Railroad Workers United (RWU) is a cross-craft inter-union solidarity caucus of railroad workers across North America. We are drawn from the rank-and-file working on all the major rail carriers. RWU members hold a union card in one or the other of the rail unions and work in one of the crafts. RWU also accepts members from the ranks of retirees, spouses, family members and significant others of working railroaders, as well as railroaders on unorganized railroads who wish to one day be unionized. All must subscribe to the RWU Statement of Principles.

Railroad Workers United is NOT a  union. While there are numerous railroaders who are disgusted and discouraged by the state of affairs within our unions, RWU believes that union members should work for change within their existing unions. Also, there are numerous things we can do to build solidarity and unity, to fight for justice on the job, to win better contracts both within the existing framework of the unions and outside of that framework. Solidarity existed long before there ever was an official and legally recognized union structure. RWU, in effect, wants to "get back to basics" - unity, solidarity, democracy, member education, rank-and-file action.

Railroad Operating Crafts United (ROCU) and its allies, together with other railroaders, family members and retirees who wish to build a fighting labor movement that can take on the carriers and win.

RWU first got organized in November of 2007 as the RWU Organizing Committee. we were the RWU Organizing Committee until April 11, 2008, when we were formally constituted as RWU at our Founding Convention.

Railroad Workers United is a movement which wants to rebuild the spirit of solidarity which is sorely lacking today, not just on the railroad, but in the labor movement generally and in society as a whole. We hope to build a movement across crafts and between unions which is capable of effectively confronting the carriers. We want to infuse the spirit of democracy throughout all of our unions. We are pledged to democratic "reforms" which put the power of the union into the hands of the rank-and-file members. RWU aims to rebuild union power in order to win good contracts, dignity on the job, and good wages, benefits and working conditions on all rail properties in North America.

Yes! To achieve its goals, RWU will engage in a host of activities, including but not limited to the following:

• Support movements for democracy and accountability within the various rail unions

• Build unity between unions at the next (and every subsequent) round of bargaining.

• Act as a solidarity organization locally, regionally and nationally by building awareness and support for each others' job actions, strikes, etc.

• Develop and maintain a newsletter, social media presence, and email news service to be distributed continent wide with news and views about the rail labor unity movement and various struggles across North America.

• Develop and maintain an up-to-the-minute website to augment our media outlets to provide railroaders with timely information about rank-and-file issues.

• Support mergers between rail unions where they make sense (i.e. build toward a more industry-wide type union) and empower the rank-and-file.

• Build local chapters in terminals to more effectively recruit new members, build solidarity at the base, and support the general organization.

• Get behind state and national legislative and regulatory efforts that would benefit rail workers, facilitate union organizing, and benefit the working class in general.


Assist candidates for union office, who actively support RWU goals and principles

Membership in RWU is open to all railroad workers in North America. Retirees, spouses and other sympathetic family members are also welcome to join. Membership is NOT open to railroad managers or others who are affiliated with the rail industry in a management capacity.

The two major Canadian Carriers - the Canadian Pacific and the Canadian National-- have important mainlines and affiliates in the U.S. The CN owns the IC, GTW, WC, EJ&E among other properties, and the CP has acquired the DM&E, the IC&E, and as of 2023 the Kansas City Southern, extending th.ir reach into the southern U.S. and Mexico. Similarly, major U.S. carriers such as the Union Pacific have purchased major mainlines throughout Mexico. More and more, especially in the face of NAFTA, trans-border freight traffic is booming. As the carriers become increasingly international in scope, and as freight traffic becomes more and more trans-border in nature, it becomes imperative that labor begin to think and to organize internationally as well. Railroaders in North America share a common industry and a common interest. We work for the same employers. We face the same issues. And the carriers - who have long played us off against one another -- by craft, by union, by terminal and by carrier - now play us off country against country. Therefore, RWU welcomes all North American railroaders into its ranks.

Retirees and spouses have a direct interest in the strength and power of our unions for obvious reasons. While they do not directly make their living from working on the railroad, their standard of living and quality of life are directly tied to the success or failure of organized labor. They are vital allies of all railroaders and as such are welcome into the ranks of RWU.

There was a time when practically all rail labor in North America was union. However, through spin offs, privatization, and short-line creation, hundreds of properties now operate non-union. However, just because a property is not organized, this does not mean that its employees are scabs or anti-union. In fact, as many recent spin-offs have shown, the workers on these lines are ready, willing, and able to become part of the labor movement. They should not be excluded from RWU simply because they have yet to be formally organized into a bargaining unit. They are welcome in the RWU.

Most RWU members are union members of one of the many craft unions that represent railroad workers across North America. View a listing of these union HERE.

Dues are currently set at $50.00 a year. Dues rate is subject to amendment at the founding convention in 2008 and every bi-annual convention thereafter. Local Chapters may also establish a dues structure to support the local chapter as established by the local/regional chapter membership.

