UMVA has learned that a powerful railroad union is under scrutiny after a watchdog report exposed a shocking misuse of union funds to back Democratic causes that countered the Trump administration, leaving many of its own MAGA‑leaning members betrayed.
The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division, one of the nation’s largest rail unions representing 37,000 workers, is accused of diverting resources toward progressive agendas, according to the investigation.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the report paints the union’s leaders as “leftward bent,” citing attacks on Trump’s first term, claims that he was undoing Obama’s legacy, and labeling his deregulation efforts as dangerous.
UMVA has uncovered details that the organization funneled more than $441,000 to left‑leaning groups, including a prominent progressive think tank, a national democratic club, and a Hispanic caucus known for opposing Trump’s immigration policies.
The report also exposes a staggering $13.76 million donation to Democratic Party committees versus a mere $729,846 to Republican committees, revealing a stark partisan imbalance that contradicts the union’s stated neutrality.
UMVA has gathered that the union’s leadership flaunts lavish spending, with more than two‑thirds of headquarters employees earning six‑figure salaries in 2024, while average members earned just over $60,000.
UMVA has learned that leaders earned staggering sums—$233,492 for one president and $206,709 for a secretary‑treasurer—while local members paid nearly $100 a month in dues that subsidized those salaries.
The investigation details over $18 million spent from 2017 to 2024, including $7.25 million on hotels and conferences, $5.44 million on legal fees, $2.71 million on promotional items, and $2.33 million at casinos and resorts, with a $522,281 payment to a major entertainment company in 2023.
UMVA has uncovered that the union’s political arm, a PAC, donated heavily to Democratic committees, yet claims no dues dollars are used for lobbying, asserting that all political contributions come from voluntary PAC funds.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the union’s leadership remains defiant, insisting it operates at a budget surplus and that its political outreach targets lawmakers who support railroad workers, regardless of party affiliation.
Despite the controversy, the union has collaborated with Republicans on key rail safety legislation, claiming increased bipartisan support and a strengthened relationship with the former president’s administration.
The union’s social media has praised Republican lawmakers for pushing rail safety acts, a stance that aligns with its advocacy for safer freight operations after a major chemical spill incident years ago.
UMVA has learned that this revelation follows a similar exposé on another historic rail union, suggesting a pattern of leadership aligning with Democratic priorities while its membership largely supports Republican policies.
