UE Pushes Green Locomotives as Way to Combat Climate Change, Create Jobs

Remember the Green New Deal?  The legislation that espoused federal investment in low-carbon, environmental infrastructure as a way to create good-paying jobs?  Well, if you’re looking for a poster child for the potential of the Green New Deal, look no further than the U.S. railroad industry.  Here’s a nationwide, essential industry stuck, through corporate inertia and government acquiescence, using nineteenth century technology, all while spewing significant amounts of carbon and other fumes into the atmosphere.  Meanwhile, workers at the Wabtec locomotive manufacturing plant in Erie, Pennsylvania have been on strike since June, demanding increases in locomotive production.  The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, otherwise known as UE, represents workers at the Wabtec plant, and they’ve been pushing for green emission mandates on the railroad industry to create jobs.  Carl Rosen is the General President of UE, and he joins us now by phone.  Welcome, Carl.  Also joining us is Scott Slawson, President of UE Local 506, which represents workers at the Erie Wabtec plant. Image by David Mark from Pixabay