Machinists Mobilize to Put Rail Negotiations Back on Track

The Machinists Union is initiating a legislative campaign to force the National Mediation Board (NMB) to take action to advance the four-year long negotiations between 7,500 Railroad Machinists and the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC), representing the nation's Class 1 freight rail carriers. The contract between the IAM and the NCCC became amendable in January 2000.

The rail carriers are proposing terms similar to an arbitrated agreement they have with another union. That agreement, already rejected by 97 percent of the Machinists' membership, provides no general wage increase for 2000, and the wage increases for 2001 and 2002 were used to pay for the health & welfare plan.

"Congress created the NMB to facilitate contract negotiations and avoid service disruptions," said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. "However, the NMB has failed to act on repeated requests to advance the bargaining process, and as a result have become an obstacle to reaching an agreement."

The IAM is urging all members to call, fax, mail, email and visit their Senators and House Representative to urge them to contact the three-member National Mediation Board and demand they advance the negotiations process to the next step.

"The conduct of the National Mediation Board extends beyond the current negotiations and will become standard practice if we do not take immediate action to protect our right to collectively bargain under the Railway Labor Act," said GVP Roach.

Additional information, including an option to contact your legislators simply by providing your email address and contact information, is available on the IAM's Grand Lodge web site at www.goiam.org/territories.asp?c=5089 and the District 19 web site at www.iamdl19.org.