Editor’s Note: As America approaches its 250th birthday this year, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is marking its 163rd anniversary. In recognition of these historic milestones, BLET, the oldest labor union in North America, is examining the importance of railroads and rail labor to our great nation. This is the fourth in a series of articles.
In the late 1800s, America’s rapidly expanding rail network was notoriously dangerous. Driven by corporate greed and a lack of regulation, railroads prioritized rapid expansion and profits over human life. The era saw staggering casualty rates, leading to decades of political battles between labor unions and resistant rail magnates. However, as the railroad system expanded, America’s policymakers and the general public became increasingly aware of the sharp rise in injuries and deaths among railroad workers. Between 1883 and 1892, there were 5,623 railroad deaths and 20,445 injuries.
Our early Brotherhood was the leading advocate for greater on-the-job safety for its members and all other American railroad workers. Legislative activities by the early BLET resulted in federal statutes requiring the use of air brakes, automatic couplers, electric headlights, power-reverse gears, and other technological improvements. Three key federal laws, backed by the BLET and other rail labor unions, have had a lasting positive impact on rail safety:
• The Safety Appliance Act of 1893 — Requires railroads to install and maintain safe equipment that meets federal standards.
• The Boiler Inspection Act of 1911 — Now known as the Locomotive Inspection Act, the law imposes a strict, absolute duty on railroads to maintain locomotives and all their parts in a safe and proper condition, and holds railroads strictly liable for injuries caused by defective equipment.
• The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) of 1908 — A federal law that allows injured railroad workers to sue their employers for damages.
In addition to these landmark rail safety laws, BLET also helped spearhead social progress and quality of life reforms. In 1907, through a cooperative effort with other railroad brotherhoods, the BLET led the drive to make the 24-hour workday illegal. This was accomplished through the Hours of Service Act, which set a 16-hour maximum. The Adamson Act of 1916, providing for the eight-hour work day, was also a result of the BLET’s leadership. The Railroad Retirement Act of 1934 was the first federal law to establish a comprehensive, nationwide retirement system specifically for railroad workers. It served as the precursor to the Social Security safety net currently in place for the rest of the nation.