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Locomotive Builders Forge Green Rail Project
Striking UE locomotive workers rally with community supporters in Pittsburgh at Wabtec's headquarters. Photo: UE
May 08, 2025 / Kari Thompson
Union workers who make diesel locomotives at a plant in Pennsylvania are pushing ahead with their campaign to manufacture more green-powered locomotives.
The workers aim to clean up diesel railroad pollution while also revitalizing their locomotive engine manufacturing plant in Erie. But they’re facing roadblocks, and the recent federal chaos has added to the uncertainty. In the meantime, workers are making direct changes to clean up their jobsite.
The Wabtec plant, formerly General Electric, makes diesel locomotives for both freight and passenger trains. The company began researching all-electric and hybrid diesel-electric locomotives several years ago, and more recently began exploring hydrogen power.
After doing some research of its own, United Electrical Workers (UE) Local 506 began advocating that members should build more electric and hybrid models. Only a few samples of these new engines were being built, so the union argued there was plenty of space at the plant to expand production. Workers had the expertise to make the initiative a success, and the shift could bring additional jobs.
FULL story: https://labornotes.org/2025/05/locomotive-builders-forge-green-rail-project