Straight Track #160

Protecting Workers From Retaliatory Discharge

Hoey & Farina
info@felahfd.com
1-888-425-1212

Railroaders in Illinois are afraid to contact attorneys and file FELA claims for fear of getting fired.

What Railroaders in Illinois need and deserve is the same strong protection they’d have under laws in Vermont and Louisiana.

The Illinois Workers Compensation Act protects employees who are fired in retaliation for filing workers compensation claims. Workers who are fired in Illinois for filing a workers compensation claim can file a lawsuit against the employer – in State court – for “retaliatory discharge.” But the Illinois law only protects employees who file workers compensation claims under the Illinois Workers Compensation statute. The Illinois statute doesn’t protect Railroad Employees who file claims under the FELA. 

In stark contrast with the Illinois law, the Vermont and Louisiana workers compensation statutes prohibit retaliation against employees for filing claims under the State or Federal laws. 

Railroad employees in Louisiana and Vermont who get fired in retaliation for filing FELA claims can sue the Railroads for retaliatory discharge. Railroaders in Illinois need and deserve the same protection against retaliatory discharge. 

Copies of the Louisiana and Vermont statutes are available for comparison, along with a Louisiana case that ruled Railroaders who are fired in retaliation for filing FELA claims are protected by the Louisiana law. [Click to download the Louisiana statute; Click here to download the Vermont statute; Click here to download the Wiley case.] 

Now Is The Time To Get The Same Strong Protection For Railroaders In Illinois! 

We have the right General Assembly, and the right Governor, to revise the Illinois Workers Compensation Act to protect Railroaders from retaliatory discharge for pursuing their rights under the FELA.

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