Union Says Carriers Declare Impasse During Crew Size Negotiations in Bid to Seek Mediation

A railroad labor union has told its members that two Class 1 railroads have declared an impasse in collective bargaining over crew size.

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division said BNSF and Norfolk Southern invoked Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act as a step to receive federal mediation as required by the Act.

SMART-TD said it intends to continue to demonstrate the significant problems with what the carriers are planning to do and how they will use technology to redeploy conductors into ground-based positions.

Tags: crew size rules, International Association of Sheet Metal Air Rail and Transportation Workers, Norfolk Southern, Railroad labor unions, Railway Labor Act