CLEVELAND, December 17 — The joint International Brotherhood of Teamsters/Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Rail Operating Employees’ Council today scored its first-ever organizing victory on the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad (IC&E).
Approximately 300 workers will now enjoy union representation as a result of the IBT/BLE organizing victory, the results of which were announced by the National Mediation Board this afternoon.
“We look forward to working with management to obtain a fair and equitable agreement for the employees,” BLE International President Don Hahs said. “It’s our goal to develop a positive relationship that will be beneficial to both our members and the company.”
President Hahs thanked the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, IBT/BLE Organizers Tom Miller and Jim Bradford, and local Teamsters for their efforts in the successful organizing drive. Brother Miller thanked the BLE’s Education & Training Department, the BLE International Division, and the IC&E employees for choosing union representation.
On November 18 in Davenport, Iowa, the joint IBT/IBLE Rail Operating Employees’ Council held its first-ever rally. Two large Teamster trucks — one from Chicago and one from Indianapolis — served as rally headquarters for the IBT/BLE representatives. The trucks were parked at two separate locations in the Quad Cities area and served as a rallying point for IC&E employees as they reported for work.
In July, the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) purchased the I&M Rail Link (also known as IMRL) and changed its name to the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad. In doing so, the company abolished union representation.
The DM&E, which owns 1,100 miles of track, purchased the IMRL, which owned 1,400 miles of track, for a reported $150 million. The former IMRL tracks connect the Twin Cities, Chicago and Kansas City. DM&E is in the process of upgrading its system to carry coal from Wyoming’s Powder River Basin across South Dakota and southern Minnesota.