Rail union outlines its “demands” for the coronavirus
Written by RT&S Staff
Rail union wants freight and passenger railroads to suspend sick leave policy and sanitize correctly during coronavirus outbreak.
BNSF
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) wants the rail industry to take the right steps regarding the coronavirus, and that means changing the sick leave policy and making sure everything is properly sanitized.
BLET President Dennis Pierce recently wrote a letter to the National Railway Labor Conference, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) outlining measures freight and passenger railroads should take during the coronavirus outbreak. BLET wants attendance policies to be suspended so those individuals who are sick can stay at home to recover. Rail workers who are experiencing symptoms should be home until their fever has broken for 24 hours.
“This step will go far in providing separation between sick individuals and those who are healthy,” said Pierce.
Regarding sanitation, BLET wants railroads to supply hand sanitizer and wipes that contain 60-90 percent isopropyl alcohol. Wipes also should carry chlorhexidine gluconate (4 percent) and benzethonium chloride (.5 percent).
BLET also wants the Federal Railroad Administration to take action when it comes to protecting rail employees from the coronavirus.
The Association of American Railroads, the ASLRRA and the APTA say rail companies are doing what they can to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.
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