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Teamsters support reform to National Mediation Board voting process WASHINGTON, D.C. — Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa applauded the National Mediation Board’s proposal to reform the voting process for union elections at airlines and railroads. The NMB is proposing that a union be certified if a majority of the employees who vote support it. The rule now requires a majority of all airline or rail workers to vote in favor of union representation to be certified as a union. “This reform lets workers choose a union the same way they choose the president of the United States,” Hoffa said. “Whichever side gets the most votes, wins. “This reform brings union elections up to modern standards of democratic election law. It gives workers the right to sit out an election if they choose, just as they can sit out the presidential election. They currently don’t have that right because sitting out an election is the same as a “no” vote. “Anyone who’s been involved in an organizing campaign at a railroad or an airline knows that the deck is stacked against workers who want to form a union,” Hoffa said. “The current voting process is an obstacle that was deliberately created to discourage workers from exercising their right to form a union.” The NMB is a federal agency created in 1934 under the Railway Labor Act to oversee National Mediation Board, the federal agency established in 1934 under the Railway Labor Act to oversee labor relations in the railroad and airline industries. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Tuesday, November 03, 2009 bentley@ble.org © 1997-2009 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

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DAILY HEADLINES
November 20, 2009

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•	CN train crew now resting comfortably at home after hitting a rock/mud slide

•	TWU set to vote on SEPTA contract

•	Rail shippers, carriers see 2010 recovery

•	FRA study shows freight rail fuel efficiency up more than 20% since 1999

•	Buffett's Berkshire secures $8 billion loan for BNSF deal

•	Amtrak adding trains on Cascades route for Thanksgiving holiday

•	Montana sues BNSF over grain hauls

•	Opinion: New locomotives are green machines

•	Grand Central Terminal for Atlanta?

•	Report: 70 percent of Metra bridges need upgrades

•	Florida lawmakers confident about the passage of SunRail

•	CSX introduces ultra-low emission locomotives in Indiana

•	NS plan to run trains through park angers W.Va. officials

•	Amtrak extends fare promotion on Northeast Regional service

•	Rail grinding stirs some confusion

•	SEPTA moves ahead on extending R3 rail line

•	New York MTA sets final spending plan for 2010

•	UP derailment investigation continues in Ill.

•	Driver mistakes BNSF railroad tracks for road

•	Operation Lifesaver films distracted driving public service announcements

•	Midwest Association of Rail Shippers to host January meeting

•	Wisconsin land owner injured in ground collapse sues CSX

•	Union Pacific, San Antonio River Authority agree on new drift removal practices

•	CSX gives city $22,125 to plant trees along tracks

•	No Railroad Retirement benefit increase in 2010; Most retiree earnings limits remain at 2009 levels

•	Railroad Retirement annuities and pensions from work not covered by Social Security or Railroad Retirement

•	RRB: Medicare Part B Premiums for 2010

•	Final RRB Informational Conference of 2009 is Dec. 11

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