Some key railroad workers could be in line for a raise if legislation proposed by Michigan’s senior senator and a colleague on the other side of the aisle becomes law.
The legislation, co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, and Jim Justice, R-West Virginia, targets the pay of railroad safety inspectors and railroad safety specialists.
Staff members for Peters noted some recent rail safety incidents, including the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in highlighting the proposed raises. That derailment led to evacuations in the surrounding area, the fiery release of hazardous materials and ongoing environmental monitoring. Staff also pointed to a couple of other derailments this year in Michigan that did not involve hazardous materials,
including one in Washtenaw County in February and in Owosso in August.
“Outdated pay levels are forcing too many qualified railroad specialists to seek new opportunities outside of the Federal Railroad Administration. Making their wages more competitive would help recruit and retain the skilled workers we need to adequately monitor the roughly 160,000 miles of railway in service across America and reduce potential vulnerabilities before a disaster arises,” Peters said in a statement to the Detroit Free Press.
According to Peters’ office, “the current pay structure for (Federal Railroad Administration) inspectors leaves them one full grade level below comparable federal accident-investigation positions.”
Railroad inspectors and specialists last saw a pay level adjustment geared toward them in 1979, although wages have increased over time.
Pay for these positions in some cases gets an adjustment based on the local metropolitan area, but in general, the proposed change in many parts of the country would equate to about an 18.91% increase for inspectors and 18.17% for specialists who are currently at a step one level of $76,463 or $90,926, respectively.
Scott Hoose, the head of the union local representing these workers, noted that there are only about 336 rail safety inspectors and around 100 specialists to cover about 160,000 miles of track and thousands of hazardous materials facilities nationwide. A union analysis says the number of inspectors alone should be at least 425, he said.
Peters, in a statement, said it’s imperative to provide competitive wages for workers who play a vital role in maintaining the nation’s critical rail system because inspectors ensure railroad tracks, equipment and rail operating practices stay safe and secure.
“Making sure we can recruit and retain highly skilled professionals for this essential workforce will improve railway safety in communities across the country. This bipartisan, commonsense bill would help us do just that by providing federal rail inspectors with more competitive wages for the critical work they do,” said Peters, who was noted as the ranking member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight and Ports.
Hoose, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2814, which represents Federal Railroad Administration employees, told the Detroit Free Press the “biggest challenge we face” is in recruitment and retention. He noted that these types of positions pay considerably more in the private sector.
He described the situation as a “kind of revolving door.”
Everett Kelley, the union’s national president, said “this bill would address a fundamental flaw in federal rules that prevent railroad safety inspectors and specialists from advancing beyond their entry pay levels, resulting in many leaving the agency for higher paying jobs elsewhere once they’ve been trained.”
The Federal Railroad Administration, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, reached a staffing peak last year, according to the union, but 11 inspectors left within eight months for jobs with higher pay.
It’s not clear how quickly the legislation could move forward. It was introduced on Sept. 22 and referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Eric D. Lawrence is the senior car culture reporter at the Detroit Free Press, and he also writes about recreational vehicles, boats and bikes. Send your tips and suggestions to elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Peters seeks to boost 'outdated pay' for nation's railroad inspectors
