The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division says CSX plans to cut 165 maintenance-of-way positions and furlough more than 1,000 workers, including about 900 track-gang members who may not return until February. The union warns some areas would be left with as few as four employees covering a 142-mile stretch, raising concerns about inspection backlogs and safety. CSX says it is realigning engineering teams with seasonal workflows, will follow bargaining agreements, and will continue required inspections and capital projects. The BMWED plans to raise the issue with the FRA, STB and Congress.
Union: CSX to Cut 165 Maintenance Jobs, Furlough 1,000+ — Safety Concerns Raised
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NOVI, Mich. — The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), part of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, says CSX plans to eliminate 165 maintenance-of-way positions and furlough more than 1,000 workers, according to a union posting earlier this month.
Union's Claims
The BMWED said roughly 900 of the furloughed workers are track-gang members who are not expected to resume work until February. The union highlighted one operating point where CSX’s plan would leave four employees responsible for a 142-mile stretch of mainline track plus multiple yards — territory currently managed by about a dozen workers.
“Our members know what happens when CSX eliminates positions and spreads the remaining workforce across larger territories. The work does not disappear,” said BMWED General Chairman Brian Thompson. “The miles still have to be inspected, the defects still have to be repaired, and the railroad still has to be maintained.”
CSX Response
CSX told Trains magazine it is "adjusting its Engineering organization to better align teams with seasonal workflows and the maintenance work required across the network." The railroad said it is communicating with employees and labor leaders, following applicable collective bargaining agreements, and maintaining its approved capital program.
CSX emphasized that required inspections, maintenance and infrastructure renewal work will continue and that safety remains a priority.
Implications And Next Steps
The BMWED warns the staffing reductions could produce larger maintenance backlogs and increase risks for workers, the public and communities served by CSX. BMWED President Tony Cardwell said, “Defects do not disappear because they are inconvenient to a corporate budget. When necessary maintenance is deferred, the problems accumulate and create unnecessary risks.”
The union said it plans to bring the safety implications of the staffing changes to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and members of Congress.
Key facts: 165 positions targeted for elimination; more than 1,000 furloughs reported, including about 900 track-gang members; one cited location could leave four employees covering 142 miles of mainline track.
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