CLEVELAND, February 6 – Congressional intervention in the current round of national negotiations would be premature and the National Mediation Board should refrain from releasing rail labor and the carriers from bargaining. That’s according to a letter from Representative Don Young (R-Alaska) to the National Mediation Board dated January 23, 2006.
“Congressional intervention in any transportation labor dispute should always be a very last resort,” wrote Rep. Young, who is Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “My additional concern is that we may be headed for conflict among the branches of government. I therefore recommend that the Board carefully consider whether it would be prudent to release the parties from mediation before the courts have resolved the pending litigation.”
Rep. Young’s letter comes in response to a joint campaign by the BLET and the United Transportation Union to ensure a successful outcome to the current round of collective bargaining. The unions are working together to make sure that the carriers and unions reach a negotiated settlement this round, as opposed to an agreement forced on the unions by a Presidential Emergency Board.
During negotiations, the major rail carriers have attempted to use past differences between the BLET and the UTU as a wedge to reduce crew size. Reducing crew size puts the lives of all rail workers and the general public in danger. It also seriously threatens the financial security of the Railroad Retirement system.
The carriers claim that experimental positive train control (PTC) will permit crew-size reduction and permanent elimination of thousands of jobs. In fact, the carriers’ attempt to reduce crew size has nothing to do with new technology and everything to do with increasing corporate profits and executive bonuses.
The carriers have told the National Transportation Safety Board that implementation of PTC is many years away. Moreover, the Federal Railroad Administration has not conducted a study into the safety and reliability of reduced crew size, nor its impact on an already highly fatigued workforce operating trains through congested areas carrying highly toxic hazmat during this era of heightened terrorist threats to the security of our nation’s railroads.
A PDF of Representative Young’s letter is available at: