On July 6th a fellow rail was killed on the job in Melrose Park Illinois, outside of Chicago.
Brother Justin Pender, 27, was fatally injured during shoving operations in the Proviso Yard. He had been employed by UP since February of this year, just 5 months on the railroad.
While we are saddened at the news of our brother’s death, we must double our resolve to build a safer workplace where such tragedies are not so commonplace.
The Railroad Workers United Program for Fallen Rails urges you to do the following on behalf of our fallen brother, his friends and family, co-workers and all railroad workers:
Commit yourself to following up on how and why our brother or sister was killed. What is the behind-the-scenes story? What role did unsafe conditions, including short staffing, crew fatigue, inadequate training and/or qualifying, deferred maintenance, or other factors play in this fellow worker’s death? Read the article here, “Union Pacific Worker Killed in Proviso Yard.”
Get involved in the national movement against blame the worker “behavior-based safety” programs. Help build real union-based safety committees and programs that focus on hazard elimination and do not ignore the underlying causes of accidents, injuries and fatalities sustained on the job. For more information, see the RWU webpage entitled “Oppose Behavior Based Safety.”
Take part in the RWU annual Railroad Workers Memorial Day each April 28th. For more information, see the RWU webpage “Fallen Rails.”
Join RWU and fight to build solidarity and unity among all railroad workers, and make safer workplaces for all.
Thank you,
Railroad Workers United
