CLEVELAND, January 5 — The National Mediation Board (NMB) rejected the National Carrier Conference Committee’s (NCCC) request for a release from mediation and ordered the NCCC to return to the bargaining table with the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC).
The NMB directed the parties to meet with Mediator Terri Brown for full day sessions on January 31 and February 1 at the NCCC’s offices in Washington, D.C. Additional full-day sessions with Mediator Brown were ordered for February 7-10, 2006 and February 16-17, 2006.
“The National Mediation Board made the right move,” said Don Hahs, National President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). “As rail companies continue posting record profits for their Wall Street investors, it is time for them to recognize the contribution of Rail Labor to their healthy bottom line.”
Freddie N. Simpson, President of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, said, “I’m pleased the NMB rejected the Carrier’s premature request for release from mediation. I look forward to sitting down with the rest of the RLBC members and engaging in meaningful bargaining with the Carriers over the important issues facing all rail workers.”
The BLET and BMWED are members of the Teamsters Rail Conference. The Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition is a coalition representing 85,000 railroad workers.
The seven unions of the RLBC are: