AFL-CIO official lauds Congress for UP U-turn on safety inspections

AFL-CIO official lauds Congress for UP U-turn on safety inspections AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Edward Wytkind, on Monday thanked officials who convinced Union Pacific Corp. to abandon its plan to outsource safety inspections of U.S.-bound trains from Mexico.
   The railroad had earlier made a request with the Federal Railroad Administration but withdrew the request after elected officials and safety advocates opposed the plan.
   “The drive for higher profits cannot dictate all business decisions,' Wytkind said. 'There are certain functions in the railroad business that are too important to be done on the cheap, and safety inspections top the list. Outsourcing safety inspections to Mexico is a bad idea that would have dire consequences. We are pleased that Union Pacific withdrew its request ' one that faced mounting public and Congressional criticism.'