On September 4th a fellow rail was killed on the job in Kenosha, WI. The Union Pacific worker was struck and killed Wednesday, Sept. 4 by a Metra commuter train.
The incident occurred about 12:17 p.m. near 13th Avenue and 69th Street, about a half-mile south of the Kenosha Metra station. The worker killed has been identified as 34-year-old Austin Scott Raysby of Burlington, WI.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in a post on X.com that it will investigate the incident. Investigators are en route to the scene and are expected to arrive on Thursday.
While we are saddened at the news of our brother’s death, we must double our resolve to build a safer workplace where such tragedies are not so commonplace.
The Railroad Workers United Program for Fallen Rails urges you to do the following on behalf of our fallen brother, his friends and family, co-workers and all railroad workers:
Commit yourself to following up on how and why our brother or sister was killed. What is the behind-the-scenes story? What role did unsafe conditions, including short staffing, crew fatigue, inadequate training and/or qualifying, deferred maintenance, or other factors play in this fellow worker’s death?
Get involved in the national movement against blame the worker “behavior-based safety” programs. Help build real union-based safety committees and programs that focus on hazard elimination and do not ignore the underlying causes of accidents, injuries and fatalities sustained on the job. For more information, see the RWU webpage entitled “Oppose Behavior Based Safety.”
Take part in the RWU annual Railroad Workers Memorial Day each April 28th. For more information, see the RWU webpage “Fallen Rails.”
Join RWU and fight to build solidarity and unity among all railroad workers, and make safer workplaces for all.
Thank you.
Railroad Workers United
P.S. Please forward this email to fellow railroad workers.
