FRA Certification Helpline: (216) 694-0240

CLEVELAND, June 29 — The Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition was created earlier this year to provide a unified voice for rail workers in national contract negotiations with Class 1 rail carriers.

Currently, the members of the RLBC are:

  • Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET)
  • Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division
    (BMWED)
  • American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA)
  • National Council of Firemen and Oilers (SEIU)
  • International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship
    Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB)
  • Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA)
  • Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS)

    The United Transportation Union (UTU) has a standing invitation to join the coalition on exactly the same terms as all the other unions presently within the Coalition. The UTU leadership has decided to keep the UTU out of the RLBC.

    Since January 2005, the Coalition has met with representatives of the rail carriers and put forth a number of proposals to address such critical issues as job security, workforce stabilization, vacation and sick leave and industry growth. By joining together in this Coalition, the constituent labor unions intend to send a unified message of Rail Labor strength and solidarity to the carriers. No longer will the carriers be able to divide and conquer labor at the bargaining table by cutting a deal with one union only to force other unions comply, so-called pattern bargaining.

    A workplace flyer of this Fact Sheet is available on the BLET website at: https://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/railbargainingcoalition.pdf