Yesterday in downtown St. Louis, BMWED members on the Class III Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis demonstrated outside the boss’ office on Olive Street, imploring him to finally recognize the common and necessary benefit of paid sick leave.

TRRA has the shameful distinction of being the only shortline within the American Rail System Federation of the BMWED yet to provide paid sick days to its employees. While management continues to insist that they are open to providing the need paid time off for illness they have yet to make the simple maneuver to put it in writing.

There will be no concessions on the part of our members on TRRA. This paid time off for illness is as much a deserved benefit as a hard hat or fall harness. Like personal protective equipment, it is rooted in safety and health and our demand continues to be that annual paid time off to address unforeseen emergencies is an essential right of all workers.

St. Louis was another stop on this drive to obtain paid sick days for all railroaders and a warning to all other carriers who have failed to see the light – join the other rail carriers who have done right by their workers or prepare to suffer bruising to your reputation.