(Bloomberg News circulated the following article on December 17.)
WASHINGTON — Union Pacific Corp. and other large U.S. railroads asked federal mediators to release them from talks with unions representing 85,000 workers, moving the two sides a step closer to a potential strike or lockout.
The negotiating committee for Union Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp. – the four biggest U.S. railroads – said Friday that there had been no progress toward agreements.
The talks are with two Teamsters groups representing engineers and track workers, and five separate groups such as signal-maintenance employees.
The National Mediation Board under U.S. rail-labor law decides, without a time limit, whether to release the sides from talks.
If a release is granted, no work stoppage can take place for 60 days, and more talks can be held. A presidential emergency board also can be set up to propose solutions.
“There is no reasonable expectation that further mediation will produce a voluntary agreement,” the National Carriers Conference Committee said in a letter to the Washington-based board. The railroads want to “modernize work rules,” according to the letter, which didn’t give details.
Joanna Moorhead, a spokeswoman for the railroad group, declined to comment about what changes are being sought.
Freddie Simpson, president of the Teamsters unit that represents track workers, said Thursday that “it is premature to refuse to bargain. What this round of negotiations needs is patience, hard work and willingness on both sides to listen.”
Talks are continuing between the four railroads and the United Transportation Union, which represents some train crew workers such as conductors and brakemen and is the industry’s largest.
Four other unions representing crafts such as electricians also are in talks with the companies.