For Immediate Release: July 30, 2025
IBEW International President Kenneth W. Cooper issued the following statement on the announcement of a merger agreement between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern:
“The IBEW’s focus remains squarely on our members. As the merger progresses, every effort will be made to protect railroad workers and to hold the railroads accountable for respecting and fully including them in the industry’s future. Active engagement will continue to ensure that safety is never compromised for the sake of efficiency, that hard-won labor protections are upheld, that furloughed workers are recalled before any new hiring or outsourcing, and that no represented employee is left behind during this transition.”
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The IBEW represents approximately 860,000 members and retirees who work in a wide variety of fields, including construction, utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, railroads and government.