Obama appoints board to investigate BLET (locomotive engineers) contract dispute

[Brickbat]

As expected, Obama called a PEB board today.

http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5189

CLEVELAND, October 6 — President Barack Obama today established Emergency Board (PEB) No. 243, to investigate and make recommendations for settlement of the current disputes between the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC) and five other unions, and the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC). The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is one of the 6 unions that comprise the RLBC.

The PEB is empanelled effective October 7, 2011.

In total, the 11 rail labor unions involved in the dispute represent 75 percent of all rail workers in the United States who work for major Class 1 railroads.

The five-member PEB now has 30 days to investigate the dispute and make recommendations to President Obama regarding a settlement of the contract disputes. There is another mandatory 30-day cooling off period that follows.

If the PEB can't manage a voluntary settlement, another 30-day cooling off period begins, at which point either side can engage in "self-help," which means a lockout or a strike.

As I posted a couple days ago, 97 percent of BLET members voted for strike authorization.

Solidarity and vigilance!

ETA: Here's the thread I posted about it a couple days ago:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2050815&mesg_id=2050815

[elleng]

1. Big one. Thanks.

[Brickbat]

2. Kick for the morning.