All railroads have tort injury and disability systems, not workmen’s comp like the rest of the economy. Thus, the union workers get “injured” or “disabled” frequently. Their steward steers them to the “right” doctors and lawyers (who kickback to or bribe the steward) who produce the diagnosis and file the lawsuit almost in tandem. The RR then settles the “injury” suit for 30%, the lawyer gets his 30-40% of this and kicks more back to the steward to keep the claims coming. This story is not surprising, only the amount defrauded and tenure of the fraud.
Exactly. I used to work for a railroad and worked with claims and it was exactly as you said. Just before retirement, like clockwork, each retiree would all the sudden have a FELA carpal tunnel, hearing loss and other claims. They’d get $5K or $10K as a retirement “bonus.” It was disgusting.