Railroads from western Canada to southern Georgia, along with the labor organizations representing those railroads, are joining forces to support the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in south Texas.
Canadian Pacific recently announced it is donating $50,000 to the American Red Cross to help with relief efforts. It is also matching all employee contributions through its internal giving engine campaign.
Similarly, Norfolk Southern has pledged $100,000 and will match all of its employees gifts to assist with cleanup through its Norfolk Southern Foundation. The foundation is giving $50,000 to the American Red Cross and $50,000 to the Houston Food Bank. The foundation will also match all employee donations to the American Red Cross and Feeding America food banks for additional relief efforts.
Members of the Teamsters disaster relief fund are also asking south Texas leaders how to assist with relief efforts. Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa has directed international union staff to provide all necessary support to members affected by Harvey, according to a news release issued by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
Teamsters local 988 is currently preparing a staging area for disaster relief supplies at its union hall and will be providing meals to members and retirees. Other locals are also launching similar initiatives and are assessing the best ways that they can support communities as they recover from the unprecedented storm.
In late August, Union Pacific announced the donation of $250,000 to support relief efforts and Kansas City Southern announced it would donate $50,000 to the American Red Cross.