Members of the United States Surface Transportation Board and representatives of big business warned that the economy is in jeopardy because of delays and inefficiencies on the freight railroads.
The death occurred eight days after the railroad imposed a punitive new attendance policy and one day after a judge extended a restraining order that forbids workers from striking over the policy.
Even before the pandemic began and the Hi-Viz attendance policy was introduced, conditions were unsanitary and schedules were unforgiving at BNSF, according to a former engineer.