UTU agrees to allow BLE to fully participate in
railroad retirement benefits in exchange for support in Senate

CLEVELAND (Sept. 8) - In exchange for supporting the Railroad Retirement bill now before the U.S. Senate, the UTU has agreed to permit BLE-represented engineers to fully participate in all of its benefits, UTU International President Charles L. Little announced today.

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 4844 - The Railroad Retirement and Survivors Improvement Act of 2000 - by a vote of 391 to 25. The BLE and the BMWE had vigorously opposed the bill in the House.

However, after the BLE agreed today to support the Railroad Retirement bill in the Senate, the UTU has agreed to allow engineers represented by the BLE to participate fully in all of the benefits of the new plan when passed into law, including healthcare bridging benefits. 

At this time, the BMWE has not yet decided if it will support the bill in the Senate under the conditions presented to it. 

"We have given our permission for BLE-represented engineers to receive all of the benefits of the new railroad retirement plan in exchange for their leadership's commitment to support the bill as it moves forward in the Senate for ratification," said Little. "This is the right thing to do for all of rail labor. If the BMWE agrees to support this legislation, we will also give our consent to them."

Without agreeing to support the Railroad Retirement bill now before the Senate, and without the UTU's permission, BLE-represented engineers would not have been allowed to receive healthcare coverage from age 60 to 62, if they choose early retirement. 

"Our main goal is to do what is right for all railroad employees," said UTU Assistant President Byron A. Boyd, Jr. "We are glad to give the UTU's permission for BLE members who retire early to receive healthcare coverage from age 60 to 62 in exchange for that union's endorsement of the railroad retirement bill now before the Senate."

Boyd reinforced that the UTU would also agree to allow BMWE members to receive full early retirement healthcare benefits in exchange for its full support of the bill in the Senate.

In approving a "clean" version of H.R. 4844 without an amendment that would have repealed nearly all of a diesel fuel tax that had delayed passage, it is now virtually assured quick action and passage in the Senate.

"This is the time for all of rail labor to set aside their differences and get on board so we can take this historic step together," said Little. 

Little thanked all of "our Republican and Democratic friends in the House who voted for this historic bipartisan bill" as well as the 11 unions "who have worked side-by-side to push this bill through the House." In particular, Little thanked Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) for his help in guiding H.R. 4844 through the House, and also thanked Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) for fulfilling his commitment to the "expeditious consideration and passage" of this legislation. 

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