The United Transportation Union urges railroads and their customers to join with the UTU and others in rail labor to meet jointly to resolve, amicably and quickly, a long-simmering and too-often acrimonious quarrel over how railroads are regulated by Congress and the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.

"This dispute threatens the long-term viability of the railroad industry, its ability to increase capacity and improve customer service, its image as the environmentally superior transportation mode, and its immediate ability to attract and invest federal stimulus funds for further productivity enhancements that will benefit rail customers, the carriers and rail labor," said UTU International President Mike Futhey.

"This quarrel is fracturing congressional support for railroads, and its continuation will only further erode the industry’s ability to shift freight from the highways, expand commuter rail access and strengthen our national intercity rail passenger network to include high-speed rail options," Futhey said.

"If this dispute is not resolved quickly, we face a most unpleasant result of negative conversations dominating congressional hearings and crowding out the ability and willingness of Congress to focus on legislation to benefit carriers, their customers and rail labor," Futhey said.

Futhey emphasized that the UTU does not want to be forced to make an early choice about which side is correct in its position.

"Our joint and long-term interests will be better served if we establish a mutually cooperative approach that balances rail industry growth with an equitable process to settle captive shipper concerns over rail market power and pricing," Futhey said.

"A mutually mediated solution, with rail labor at the table, will ensure that rail customers make long-term choices to move more products by rail and create a win-win result for each vested interest," Futhey said. "We wish to create a workable and effective partnership among freight railroads, commuter railroads, Amtrak, rail customers and rail labor.

"It is in each of our best and long-term interests that the rail industry improve the quality and quantity of freight, commuter and intercity passenger rail service and continue to provide good jobs, competitive wages and benefits to UTU and other rail labor organization members," Futhey said.

Futhey said he has asked UTU National Legislative Director James Stem to reach out to the various stake holders to begin the collective dialogue. Futhey will also be reaching out to other rail labor chiefs and carrier CEOs.