Rail Conference, RLBC seek release from mediation

The Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition has asked to be released from federal mediation. The RLBC is comprised of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (both divisions of the Teamster Rail Conference), the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (SEIU), the Sheet Metal Workers International Association and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Blacksmiths. In a June 13 letter to the National Mediation Board, RLBC Chairman W. Dan Pickett requested that NMB terminate mediation and proffer arbitration to the parties, pursuant to Section 5 of the Railway Labor Act. Chairman Pickett noted that the Mediation Board's best efforts have not been successful in bringing about an amicable settlement of this dispute through mediation. The RLBC also pointed out that proposed changes to the United Transportation Union's separate health insurance plan that have tentatively been agreed to, cannot be incorporated into the Railroad Employees' National Health and Welfare Plan, which covers RLBC-represented and other railroad workers. Moreover, the industry's position that significant economic elements of the tentative UTU agreement are inapplicable to RLBC-represented workers means that, "the parties' differences are irreconcilable and further mediation is unwarranted." The full RLBC letter to the NMB can be viewed on the BLET National Division website.