| On January 12 the United Transportation Union (UTU) asked the
National Mediation Board (NMB) to rule that a "representation dispute" exists
rail-industry-wide among operating employees in the class or craft of Train and Engine
Service employees and to order elections. The following day the Rail Labor Division of
the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) met and passed (with only the UTU
opposed) a resolution strongly condemning and rejecting the UTU petition to the NMB as
"divisive, self-serving and as a clear attempt to use 'back door' tactics in raiding
TTD and AFL-CIO affiliates in violation of the AFL-CIO Constitution ... and the spirit and
meaning of labor solidarity."
The members, except for the UTU representative, further resolved that the affiliated
unions request the AFL-CIO to take all appropriate action in supporting rail labor in
defeating the UTU's petition to the NMB. They also resolved to call upon the NMB to reject
the UTU petition.
BMWE President Mac A. Fleming discusses this unfortunate situation in his President's
Perspective. |
