While it has been clear for months that the railroads want to protract negotiations beyond the presidential elections in November to avoid what they fear would be an unfavorable Clinton-appointed presidential emergency board, it is not clear why the NMB has thus far refused to act.

Even before the railroads bad faith proposal of June 28 which demanded the right to eliminate all BMWE production work and contract that work out to third parties, the parties were deadlocked.

"The carriers regressive and mean-spirited proposal of June 28 merely puts in sharp relief that impasse had already existed," BMWE President M. A. Fleming told the NMB.

At press time Fleming said, "the NMB clearly recognizes that our negotiations are deadlocked and it is extremely frustrating that they have refused to proffer arbitration. They have a mandate to resolve these disputes expeditiously and instead they serve the interests of the railroads by protracting bargaining. They are supposed to be a neutral agency. When the parties are deadlocked they should proffer arbitration. I have no idea why they desire to function in a biased manner, favoring the railroads and opposing railroad workers."