NMB denies UTU single-craft application
CLEVELAND, August 14 — The National Mediation Board today dismissed the United Transportation Union’s application to create a single craft of “Train and Engine Service Employees” on the Kansas City Southern Railway.
The UTU filed the application in September of 2001, seeking the establishment of the new craft and requesting a representation election on the KCS.
“This is another major victory — not only for the BLE — but for all Labor in the battle to preserve historic operating craft lines,” said BLE International President Don Hahs. “I thank the new members of the Board and Chairman Duggan for making the right decision. The fact that the UTU’s application was dismissed outright, without a hearing, demonstrates that it was a baseless case without merit.”
On August 1, the Senate confirmed Harry Hoglander and Edward Fitzmaurice as Board members. Hoglander succeeded Magdalena Jacobsen and Fitzmaurice filled the vacant position left by Ernie Dubester, whose term had previously expired.
Today’s decision marks the second time the NMB has denied a UTU attempt to force single-craft elections on a Class 1 railroad. On Feb. 29, 2000, the NMB dismissed a similar UTU request on the nation’s largest railroad, Union Pacific.
The House of Labor viewed the UTU’s attempts to combine operating crafts and force representation elections as a way of raiding the BLE. The AFL-CIO, Teamsters, and members of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department condemned the UTU single-craft attack as a backdoor raid on the BLE. The AFL-CIO constitution forbids one affiliate from raiding another.
The AFL-CIO Executive Committee went so far as to adopt a resolution allowing victims of raiding (like the BLE) to pursue financial reparations from the attacking union (UTU). In March of 2000, the UTU pulled out of the AFL-CIO to avoid these potential sanctions.
“I thank the AFL-CIO, the Teamsters, and all the TTD affiliates for their solidarity and undivided assistance toward passing resolutions that supported the BLE in this endeavor,” President Hahs said. “I also thank our attorney, Roland Wilder, who did an outstanding job on this case.”
More details regarding the NMB decision will soon be available on the BLE website.