UTU first to congratulate Linda Morgan on reappointment to STB

UTU first to congratulate Linda Morgan
on reappointment to STB

"UTU proud to be only rail-transportation union to
stand behind Morgan from beginning to end." – Little

WASHINGTON – By a 96-3 vote the U.S. Senate this afternoon reappointed Linda Morgan to another four-year term to the Surface Transportation Board.

And the first person Morgan called to thank for helping her win reappointment was UTU International President Charles L. Little.

"This is a win-win situation for rail labor and the American people," said Little. "UTU is proud to be the only rail-transportation union to stand behind Linda Morgan from beginning to end. Our strategy helped Morgan’s reappointment as well as sparking today’s announcement that places a moratorium on cram down until at least 2002."

Little said that Morgan earned her reappointment because she helped rail labor get fairer deals working under stringent conditions in the last couple of railroad mergers.

"Linda Morgan has given her word and she has lived up to her word," said Little. "She is a fair and honest friend to labor. And she is against cram down and helped us reach our goal of ending it."

Little pointed out that all other rail unions, including the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, opposed Morgan.

"UTU is always a leader, even if it makes us unpopular with some rail labor unions," Little said. "Sometimes when you’re a leader you find that you stand alone. That’s okay when what you are doing proves to be right. It’s okay to be a loner, but it’s never okay to be a loser. UTU and all of rail labor are winners on this one."

Yesterday, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and rail labor agreed to a framework for negotiating a new cram down mechanism. Essentially, the deal includes a moratorium until the end of the 2002 under which no Section 4 notices can be filed, and it includes rail labor’s support for clean Surface Transportation Board (STB) reauthorization legislation.

UTU is the largest rail-transportation union in North America.