Page 3 -- Turn to Page 4
WHEREAS, unions representing men and women in the railroad industry have historically worked together for the mutual benefit of the workers in the industry; and
WHEREAS, classes and crafts in the railroad industry have historically been left to the democratic self-organization of employees under the Railway Labor Act with little involvement from the National Mediation Board, other than administrative; and
WHEREAS, the United Transportation Union has precipitated a false crisis by petitioning the NMB to create "one big union" of railroad operating employees, in a blatant attempt to raid the membership of other rail unions; and
WHEREAS, the UTU filing is a back-door attempt to achieve representation rights it has not been able to obtain through legislation or negotiation; and
WHEREAS, a similar divisive action was proposed by the UTU for consideration by Congress last year that brought about the unanimous opposition of the entire membership of the Rail Labor Division of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (except UTU), and some unions in the airline, hostelry, construction and other transportation trades;
THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED that the Rail Labor Division of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, meeting in Washington, D.C., this 13th day of January, 1998, strongly condemns and rejects the UTU petition to the NMB as divisive, self-service and as a clear attempt to use "back door" tactics in raiding TTD and AFL-CIO affiliates in violation of the AFL-CIO constitution, to which it swore adherence, and of the spirit and meaning of labor solidarity; and further be it
RESOLVED, that the affiliated unions of the TTD Rail Labor Division request the president of the AFL-CIO, John J. Sweeney, take all appropriate action in supporting rail labor in defeating the UTU's petition before the NMB and to insist that the UTU cease and desist from this union-busting attack, which would help management of the railroad industry to achieve what it has not been able to get at the bargaining table; and further be it
RESOLVED, that we request that the AFL-CIO impose appropriate sanctions on the UTU if it refuses to stop its efforts to deprive the membership of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, or any other rail union, of their lawful right to freely and individually choose their union representative; and further be it
RESOLVED, that we call upon the National Mediation Board to reject the UTU petition, which is intended to create a false crisis for self-serving purposes; and further be it
RESOLVED, that we ask the Transportation Trades Department to support in full the actions taken by its Rail Labor Division in opposition to the UTU petition, and to take any and all necessary steps that will bring an end to this deliberately manufactured divisiveness with the House of Labor. ·
1. What is the UTU trying to accomplish?
The UTU is trying to eliminate the craft of locomotive engineer by combining it with conductors and trainmen into a single operating craft called "train and engine service employee."
UTU President Charlie Little said, "The line between the craft or class of engineers on the one hand, and conductors and trainmen on the other, has been blurred to the point of practical extinction."
In essence, the UTU plan would eliminate the craft of locomotive engineer, in much the same way they eliminated firemen, flagmen, and a various assortment of other crafts.
Forced by its own circumstances, the UTU is attempting to force a merger with another union in order to survive. It has been unable to convince any of the other rail unions to merge with it voluntarily, so it has petitioned the National Mediation Board to force an "election" of rail operating crew employees.
Specifically, the UTU has asked the NMB to rule that engineers, conductors, brakemen and switchmen are all one operating craft. The UTU also asked the NMB to order an "election" of current operating employees so they can choose only one union to represent the new "craft."
2. Why does the BLE oppose the single operating craft concept advanced by the UTU?
Very simple. Engineers and other train crew members have totally different duties and responsibilities. The UTU's position that the craft lines between engineer, conductor and brakeman have blurred is utterly ridiculous nothing could be farther from the truth. If anything, the craft lines have become more defined and the duties more exclusive.
The craft of locomotive engineer is specifically recognized by the Federal Railroad Administration. Locomotive engineers are the only crew members required to have federal certification in order to do their jobs on a daily basis. Conductors and brakemen require no such federal license.
In addition, the railroad carriers themselves have recognized the distinct craft differences between engineer and the rest of the operating crew. In fact, locomotive engineers have been singled-out and rewarded for their superior skill, training and experience.
In the most recent round of collective bargaining, the BLE secured a "certification allowance" for its locomotive engineer members. The certification pay provides extra compensation to locomotive engineers each day they start up a train.
The mere existence of the certification allowance is proof that, in the eyes of the railroad carriers, there is a distinct difference between the craft of locomotive engineer and the rest of the operating crew.
In short, the federal licensing of engineers and the certification allowance they receive from railroad carriers, is proof enough that the craft of engineer is clearly defined and separate from that of conductor and trainman.
3. Why is the UTU taking this action?
The number of members in the UTU is declining while the number of members in the BLE is increasing on a monthly basis. The leaders of the UTU feel that if there were ever to be a chance for them to successfully takeover the BLE, they must make such an attempt while they have more members than the BLE.
The UTU is looking at a future in which its primary function will be to represent yardmasters and bus drivers. Only through back door tactics, such as a hostile takeover attempt, can they hope to survive.
4. How did the UTU get into such a desperate situation?
The leadership of the UTU over the past 25 years has caused the demise of their own organization by selling off positions or crafts in order to provide windfall benefits for the remaining members.
They played right into the carriers hands in doing this. One has only to look at what happened to the UTU represented crafts such as firemen, flagmen, rear brakemen, head brakemen, swing brakemen, and switch-tenders, to see the results of their efforts at selling off jobs and/or crafts.
Where are these UTU crafts today? Dues are no longer paid to the UTU from these defunct crafts, which represents an enormous decrease in operating capital. In addition, the UTU leaders over the years made some very poor decisions that resulted in very expensive litigation and damage settlements. These financial liabilities have caused a deterioration of UTU funds.
5. Is there any advantage to the single operating craft concept?
There is no advantage to the employees, but there is a great advantage to the carriers. For many years, the carriers have complained about the number of unions that they must negotiate with in the industry. The carriers would like nothing more than to see this effort by the UTU succeed.
6. Is the UTU effort supported by other rail labor unions?
No. In fact, the Rail Labor Division of the AFL-CIO's Transportation Trades Department (TTD) passed a resolution 14-to-1 that condemned the UTU's action (the only negative vote was the UTU's).
All other rail labor organizations see this action for what it really is an effort by one union to eliminate the craft of locomotive engineer and effectuate a hostile takeover of another union.
Such action violates the intent of the AFL-CIO; the intent that separate unions will work together for the common good of all workers each organization represents.
7. What opinions have BLE members expressed on merging with the UTU?
BLE members have made their negative feelings well known throughout the years with letters to the various International Presidents. The issue of merging with the UTU has been discussed on the floor of International conventions many times, but each time the delegates have made it clear that they do not favor a merger.
These feelings have strengthened since the 1985 UTU national agreement, also called the "Halloween Agreement," when the UTU rushed to the bargaining table and signed a contract that created the two-tier pay structure (pre-1985/ post-1985) that has caused so much dissention among both engineers and trainmen.
The concessions made by UTU in this agreement affecting deadhead pay and the forfeiture of most arbitraries, later imposed upon BLE members through arbitration, has paved the road of opposition by BLE members to merging with the UTU. ·
END OF PAGE 3