Description: BMWE Strikes KCS MidSouth Rail

The carrier obtained a temporary restraining order before 6:00 a.m. A hearing is scheduled for January 29th in Louisiana.

BMWE NEWS RELEASE

Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes
Suite 200, 26555 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI 48076

January 22, 2001 Contact: Hayward Granier 618-616-1863

BMWE Strikes (KCS) MidSouth Rail Corporation in Contracting Dispute

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes set up picket lines at rail yards of the former MidSouth Rail Corporation, a subsidiary of Kansas City Southern Railway Company, in Jackson and Meridian, Mississippi and Bossier, Louisiana at 5:00 AM Central time today.

The BMWE is the union that represents 50,000 rail workers that build and maintain the track, bridges and buildings on the railroads in the United States and Canada, including the employees of MidSouth.

MidSouth and BMWE are parties to a collective bargaining agreement which requires that before MidSouth can contract out maintenance of way work, it must first provide the union with written notice. Then, if the union requests a meeting, the parties are to promptly meet to engage in a good faith discussion of the manner in which the work will be performed.

Despite the BMWE's request for a meeting in accordance with the agreement, MidSouth hired contractors "to perform a major rehabilitation on the East/West main line beginning January 2, 2001 and continue throughout the year of 2001."

The BMWE has made repeated requests that MidSouth live up to the requirements of the agreement and has demanded that the contractors be immediately removed from the MidSouth property. MidSouth has refused each and every request.

Under the Railway Labor Act, it is unlawful for an employer to ignore the clear, unambiguous directives of labor agreements. Railroad violations of this type are called "major disputes" and permit the union to lawfully strike until the carrier remedies the violation.

"The decision to strike is a very serious matter because it is disruptive for our members and other railroad employees," said Hayward Jude Granier, BMWE General Chairman, "but MidSouth's refusal to honor the crystal clear provisions of the agreement left us with little alternative. We hope MidSouth will speedily reverse its illegal actions so we can all get back to the business of running the railroad."

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