As a railroad worker, you have a right to file a report against your company if you witness practices that could pose a danger to yourself, your colleagues or society. Railroad accidents have devastating consequences, but sometimes, a whistleblower may have his or her complaint denied.
Fortunately, you do not have to accept the denial and can appeal it.
Review your denial
When you receive word that the agency denied your complaint, you typically have about 30 days to file the appeal. Review the letter you receive to determine where you may have lacked evidence or what technicalities may have caused the denial.
Collect your evidence
Return to your evidence and make sure that you have adequate photographs, witness statements and other documents to prove your claim. You should have thorough documentation about your claim if you want the agency to take it seriously. Seek out potential witnesses and receive statements from your colleagues that may assist you in the claim.
File an appeal
To file your appeal, you should prepare a formal letter that addresses all of the issues that you read within the denial letter. Be concise, but descriptive when you state your case. You should provide supporting evidence for all of the points you make.
Attend all hearings
You may want to prepare to participate in any hearings or meetings as part of your appeal process. If you can help present your case with evidence and persuade the board, you may have a higher chance of having your appeal accepted. Keep in mind that you should have full permission to take part in your appeal.
If you do worry about retaliation from your employer, make sure that you document your interactions at your place of work throughout your case and following the appeal.
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