Rail Unions Raise Concerns Over $85B Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern Merger
The proposed $85 billion merger between freight rail giants Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern is facing fierce opposition from major labor unions. This comes as regulators continue to review the deal that would create the first coast-to-coast railroad in U.S. history.
A recent report reveals that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) — two unions representing over half of the two railroads’ combined workforce — have formally opposed the merger. They cite serious concerns about:
- Worker safety
- Job losses
- Higher shipping rates
- Rising consumer prices
The unions warn that safety could deteriorate after a merger, arguing that Union Pacific has not matched the safety improvements made by Norfolk Southern in the years following the catastrophic East Palestine, Ohio derailment.
A new report also revealed that Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern together accounted for roughly half of the rail industry’s safety violations and federal citations in fiscal year 2025. The Federal Railroad Administration levied over $8.5 million in initial fines against Union Pacific alone for 921 safety cases involving 1,219 violations.
If approved by the Surface Transportation Board (STB), the resulting railroad — tentatively named The Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad — would span more than 50,000 route miles across 43 states. A regulatory decision is expected in 2027. The companies hope to complete the merger by early 2027.
Source: U.S. News & World Report – Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific Defend Proposed $85 Billion Merger