Unions come out in opposition to Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger

Unions representing over half of the workforce at Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern warn the proposed $85 billion merger threatens competition, safety, and worker protections.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), representing 53 percent of unionized workers at Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Corporation, have announced their opposition to the proposed $85 billion merger of the two carriers. After five months of investigation, nationwide meetings with union members, and direct negotiations with Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena, the unions concluded the merger would harm competition, safety and job security.

The proposed merger would create a transcontinental railroad spanning 43 states and 50,000 miles of track, effectively a monopoly in the current duopoly market of six Class I railroads. BLET National President Mark Wallace said the merger would reduce rail competitiveness against trucking by shifting local rail lines to short line operators and running long, slow trains on main lines. “For rail customers, it will be a choice between ‘Hell or the highway,’” Wallace said.

Opposition extends beyond unions. Forty chemical company CEOs and over 60 trade associations and chambers of commerce have voiced concerns that the merger would limit freight transportation options. The unions also warn the Surface Transportation Board must scrutinize Union Pacific’s safety record, citing ongoing safety risks including extremely long trains and resistance to safety reforms.

Adding to the debate, BNSF Railway recently petitioned the Surface Transportation Board to enforce competitive conditions from the 1996 Union Pacific–Southern Pacific merger, citing Union Pacific’s history of reducing rail service options for shippers. This petition comes amid the Norfolk Southern shareholders’ approval of the merger with Union Pacific, which would create the nation’s first coast-to-coast transcontinental railroad by early 2027, pending regulatory approval. BNSF and other railroads have raised concerns about diminished competition and potential loss of service lanes, urging regulators to address Union Pacific’s past compliance before approving the new merger.

The unions reject Union Pacific’s promises to protect workers, highlighting loopholes in job security agreements that allow for transfers, demotions, and loss of jobs if rail lines are sold or leased. BMWED’s leadership called these protections “hollow promises.”

Wallace urged the Surface Transportation Board to reject the merger, stating, “Union Pacific’s CEO has failed to convince us he has the best interests of customers, workers, and communities.” The unions, backed by the Teamsters, are committed to opposing the merger to protect safety, jobs, and competition in the rail industry.