Three confirmed to NMB positions

WASHINGTON -- On November 19, the Senate confirmed the White House's nomination of Magdalena G. Jacobsen, Ernest W. DuBester and Francis J. Duggan to the National Mediation Board (NMB).

Jacobsen and DuBester each have served as NMB members since 1993, and Duggan fills the seat vacated by Kenneth Hipp, who resigned his Board seat last year.

Duggan, a Republican who lives in Alexandria, Virginia is a New York City native and a graduate of St. John's Law School. He also received two graduate political science degrees and a research grant from Harvard University.

Duggan has extensive experience in transportation and labor. He worked in the office of former Senator Charles Mathias (R­MD) and for the Senate Labor Committee. He also served in the Labor Department during the Ford and Reagan Administrations.

Duggan's transportation experience includes 10 years as an Assistant Vice President of the Association of American Railroads. He was on President Bush's Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism, and was a pro bono advisor and attorney for victims of Pan Am Flight 103.

Prior to joining the NMB, Duggan was an attorney with the Washington law firm of Mullenholz, Brimsek and Belair.

Because of concerns about statements by Chairwoman Jacobsen indicating a pro-UTU bias in the present case before the Board, which were voiced with the Senate and the White House by the BLE and other labor organizations, the confirmations were delayed, and were not taken up by the Senate until just prior to adjournment.

© 1999 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers