CLEVELAND, February 21 — The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) is lending its full support to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in its battle to preserve historic rail operating crafts and to fend off raiding attempts by the United Transportation Union.
“It is my understanding that UTU severed its ties with the AFL-CIO for the sole purpose of raiding the BLE,” wrote Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa. “Such action must not be tolerated.”
With 1.4 million members, the IBT is the largest transportation union in the AFL-CIO.
“Be assured that the Teamsters will support the BLE in its campaign to convince the National Mediation Board to refrain from changing its long term definition of rail operating crafts to a single craft,” Hoffa wrote. “In addition, you can count on the Teamsters’ Government Affairs Department to assist the BLE in its lobbying efforts.”
The UTU, which dropped out of the AFL-CIO in March of 2000 to avoid sanctions, is raiding BLE membership by attempting to change operating craft structure in the railroad industry and forcing a series of representation elections.
In essence, the UTU is seeking to take over the BLE by asking the National Mediation Board to eliminate the historic operating crafts of locomotive engineer, conductor, brakeman, switchman, fireman, hostler, and hostler helper, and combine them into a single craft of “train and engine service employees.”
The National Mediation Board has given KCS management until February 22 to submit certain information regarding the cross-utilization of employees working in the operating crafts.
Should the NMB create a single craft on any carrier, it would force a representation election on that property to determine which union would represent the new craft. This would allow the UTU to use its greater numbers as leverage in raiding the BLE — while attempting to destroy it.
“We, like the BLE, understand what it means to honor another union’s historical jurisdiction, and we vow to work closely with the BLE on this important issue,” President Hoffa concluded.
In addition to the Teamsters, the BLE has received similar letters of support from 11 other unions representing a total of more than 5 million members.
President Hoffa’s letter of support is available here.