’s East Departure Yard in North Platte, Nebraska, had safety defects, as did 20% of the cars. These defect ratios are twice the national average. The company has not displayed a sense of urgency to improve locomotive and car conditions, according to the FRA.
"We get paid to move freight. We don’t get paid to work on cars."
The safety record of the country’s railroad industry is under deep scrutiny, with all eyes on Norfolk Southern, whose train notoriously derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in February, releasing toxic pollution and forcing a mass evacuation. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been trying to get the nation’s largest freight rail companies to participate in a voluntary safety program in which workers can confidentially report “close calls” like runaway trains and misaligned switches without fear of retribution. The rail industry has resisted, saying employees could use the system to avoid punishment for their own safety violations.
Read more in ProPublica's report, "How the Railroad Industry Intimidates Employees Into Putting Speed Before Safety."
Updates from Nebraska Railroaders for Public Safety
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A new survey of voters in Nebraska found that high costs of gas and groceries was the most pressing concern for 41% of respondents a year out from the 2024 General Election. Several other issues topped biggest challenges for a quarter or more of the electorate:
- Immigration (36%)
- Political extremism (33%)
- High taxes (29%)
- Threats to women’s reproductive freedom (28%)
- Government intrusion in our personal lives (27%)
- Access to quality, affordable health care (25%)
Seventy-three percent of Nebraska voters said they are "10 out of 10" motivated to participate in the 2024 election.
If the Presidential election were held today, 53% of Nebraska voters would choose Donald Trump, and 35% would choose Joe Biden.
Trump topped favorable public opinion with 43 percent viewing the former Republican President favorably, and 48% unfavorably. Labor unions came in second with 42% approval, while 30% of Nebraska voters view labor unions unfavorably.
Voters were split on sending incumbent U.S. Senators back to Washington, DC. After reviewing bios of two-term Senator Deb Fischer and first-time candidate Dan Osborn, 53% percent said they would choose Osborn were the election held today. Pete Ricketts, appointed to the Senate in January, saw 47% support for election to the seat vs. 38% for a prospective candidate from the Democratic Party.
Nebraskans were widely split on trusted media sources, with no single source winning more than 29% from voters:
- Local TV news (29%)
- National TV news (ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS) (21%)
- National Public Radio (20%)
Stay tuned to our blog over the next year as we continue to provide updates.
The survey reached 1,048 representative Nebraska voters and was fielded Nov. 13-16 by Change Research, which conducts public opinion polls for KQED and has a strong record of top quality results.