House Democrats want UP-NS to explain merger's impact on workers

Seven U.S. House members have asked the Surface Transportation Board to require Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway to explain in detail how the railroads' potential merger would impact labor.

In a Jan. 15 letter addressed to STB Chairman Patrick Fuchs, the Congress members said they want the railroads to answer a set of questions as part of the board's public-interest review of the merger proposal. The lawmakers want the board to provide those answers to Congress at least 60 days before any decision on the merger and "consider those responses and potential harms to workers as part of its decision."

Signing the letter were Reps. Chris Deluzio (D-Penn.), Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Patrick Ryan (D-N.Y.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.). Deluzio, Jayapal and Craig are co-chars of the Monopoly Caucus; and Norcross, Pocan and Dingell are co-chairs of the Labor Caucus.

"These questions focus on the labor implications of a potential Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, including how it may affect longstanding challenges in the rail industry related to worker competition, safety, and reliable service," their letter states. "A merger of this magnitude would affect the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers, and it is critical that the STB fully account for these impacts in any review." 

The letter, in its entirety, can be viewed here.

The lawmakers' letter was filed with the STB the day before the board announced it determined the UP-NS merger application filed Dec. 19, 2025, is incomplete because it lacks certain information required by the STB regulations.

The railroads have until Feb. 17 to let the STB know if and when they anticipate filing a revised application.