06/06/2026
IAM District 19 Opposition to the Proposed Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern Merger
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 19 opposes the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railroad in its current form due to serious concerns regarding job security, rail competition, public interest, and the long term impact on railroad workers and the communities that depend on these jobs.
District 19 represents highly skilled railroad workers performing safety sensitive mechanical work on the front lines every day to keep Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern trains operating safely and reliably. Our members are primarily Locomotive Mechanics and Heavy Equipment Mechanics responsible for the inspection, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and rebuilding of locomotives and critical railroad equipment across the system.
Railroad workers have seen firsthand what follows major rail mergers and industry consolidation. Jobs are eliminated, shops are consolidated or closed, work is shifted away from established facilities, and subcontracting expands despite the promises made during the approval process. When railroads pursue merger related “efficiencies,” it is often the skilled mechanical workforce and railroad communities that pay the price.
During discussions with Union Pacific representatives, District 19 raised serious concerns regarding the lack of meaningful and enforceable protections for our members. We specifically requested stronger language to ensure railroad workers would not bear the cost of merger related consolidation, workforce reductions, and contracting out. To date, the only proposal presented has been a so called “jobs for life” guarantee that fails to provide real protection for railroad workers.
The proposed language does not adequately protect against furloughs, abolishment of positions, facility closures, relocation of work, contracting out, or the slow elimination of railroad jobs through attrition. Railroad workers have heard similar assurances before during previous mergers and restructuring efforts, only to watch thousands of good railroad jobs disappear once regulatory approval was granted and cost cutting measures began.
This proposed merger also raises significant public interest concerns. Further consolidation within the freight rail industry means fewer major carriers controlling more of the national rail network, reduced competition for shippers, and increased pressure on an already reduced workforce to do more with less.
Over the last two decades, the railroad industry has aggressively reduced manpower in pursuit of lower operating ratios and higher shareholder returns while continuing to report strong profits.
District 19 believes any merger of this magnitude must include clear, enforceable, and binding protections for railroad workers, railroad facilities, and the communities that depend on these jobs before it can reasonably be considered in the public interest.
Until those protections are secured, IAM District 19 remains opposed to the proposed Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern merger.
