Date: 21 Jan 97 09:52:25 EST
From: jonathan flanders <72763.2240-AT-CompuServe.COM>
Subject: M-I: Rail Strike Issue, US


Here is another indication that  the defense of social wages won in the past may
be the strike issues
of the future. Of course this is just posturing right now, but I am surprised
that the rail union leaders have
gone this far. Clinton's second administration is just a day old.

Jon Flanders

CLEVELAND, January 20 -- To protect occupational disability benefits for
rail employees in the United States, the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers (BLE) and other national rail unions are prepared to strike at
9:00 a.m. this Wednesday, January 22. The unions are seeking the removal
of U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Chairman Glen Bower from the board; his
post is deemed neutral along side the board's labor and management
members. Mr. Bower was appointed by the White House.

 "For some time, Mr. Bower has not functioned as a neutral member of the
Railroad Retirement Board, but instead he has acted as a second
management member," announced BLE International President Clarence V.
Monin. "His attack on occupational disability benefits is the most recent
example. Once again, he has rubber-stamped a management proposal for
unilateral changes, instead of facilitating labor-management solutions as
the federal law requires.

 "Mr. Bower will do an honorable service to each party that seeks 
dialogue and joint solutions, if he resigns by this Wednesday's scheduled
RRB meeting," the BLE president noted. "His removal however may be
necessary, to keep unfair, unilateral changes in disability benefits from
being implemented by the board."

 The BLE's National Mobilization Team worked during this past weekend to
set up an orderly withdrawal of locomotive engineer services. The BLE's
and the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department-Rail Division's call for
Bower's removal came at an emergency meeting of the rail unions' top
executives in Washington, D.C., on January 15.

 Rail Labor's vote was unanimous, except for the United Transportation
Union's decision to abstain. The UTU stated that it abstained due to its
concern that a court injunction against the strike would be sought by the
railroads. However, the BLE and other unions agreed that if an injunction
becomes reality, there will be other legal options available to protest
Bower's presence on the RRB.



     --- from list marxism-international-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---