CSX pays $95,000 in back wages to whistleblower

(Source: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) press release, October 13, 2020)

ATLANTA, Ga. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered CSX Transportation Inc. – headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida – to reinstate and pay more than $95,000 in back wages to an employee terminated by the company for reporting an unsafe customer gate and an on-the-job injury. OSHA also ordered the rail-based freight transportation company to pay the employee $75,000 in punitive damages, $27,000 in compensatory damages, and attorney’s fees.

An OSHA investigation determined that the company violated the whistleblower provision of the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA) when it issued the employee a charge letter and subjected the employee to an investigative hearing that led to the employee’s termination. OSHA also ordered the company to train managers and employees on FRSA’s worker protections. CSX may appeal the order to the Department’s Office of Administrative Law Judges.

Full story: Valdosta Today

Wednesday, October 14, 2020