Rival rail unions agree to begin talks on resolving differences, including
consideration of affiliation and/or merger under guidance of Federation

CLEVELAND –The International Presidents of the United Transportation Union (UTU) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) have agreed to begin "good faith" discussions in an effort to resolve long-standing issues and to facilitate "consideration of an affiliation and/or merger."

On Tuesday, UTU International President Charles L. Little and BLE International President Clarence V. Monin had a special meeting at the AFL-CIO in Washington with top Federation officials at which time they agreed to put their differences on hold at the request of AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney.

The UTU and BLE said they would begin discussions as soon as practicable in accordance with their respective constitutions. Both organizations have also agreed to refrain from further activities that are detrimental to either union. The Federation will assist the two unions in selection of a facilitator.

At the request of President Sweeney, the UTU has asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) to "hold in abeyance" its request to create a consolidated craft and class of Train and Engine Service Employees and to sanction representation elections beginning on the Union Pacific Railroad. On January 12, the UTU filed a petition with the NMB seeking such a ruling.

"The UTU has asked the National Mediation Board to put our application ‘on hold’ while we begin serious discussions to include all operating railroad workers under one big labor tent," said United Transportation Union (UTU) International President Charles L. Little. "If our discussions result in an affiliation or merger, this application would become moot."

Little said the UTU "has not withdrawn its NMB application" but is "willing to put that process on hold to see if we can accomplish what is best for all of operating labor at the negotiating table with the help of a Federation facilitator."

The UTU, with approximately 75,000 active rail members and 150,000 total members, is the largest rail labor union in North America. It represents engineers, conductors, brakeman, yardmasters, switchmen, and others in the rail industry as well as bus drivers and other transportation workers. Its headquarters are in Cleveland, Ohio.