The railroads will not use these cameras for safety, despite their disingenuous claims. They will be used for intimidation, the same as every other purported “safety” measure, such as the federally-mandated efficiency testing.

You see, management has figured out that a scared employee, always looking over their shoulder and working in the shadow of a potential investigation and dismissal, is far less likely to be concerned and involved with union issues such as real safety conditions, blatant violations of local and national agreements, and the railroads’ refusal to share the financial gains they have realized as a result of those employees’ increased productivity. Railroad TY&E employees work in one of the most hostile environments anyone can imagine and the majority just want to keep their heads down, stay under the radar, collect that pay check, and retire at the earliest possible time with a sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, by acquiescing to this toxic atmosphere and allowing the major carriers to play the two operating unions off against each other, we have become our own worst enemies, and the downward spiral continues to gain momentum.