MEMORANDUM
TO: All Divisions, General Committees, State Legislative Board
Committees, Officers and Members
FROM: D.M. Hahs, BLE International President
DATE: February 28, 2003
RE: Guidelines for Informational Picketing
It has come to my attention that at least one organization not affiliated with the BLE is planning informational picketing activities and/or demonstrations at various locations across the country in connection with the railroads’ implementation of remote control operations and that BLE members have been solicited to participate.
This is to remind you that the BLE, its officers and members remain
bound by a preliminary injunction in regard to remote control issued by the federal court in Chicago. That injunction does not prohibit informational picketing, but it does forbid “authorizing, encouraging, permitting, calling, engaging in, or continuing any strikes, work stoppages, picketing (other than for informational purposes), slowdowns, work-to-rule campaigns, or other self-help against the plaintiffs over any disputes concerning the plaintiffs’ use or plans to use remote control technology in the operation of locomotives in their terminal operations in or around terminals, or work assignments in connection therewith.”
Anyone who does not obey these limits may subject themselves, their division, GCA, or BLE itself, to charges of contempt and possible monetary fines.
If you decide to participate in any demonstration or
informational picketing, I urge you to remember these general rules so that neither you nor the union is accused of acting improperly:
* Do not block or interfere with access to carrier facilities or otherwise interfere with the carrier’s business.
* Stay on public property.
* Signs should clearly state that the picketing is for informational purposes only.
* Do not be coercive or threatening.
* Do not ask the carrier’s customers to stop patronizing the carrier.
* Do not appeal to employees to stop working or deliverymen to not make deliveries.
* Do not engage in mass mark-offs to participate in demonstrations or picketing.