Brightline Florida Workers File for a Union – Starting the Path for a Voice on the Job

The Transport Workers Union of America is helping to organize on-board rail workers at Brightline Florida, with an overwhelming majority filing for recognition on Thursday with the National Mediation Board.   

On-board workers at Brightline are critical for the operations of the nation’s only privately owned intercity passenger railroad and reached out to the TWU on their own with a desire to form a union.   

“Today, Brightline workers begin the path forward to protect and advance the economic security of their families,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “We thank them for putting their trust in us. The TWU is committed to winning industry-leading contracts that deliver wages, benefits and quality-of-life improvements. Brightline can respect the will of their workers by voluntarily recognizing TWU or take a more combative stance by forcing an election.”   

 The on-board workers, including lead attendants and on-board attendants at Brightline Florida, work on the railroad’s Orlando-to-Miami line, a critical route for commuters and tourists. The workers filed to form a union with the National Mediation Board, an independent U.S. government agency that handles labor relations with the airline and railroad industries under the Railway Labor Act.  

“This is an exciting time for the railroad industry with record investments in passenger rail from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Samuelsen. “As passenger rail expands throughout the country, the TWU will continue to be the leading advocate for rail workers, We won Amtrak a record wage increase for on-board workers at Amtrak , and we look forward to similarly representing workers at Brightline.”  

Last year, Brightline announced an agreement with 13 unions, including the TWU, that establishes a commitment to use highly skilled union workers to operate and maintain Brightline West, a rail line between Las Vegas and Southern California that is currently under construction.   

Last week, the TWU secured the largest wage increase for Amtrak workers in the agency’s 53-year history after on-board service workers overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new seven-year contract. The Amtrak workers, who perform similar roles to the Brightline Florida workers organizing with the TWU, secured a 34 percent compounded wage increase over seven years and an industry-leading paid parental leave program.