UTU pleased that rest of rail labor finally joins its campaign to end cram-down

UTU pleased that rest of rail labor finally joins
its campaign to end cram-down

Carriers, unions to discuss the end of anti-worker practice

WASHINGTON – In the wake of UTU-sponsored Senate Bill 1590 and the strong likelihood that Linda Morgan will be reconfirmed as Surface Transportation Board (STB) chairman, an announcement is imminent that rail labor and the carriers have reached an agreement to end "cram-down" during railroad mergers.

"UTU is pleased that the rest of rail labor and the AFL-CIO have finally moved to our position on this issue and are joining the parade to end cram-down," said International President Charles L. Little. "While the rest of rail labor opposed Linda Morgan’s nomination, we stood behind her because she was against cram-down. Now, as we predicted, based on the certainty of Morgan’s reappointment and the reality of Senator Crapo’s fine bipartisan bill, rail labor is waking up and falling in step, and the carriers see the handwriting on the wall, too."

Little credited National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer and Idaho State Director Dale Wheeler for their strong work with Sen. Michael Crapo (R-Id.) on S1590, also known as the "Anti-Cram-Down Bill."

Little said, "We will maintain support of S1590 until there is full and final conclusion to ending cram-down."

Little also thanked AFL-CIO General Secretary & Treasurer Richard Trumka for pulling rail labor together behind the UTU anti-cram-down initiative.

"It appears that after months of delay," said Assistant President Byron A. Boyd, Jr., "the parties have finally agreed to what the UTU had already crafted. We expect there will be a significant moratorium while the parties work together to reach an agreement following the UTU pattern as set forth at the National Wage & Rules Panel."

Boyd pointed out that it was unfortunate the other rail unions opposed Morgan’s re-nomination for many months when she held one of the keys to ending cram-down. He said that petty union politics slowed down the process of ending cram-down.

"It is absolutely amazing that the whole charade involving Linda Morgan went on," he said. "UTU had previously predicted that it would be the introduction of bipartisan-sponsored legislation, and not the game about Morgan’s re-confirmation, that would bring the recalcitrant carriers to seek a resolution. The two together were the key to the success of this initiative."