Episode
CROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
1:36:28
Published: Wed Sep 14 2022
Description
The potential for a national rail strike has been looming for a long time, and now that we have finally reached the point where one could actually happen, we decided we needed to have someone who knows a lot more about the railroads than we do on the show to help explain the situation. We were very excited to be joined by Justin Roczniak from Well There’s Your Problem to bring us historical analysis of the long road to where we are today. We discuss the history of how the railroads have operated in the US, how the national freight network has been shaped by the profit motive, and how rail executives have let the entire national rail network decay in pursuit of maximum dividends. This history sets the stage for the current crisis, where companies have merged into a few mega-carriers with no real competition, and “precision scheduled railroads” have slashed rail crews and stretched their existing employees to the breaking point. We summarize the long labor process to get to this point demanded by the Railway Labor Act, and what we might see in terms of a potential long term outcome of the current dispute. With a national strike possible as soon as this Friday, we hope this discussion provides some helpful background to understand what state the railroads are in, how they got that way, and the roots of the horrific working conditions rail workers are fighting against. Follow Justin on twitter @who_shot_jgr and check out Well There’s Your Problem on Youtube at www.youtube.com/channel/UCPxHg4192hLDpTI2w7F9rPg Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter, John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee
Chapters
This episode takes a deep dive into the history of the railroad industry and the ongoing labor crisis happening within it that could lead to a national strike.
00:00 - 04:25 (04:25)
Summary
This episode takes a deep dive into the history of the railroad industry and the ongoing labor crisis happening within it that could lead to a national strike. The hosts discuss how the industry has evolved over time and the various factors that have contributed to the current situation.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
The expansion of the American railroads grew rapidly after the Civil War, but many railroad companies were undercapitalized or fraudulent.
04:25 - 09:40 (05:15)
Summary
The expansion of the American railroads grew rapidly after the Civil War, but many railroad companies were undercapitalized or fraudulent. The construction of these railroads also led to the displacement of Native American communities.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
The emergence of railroads in America was a catalyst for both industrial and social change.
09:40 - 14:34 (04:53)
Summary
The emergence of railroads in America was a catalyst for both industrial and social change. However, it also came with challenges such as railroad strikes and the nationalization of the railroads during World War I due to supply shortages.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
The difference in perception of railways as a business versus a utility between the US and Europe is discussed, with comparisons made to the hospital system.
14:34 - 19:45 (05:11)
Summary
The difference in perception of railways as a business versus a utility between the US and Europe is discussed, with comparisons made to the hospital system. Public services should not be run like a business, as businesses don't take on less profitable lines and cut entire communities off from transportation.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
The Railway Labor Act is a complicated law that governs labor relations in the railway and airline industries.
19:45 - 27:51 (08:05)
Summary
The Railway Labor Act is a complicated law that governs labor relations in the railway and airline industries. In this episode, the hosts explore the history and loopholes of the Railway Labor Act through the lens of the 1992 Chicago freight tunnel strike.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
The adoption of precision scheduled railroading has brought several challenges to the railroad industry.
27:51 - 33:43 (05:52)
Summary
The adoption of precision scheduled railroading has brought several challenges to the railroad industry. Along with technology that allows for longer trains, there are concerns about safety and responsibility for workers.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
The Precision Scheduled Railroading method for loading trains causes issues with train car weight distribution, tipping over lighter cars, and problems with scheduling loading times for workers.
33:43 - 40:45 (07:02)
Summary
The Precision Scheduled Railroading method for loading trains causes issues with train car weight distribution, tipping over lighter cars, and problems with scheduling loading times for workers.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
The media appears to be neglecting reports of train derailments, with people only hearing about them through personal encounters or local news.
40:45 - 46:52 (06:06)
Summary
The media appears to be neglecting reports of train derailments, with people only hearing about them through personal encounters or local news. This raises concerns as it becomes harder to track and report on these incidents, which could have potentially dangerous consequences.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
The railway companies are framing rail workers as crank holdouts, despite the industry's success and the dissenting voices found on rail Twitter.
46:52 - 1:02:56 (16:04)
Summary
The railway companies are framing rail workers as crank holdouts, despite the industry's success and the dissenting voices found on rail Twitter.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
A potential strike of railroad workers could significantly impact the US economy, leading to a fear of inflation and product shortages just before the election.
1:02:56 - 1:09:59 (07:03)
Summary
A potential strike of railroad workers could significantly impact the US economy, leading to a fear of inflation and product shortages just before the election. The rail companies are pressuring Congress to prevent the strike from occurring.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
In the event of a potential railroad worker strike, there is a need for labor solidarity amongst other unions to support the workers.
1:09:59 - 1:19:59 (09:59)
Summary
In the event of a potential railroad worker strike, there is a need for labor solidarity amongst other unions to support the workers. It is essential to avoid using the full force of the state to crush the strike and route transport around the rails through more trucks.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
The democrats who theoretically control Congress and presidency could tell rail companies to give their employees sick days, while the GOP put in a proposed bill that would force the recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board onto all the unions, making Congress intervene legally.
1:19:59 - 1:25:45 (05:45)
Summary
The democrats who theoretically control Congress and presidency could tell rail companies to give their employees sick days, while the GOP put in a proposed bill that would force the recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board onto all the unions, making Congress intervene legally.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
The present labor upsurge seen in various industries, combined with the level of consciousness that this movement is creating, may create a better future for the workers.
1:25:45 - 1:31:39 (05:54)
Summary
The present labor upsurge seen in various industries, combined with the level of consciousness that this movement is creating, may create a better future for the workers. The merging of the service sector, traditional union movements, and worker consciousness generated by the labor movement can lead to actual structural reform in the industry.
EpisodeCROSS POST with WORK STOPPAGE POD | Shop Floor Discussion 6 - National Rail Strike w/Justin Roczniak
PodcastWell There‘s Your Problem
The speaker is glad to provide a perspective on railroad history that is not solely from the capitalist viewpoint, which is the perspective that is commonly found in literature on the topic.
1:31:39 - 1:33:40 (02:00)
Summary
The speaker is glad to provide a perspective on railroad history that is not solely from the capitalist viewpoint, which is the perspective that is commonly found in literature on the topic.