Legislative — 9

Railroads
National Mediation Board—As of July 2003 it has been 57 months since IAM members at Class 1 railroads have had a new contract. Despite voting down the carriers’ last offer by 97 percent in 2002 and with no negotiations scheduled, the National Mediation Board (NMB) refuses to move the process forward under the Railway Labor Act (RLA).

The IAM has instituted a grassroots campaign to put congressional pressure on the NMB to do their job as required by law. The board is made up of three members. Two of these members are backers of the Bush administration which has vowed to prevent workers from using economic remedies to achieve a settlement. The IAM has vigorously called for justice and that the NMB follow the process called for by the RLA.

Amtrak—The IAM believes that if Amtrak is to survive as a safe, efficient and viable link in our transportation system, it must receive both adequate and reliable federal assistance and existing “self-sufficiency” mandates in the law should be repealed.

The IAM supports Amtrak’s budget request of $1.8 billion for FY 2004. The myth that national passenger rail service can operate subsidy-free only distracts policymakers from addressing the real issues surrounding Amtrak. Further, it must be recognized that Amtrak employees have made numerous sacrifices in order to keep Amtrak operating and any further attacks on this workforce are not only unfair, but will undermine the passenger carrier’s long-term survival.

We will continue to support full funding for Amtrak and oppose any attempts to advance privatization or break-up proposals, such as those embodied in the recommendations of the Amtrak Reform Council that would destroy Amtrak.

FELA—The Senate is considering legislation (“Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2003”) to remove important protections under the Federal Employees Liability Act from railroad workers who have been exposed to asbestos on the job. The IAM believes that an “agreement” on funding for asbestos compensation legislation reached in secret by the asbestos companies and their insurers is a major step backwards in efforts to reach a satisfactory and equitable solution to compensate asbestos victims. We strongly urge members of Congress to oppose sections of the proposed legislation that would strip away protections guaranteed to railroad workers since 1908.

Railroad Retirement—After pressure from the IAM and other rail unions, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced and passed HR 1140 the “Railroad Retirement and Survivors’ Improvement Act of 2001.” This legislation is almost identical to legislation that passed the House in the 106th congress before being blocked by a few Republicans in the Senate at the end of 106th session. In late 2001, a Democratic controlled Senate gave its approval to this important retirement legislation. This legislation made some of the most important improvements to the railroad retirement program since its inception in 1935, including enhanced survivor benefits, reducing full retirement to 60 with 30 years of service, and reducing to 5 years the vesting requirement for tier II benefits.
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Shipbuilding Industry
The IAM is working hard to maintain and restore the shipbuilding industry in the U.S. Working with federal and state legislators, and industry representatives, we where able to protect shipbuilding jobs at places like Bath Iron Works in Maine. We have consistently opposed pieces of legislation would undermine the Jones Act, the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base and its labor force, and our national security.

The Jones Act—allows only vessels that are owned by U.S. citizens, built in U.S. shipyards and manned by U.S. crews to carry freight between points and places in the United States. It has provided crucial benefits to the U.S. economy and protected our national security and quality jobs in the ocean transportation industry. If the Jones Act is repealed or weakened, it will imperil the future of U.S. flag vessels, our national security and thousands of jobs. IAM will therefore work against any proposals that undermine or roll back Jones Act requirements.

Shipbuilding—A 300-ship Navy requires an annual buy rate of 10-ships a year for 30-years. For the last decade, the Navy has procured only six ships a year, on average. Many of our shipyards are operating at only 50 percent capacity and have gaps for production in the coming years. Our current build rates if unchanged will lead us to a 180 ship navy, far less than the 300 plus ships our Navy CNO says it needs. Further reductions will lead to the loss of more U.S. shipyards and jobs while diminishing our ability and capacity to meet our Nation’s future shipbuilding needs. The IAM will continue its fight to seek more funding for naval ship procurement.