Mark Burrows Commentary Series

Former RWU Co-Chair Mark Burrows - now retired but still active in RWU - wrote a series of searing commentaries for the RWU newsletter The Highball from the Fall of 2012 to Fall of 2015.  After a brief reprieve upon retirement, he once again took up his pen and continues to write! You can re-read all of his commentaries below.

Mark Burrows' railroad employment in Chicago spanned more than 40 years, first with the C&NW, then with Soo Line and Canadian Pacific. Mark retired in January 2016.

2024

Spring #42 - We’re All Disposable - From the Workplace to Neighboring Communities

2023

Fall #41 - The Status Quo has Got to Go!  Time to Get Off the Couch!

Summer #40 - From Before Lac-Mégantic to Beyond East Palestine

Spring #39 - “Every single event that we investigate is preventable…”

Winter #38 - Seize the Moment: Time to go on the Offensive!

2022

Fall #37 - WTH is it Going to Take. Calling All Disgruntled Rails

Summer #36 - Are Union Leaders Preparing to Fight or Just Going Through the Motions

Spring #35 - Rail Labor Bargaining Now and in the Future - What is to be Done

Winter - #34 - Do Rails Have Right to Strike?

2021

Fall - #33 - Rail Workers Need Our Own Playbook

Spring - #32 - Rails Need to Crank Up the Pressure and the Heat on Biden and Co.

Winter - #31 - Railroad Brothers & Sisters - Why Do We Put Up with This

2020

#30 - Fall - Workers Need to Look Beyond Trump vs. Biden for Our Salvation

#29 - Spring - “Those Who Cannot Learn from History are Doomed to Repeat It” - Part 2

#28 - Winter - “Those Who Cannot Learn from History are Doomed to Repeat It” - Part 1

2019

#27 - Fall - On vacation

#26 - Summer - Rail Carriers, Wall Street & Labor Unions — Where are YOU in this Equation

#25 - Spring - How Many Rails Need to be Sacrificed at the Altar of Capitalism?

#24 - Winter - It is High Time for Disgrntled Rails to Stand up and Be Counted

2018

#23 Fall - Dan Johnson, Friend and Co-Worker - Killed on the Job

#22 Summer - The Profit System's Complete and Total Moral Bankruptcy

#21 Spring - You Railroad Workers! Don’t  Waste Time Mourning  - Organize!

#20 Winter - What Can the Rank and File do About the Sad State of Rail Labor 

2017

#19 Fall -- Our Lives are at Risk When Stockholders Demand to Get Rich Quick

#18 Summer -- Business as Usual = Defeat. Resist the Status Quo!

#17 Spring -- Railroad Workers Have the Moral and Ethical Right to Resist

#16 Winter -- Now That the Elections are Over, What is the Way Forward

2016

#15 Summer -- Railroad Workers and Our Communities Must Seek Common Ground

#14 Winter -- Operating Craft Unions Are Helpless as HH Divides and Conquers at CP  

2015

#13 Fall -- Unity Democracy and Solidarity now More Than Ever

#12 Summer -- What Would Eugene Debs do Today?

#11 Spring-- What Drives the Carriers Relentless Aggression?

#10 Winter -- Signs of Life from the Rank & File -- Now Let Us Build a Movement 

2014

#9 Fall -- Do Not Be Fooled By Candy Coated Promises - Fight Back

#8 Summer -- We Railroad Workers Must Set the Terms of Engagement

#7 Spring -- Rail Carriers Attacks, Union Response and RWU

#6 Winter -- Commentary - Do as You Are Told, Now 

2013

#5 Fall -- The Crisis of Leadership in Our Rail Unions - Part 2

#4 Summer -- The Crisis of Leadership in Our Unions - Part 1

#3 Spring -- The Concessionary Landscape -- How did We Get Here

#2 Winter -- After Three Decades of Concessions Rails Say Enough 

2012

#1 Fall 2012 -- Beware the Carriers' Section 6 Notices!