It is more than two years since the rail industry’s 12 labor unions and management (representing most Class I railroads and some smaller ones) commenced bargaining to amend contracts defining wages, benefits and work rules.
The National Mediation Board (NMB) on June 14 set in motion a ticking time bomb toward an economy-jolting national railroad shutdown within 90 days, its two Democratic members agreeing with rail labor—and over the remonstrance of carriers and the NMB’s lone Republican—that a voluntary agreement to amend unionized rail worker wages, benefits and work rules is not within reach.
The rail unions bargaining as part of the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition* (CBC) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way/SMART Mechanical Coalition are still calling on the National Mediation Board (NMB) to “put forth a proffer of arbitration,” following the third week of compulsory joint NMB-mediated negotiations with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC).
Leaders of the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC) Rail Labor Unions* say they are hopeful the in-person mediation sessions scheduled for May 24-26 before the National Mediation Board (NMB) “will help to settle their ongoing national contract dispute.”
The 10 rail unions comprising the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC) have entered into mediation following an impasse in contract negotiations with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC); the NCCC, representing all U.S. Class I railroads and many smaller freight and passenger lines, said that it welcomed the assistance.
Railway Age has obtained a Jan. 20 letter signed by SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson addressed to the union’s railroad general chairpersons stating that the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC) and National Carriers’ Conference
