CLEVELAND, November 18 — The three-way arbitration hearing regarding the carriers’ assignment of remote control operations to non-engineers began in Chicago today at 9:30 a.m.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers started the day by presenting oral arguments and will be followed by the rail carriers and the United Transportation Union, respectively. It is expected that the hearing will conclude tomorrow after each party is given the opportunity for rebuttal.
International President Don M. Hahs is serving as the BLE’s Board Member at the hearing, while Robert Allen is representing the rail carriers and Byron Boyd is representing the UTU.
The three parties could not agree on a single question to pose to the arbitrators, so each party submitted its own question.
The BLE question states, “The assignment of other than locomotive engineers to operate locomotives via remote control in connection with the movement of cars, trains and/or engines in terminal operations is a violation of the exclusive rights of locomotive engineers to perform such service pursuant to existing BLE Agreements and established practice.”
The BLE position was argued by Attorney Mike Wolly and BLE International Vice-President Rick Radek.
“We don’t know the outcome yet but the presentation by Mike Wolly and Rick Radek was outstanding,” President Hahs said.
In addition to Brother Radek and Mr. Wolly, four BLE general chairmen and two vice-chairmen participated on the BLE’s behalf. They are: Tim Donnigan, UP-Western Region General Chairman; Don Menefee, CSXT-Northern Lines General Chairman; Dennis Pierce, BNSF-North Lines General Chairman; Larry Sykes, Norfolk Southern-Northern Lines General Chairman; Randall Pinson, CSX-Western Lines First Vice-Chairman; and Tom Stolts, Kansas City Southern Vice-General Chairman.
“These Brothers helped demonstrate that the issue of a computer replacing a locomotive engineer couldn’t be further from the truth,” President Hahs said.
While it is unclear when a final decision will be issued, it is expected before the end of the year.