Two of the unions that represent CSX workers aren’t happy with Hunter Harrison’s letter to the railroad’s customers earlier this week. In the letter, Harrison, the CSX president and CEO, apologized for recent disruptions in service and laid some of the blame on employees.

"While most people at the company have embraced the new plan, unfortunately, a few have pushed back and continue to do so," he wrote. "This resistance to change has resulted in some service disruptions … As we move forward, we will continue to address these internal personnel matters and our teams have recommitted themselves to reaching out to those affected to work through any service issues and resolve them as quickly as possible."

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, usually referred to as SMART, responded on Thursday with a letter of its own to Harrison, saying that CSX is refusing to accept responsibility for service disruptions.

"Our members," the letter said, "the ballast line employees, rightfully take your comments as a personal attack on their professionalism. They have worked through numerous operations challenges and changes to their work routines. Despite harsh treatment, furloughs and repeated violations of their collective bargaining agreements, it has not deterred the employees from fulfilling their duties. If anything, our members are pushing forward even though management is providing limited guidance and resources."

Nationally, close to 90 percent of railroad workers are unionized. SMART represents 216,000 workers, though it was not clear how many are CSX employees.

None of the other 12 unions that represent railroad workers issued statements on their own, but Clark Ballew, spokesman for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes - Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters,, said his organization echoed SMART’s response. The union, whose members maintain the tracks, has about 35,000 members, including 6,200 who work at CSX, he said.

"SMART was spot on with its assessment," Ballew said Friday. Beyond that, he said, workers aren’t happy.

"Morale is low," he said. "And not just in the track department, but throughout the system. [Harrison] is reaping what he’s sowed. Workers are disgruntled and tired."

Much of the problem with his members, he said, has been with the system production gangs — large groups of workers who replace ties and maintain track throughout CSX’s 21,000 miles of track in 23 states.

For decades, he said, those crews have worked four 10-hour days a week. That way, a crew from Florida that’s repairing track in Virginia, for example, had a three-day weekend and time to go home.

But Harrison has moved most of them to five eight-hour days.

"With only two days off," he said, "you’re going to spend that whole time driving. For some, it’s almost not worth it to go home."

Roger Bull: (904) 359-4296