When you join RWU, you know that you have joined an organization of some of the most forward thinking railroaders in North America. You have made a clear commitment to take a stand in favor of unity, solidarity, democracy and action. When RWU receives your membership application, you will receive a phone call from one of our organizers. In the mail you will receive a letter of welcome, a RWU membership card, a copy of the RWU Statement of Principles, the latest RWU newsletter, a copy of the RWU Bylaws and other basic information. You will have the right to receive "members only" emails including ivites to Steering Committee meetings along with meeting minutes. You will have the right to run for office and the right to attend the bi-annual Convention and vote for the International Steering Committee.

All those who are eligible, who support RWU, agree to abide by its constitution, and who agree to the RWU Statement of Principles have the absolute right to join RWU. All union members who carry a union card in any craft union and work for the railroad in any capacity have the right to join. Note: RWU is not a union per se, but a “solidarity caucus.” Therefore, anyone can join regardless of hat your card or union position they may hold.

No. As stated above, RWU is NOT a union, is not recognized as a union by the National Mediation Board, has no representation rights and holds no contracts. Therefore, RWU is not a dual union and cannot be accused of being one.

Politely and firmly explain to them that you have the right to participate in any organization of your choosing, as guaranteed to you in the U.S. Constitution. Then immediately contact RWU for advice, assistance and support.

First, if you believe in the RWU mission and Statement of Principles, please join. As a member, you can build RWU and spread the word by downloading and copying RWU literature, putting out flyers, posters and stickers, distributing and writing for the official newsletter, making a financial donation, participating in the life of the local chapter (if one exists in your area),helping to build a local chapter where none exists, taking part in standing and special committees of RWU, taking part in regularly scheduled conference calls, running for a seat on the International Steering Committee, and working on RWU campaigns as they are launched and carried out. Really, the degree to which you participate is practically limitless! See the Get Involved Section of this website.

Railroad Operating Crafts United (ROCU) was a group of rank-and-file members of the operating crafts who got organized in the spring of 2005 to end the inter-union conflict between the UTU and the BLET, to merge the two unions into a single, powerful and democratically organized union. In its 30 or so months of existence, ROCU won some victories and managed to build a network of trainmen, yardmasters and engineers around the U.S. and Canada (see the website page "RWU History"). However, ROCU's mission of a single united union of the operating crafts foundered on the UTU and BLET leadership’s insistence on warring with each other and remaining apart. When the UTU voted to merge into the Sheet Metal Workers Union, ROCU decided that rather than continue to fight what now appeared as a losing battle, and rather than disband, that we would broaden the struggle, reach out to our brothers and sisters in the other unions, and build a solidarity and unity caucus of railroaders from all crafts, all carriers, all unions, and all three countries of North America to fight the carriers.

ROCU officially dissolved in November 2007. Numerous rank-and-filers that were involved in ROCU have become active now in RWU. The goals of ROCU and RWU are similar. The major difference is that RWU is multifaceted while the primary goal of ROCU was the unification of the BLET and the UTU. While RWU in principle still supports the idea of BLET-UTU unity (and for that matter, unity of all rail unions), the bailiwick of RWU is far broader.

At the founding convention on April 11, 2008, the delegates present elected a Steering Committee and an Executive Committee to guide the organization over the next two years. When the Convention is in session, it will be the highest decision-making body of the RWU. Every month, there will be either an Executive Committee Meeting or a Steering Committee meeting to conduct the business of the organization. Within RWU local and regional Chapters, decisions will be made by the RWU members present at the meetings of the Chapter.

Yes. While most members of RWU are rank-and-file members of the various unions, a number of RWU members hold office in their local union, including local chairmen, local presidents, vice-presidents, delegates, secretary-treasurers and others. We have the sympathy and support of a number of union officers at higher level as well; however, many of them have refrained from joining outright because of internal political concerns.

No. None of the rail unions in North America or their parent affiliates were involved in the creation of RWU. To date, none have given any support, nor has any rail union officially endorsed RWU. Note: Hundreds of local union officers drawn from the ranks of the myriad craft unions - generally fulltime working railroad workers - have joined RWU.

The primary source of income is from annual membership dues of RWU members. The remainder of funding comes from donations from RWU members and other railroad workers who, while not formally joining, support the efforts of RWU with donations. RWU sells T-shirts and other items with the RWU logo in our online Store that raises money for the organization.

• You can call and leave a voice message anytime day or night at: 202-798-3327.

• Email for more information to: info@railroadworkersunited.org.

• U.S. Mail at: RWU P.O. Box 221191, Chicago, IL 60622

• See the RWU website at: www.railroadworkersunited.org.

The easiest way is to click the Join button on the home page.
Or you can download the application "Member Application", fill it out and together with your first year's dues, mail to Railroad Workers United, P.O Box 32, Roopville, GA 30170-0032.

It's simple. Visit our Donation Page and determine what works best for you. We also accept checks, made payable to Railroad Workers United, mailed to RWU at P.O. Box Box 221191, Chicago, IL 60622. Or you can donate online via PayPal by going to railroadworkersunited.org.