A February 4 letter co-signed by 47 Republican members of Congress urges the Surface Transportation Board to conduct a “rigorous and comprehensive” review of proposed Union Pacific-Southern Pacific merger. The Representatives said that if STB cannot ensure that the merger enhances competition, then STB should not permit the transaction to proceed.
The letter reads in part, “Some of us are already hearing initial concerns about the UP-NS application and its lack of serious and meaningful commitments to enhance competition and protect against service meltdowns. In light of this, the Board must consider with extreme care the potential risks posed by this transaction to determine whether it meets the public interest test.”
The BLET, in conjunction with Teamsters Rail Conference affiliate BMWED has publicly stated its strong opposition to the merger.
Last month, BLET National President Mark Wallace and First Vice President Garrison Best visited key members of Congress, from both side of the aisle, including some of the letter signers. The Hill visits were part of an ongoing effort to build bipartisan support for issues of importance to BLET members, including the proposed UP-NS merger.
In addition to activity on Capitol Hill related to the proposed creation of a transcontinental railroad, it’s important to note the STB’s unanimous decision last month to reject the UP-NS merger application, ruling that it was incomplete. The railroads have said they plan to re-file by March.
Download a copy of the February 4 letter from the BLET website (PDF).