WASHINGTON — On-board workers with Florida’s Brightline have filed to form a union, the Transport Workers Union of America has announced.
The workers made the filing today (Thursday, Aug. 8) with the National Mediation Board, the government agency that handles labor relations with railroads and the airline industry under the Railway Labor Act. Workers involved include lead attendants and on-board attendants.
“Today, Brightline workers begin the path forward to protect and advance the economic security of their families,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said in a press release. “We thank them for putting their trust in us. The TWU is committed to winning industry-leading contracts that deliver wages, benefits and quality-of-life improvements.”
Brightline has previously announced an agreement with 13 unions, including the TWU, to use union workers to operate and maintain the Brightline West project in Southern California and Nevada [see “Brightline West announces agreement …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 22, 2023]. It subsequently announced a similar agreement for Brightline West construction [see “Brightline West, construction unions …,” News Wire, March 10, 2023].
Thursday’s announcement comes a week after TWU Local 1460, which represents 360 onboard Amtrak workers, ratified a seven-year agreement including a 34% compounded wage increase over the life of the contract. That contract runs through Dec. 31, 2028.
The TWU represents more than 155,000 workers in the railroad, transit, airline, university, utility, and service industries.
