BY BILL ARTH

BROOKLYN, New York - A July 24 strike deadline on major U.S. railroads passed without a walkout. The Transportation and Communications Union (TCU), which organizes about 20,000 clerks and 12,000 carmen, agreed to a tentative contract hours before the deadline. Union officials did not release details of the settlement, which is subject to membership ratification.

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE), which organizes 27,000 track workers, reached a tentative agreement July 22 with all the railroads except Conrail. According to a statement issued by BMWE President Mac Fleming, Conrail refused to accept terms agreed to by the other railroads concerning "job security provisions" for workers with 10 years' seniority, as well as "production gang definition."

BMWE officials sent a written pledge to the companies, the Clinton administration, and Congress that they would not strike before July 31. "We also have committed to take no action beyond July 31 that would disrupt essential rail service to the nation," Fleming added. The BMWE and Conrail are continuing to negotiate.

The framework for the TCU and BMWE negotiations had been set by an earlier settlement with the United Transportation Union (UTU), which organizes about 50,000 conductors, brakemen, and yardmasters, as well as a few engineers. The UTU membership, in their first-ever vote on a national agreement, rejected a settlement that contained minimal wage increases and some concessions on work rules. Seeing the giant profits posted by the railroads this year, UTU members wanted a better contract after two decades of setbacks on wages and working conditions.

UTU officials instead voluntarily submitted the offer to binding arbitration, citing fear that a Republican-dominated Congress would impose a worse contract. The arbitrator rapidly issued a ruling that imposed the exact same provisions the membership had rejected. This contract then served as the pattern for the other settlements.

Bill Arth is a member of UTU Local 1447, and is a brakemen for Conrail.  
 
 
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