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9/25/2023
U.S. Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) have introduced the proposed Rail Worker and Community Safety Act, which calls for mandatory two-person rail crews on all Class Is and other federal rail safety regulations.
Other provisions in the bill would:• change how, when and where hazardous materials can be transported and see that first responders have the information they need when responding to a derailment;• mandate the creation of a reporting structure for close-call incidents, similar to airlines' procedures;• increase funding for rail safety inspectors; and• mandate regulations regarding the use of wayside detection technologies, which are currently are not federally regulated.
The bill also would codify paid sick leave for rail workers. It would require railroads to allow their workers to earn up to seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave each year. Also, railroads would be prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against employees for using their accrued paid sick leave.
Paid sick leave guaranteed by the bill would be available for use related to physical or mental illness or injury; preventive or diagnostic care; caring for a child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, or other relative; attending a child's school meeting; and experiences of domestic violence or sexual assault.