Railroad Workers Education and Legal Defense Foundation

In 2022, we began an ambitious journey to create a video project that breaks down and simplifies the complex issues facing railroaders, trackside communities, shippers, and many others across the United States. Last fall, we proudly released our first micro-documentary, “Putting America Back on Track ” offering a compelling overview of the U.S. rail system and proposing public rail ownership as a potential solution.

Now, we're asking for your help to take this project to the next level. We aim to dive deeper into the multifaceted challenges within the rail system and advocate for a public rail system that serves the public interest.

To achieve this, we've teamed up with Alan Fisher, the creator of the impactful rail nationalization video, to produce a comprehensive, multi-segmented documentary. Our project will cover the following crucial topics:

1. Why Railroad Workers Should Support Public Rail

2. Why Citizens & Environmentalists Should Support Public Rail

3. Why Farmers, Rural, and Small-Town America Should Support Public Rail

4. Why Passengers Should Support Public Rail

5. Why Trackside Communities Should Support Public Rail

6. Why Tribes and Underserved Communities Should Support Public Rail

7. Why Short Line & Regional Railroads Should Support Public Rail

8. Why Manufacturers & Shippers Should Support Public Rail

Our goal is to create an engaging 60-minute documentary by mid-September to early October. This video will serve as an essential educational tool to grow our coalition for public rail ownership, educate workers, and raise awareness among all those affected by the current rail system.

We already have a strong foundation with our Public Rail Now website, the FAQ list, the white paper, legal analysis, and an organizer in the field. However, this documentary will be a vital addition to our resources, amplifying our message and impact.

Can you help us reach our $4,000 goal to make this vision a reality? Every contribution brings us closer to transforming the U.S. rail system for the better. Thank you for your support!

As the crisis in East Palestine, OH deepens, more and more Americans are asking questions about the privately operated railroad system. Why are cars and locomotives not being properly maintained? How can the carriers safely operate the railroad after making such deep cuts to the workforce in the last 5 years? What are the dangers of running such long and heavy trains? Could what happened in Ohio happen in my town? Can privately owned firms like the Class One carriers be trusted to guard the public safety?

To answer these questions and more, RWU is contracting with WorkFriends, a pro-union media strategy firm run by filmmaker & strategist Peter Lyngso to run a video campaign to elevate our call for Public Ownership of the Railroads. The recent catastrophic wreck in Ohio will provide us a springboard to make the case that the health and safety of our communities, the vibrancy of our economy, and the well-being of all of us are way too important to be left to a small cabal of extremely wealthy self-interested Fortune 500 corporations.

We have long needed a way to tell the stories of the people behind our efforts, whether it be around the fight to preserve the two-person crew; the effort to stop long and heavy trains; our years-long fight to stop "Precision Scheduled Railroading"; or our effort now to bring the railroads under public ownership. To get an idea of what we aim to create in the coming months, watch any of the videos Peter collaborated with More Perfect Union on, such as the BNSF Hi Viz Policy; or this, about the Kellogg Workers Strike. Or this one about a Walk-out of Amazon Workers led by Amazonian’s United Chicagoland.

Peter has gotten started! He is excited to help use his talents to bring the railroad workers' struggle forward. He is committed to amplifying our message of healthy and safe working conditions, of proper and adequate staffing, of building union solidarity and power across crafts; and of bringing the railroads under public control. In fact, he has been in East Palestine, OH this past week, speaking with rail workers, citizens and community activists. Please donate today and keep this vital project moving forward. Thank you!!

In solidarity,

Railroad Workers United

NOTE: Your donation to this effort is tax-deductible through our 501c3 sister organization, the Railroad Workers Education and Legal Defense Foundation. RWF was set up in 2015 to receive tax-deductible donations to provide grassroots education and leadership development programs that help railroad workers understand the issues they face; to build unity and solidarity among railroaders; and to ensure democracy and transparency in our unions.