The National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) was
formed in 1963, growing out of the three separate regional
Carriers Conference Committees which prior thereto had represented
the carriers in the Eastern, Western and Southeastern geographical
areas. The NRLC was originally headquartered in Chicago,
but moved to Washington, D.C. in September 1968. The
staff consists of 20 people, almost evenly divided between
professional and support staff.
The
NRLC represents member railroads in dealing with representatives
of organized employees on a national level in matters involving
railroad labor relations, appropriate matters before the
courts, Congressional committees, and other governmental
bodies, and other matters of interest or concern to its
members. Membership
is open to any railroad within the continental United States.
The
NRLC is responsible to and under the policy direction of
an Executive Board, which consists of Class I railroad
chief executives and the Chairman of the NRLC. The
Executive Board selects the Chairman of the NRLC, who is
the chief executive officer of the NRLC and its spokesman. The
Board also selects one or more Vice-Chairmen.
Essential
functions of the NRLC, in addition to national bargaining,
are (1) to maintain liaison with appropriate public and
private sector representatives in order to inform the Executive
Board, the National Carriers’ Conference
Committee, and other railroad industry groups as to trends,
developments, and changes in industrial and labor relations
and the laws pertaining thereto; (2) to collect and compile
pertinent statistical economic, legal and other data necessary
to carry out the functions of the NRLC; and (3) to oversee
and manage national benefit plans for railroad personnel.
The National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC) is
organized within the NRLC. It consists of the Chairman
of the NRLC, who is also the Chairman of the NCCC, and the
chief labor relations officers of the Class I railroads. The
NCCC is the body that collectively bargains during national
negotiations with the unions representing rail industry employees. Also,
the NCCC represents and acts on behalf of the NRLC member
railroads whenever appropriate.
Among
other functions, the NCCC serves as one of the two components
of the Joint Plan Committee which serves as a named fiduciary
and as the administrator of the Railroad Employees National
Health & Welfare Plan (“the
Plan”). The other component of the Joint Plan
Committee is the Health and Welfare Committee of the Cooperating
Railway Labor Organizations, which is comprised of representatives
of railway labor organizations whose members participate
in the Plan.
Joint Plan Committee -
The JPC considers matters brought to it arising out of
the interpretation, application or administration (including
investment policy) of the Plan. If the JPC is deadlocked on the matter,
the matter can be referred to a neutral which is retained
at the expense of the Plan for the duration of the current
agreement. A deadlock occurs whenever the Carrier
members of the Committee, who have a total of one vote regardless
of their number, and the Organization members of the committee,
who also have a total of one vote regardless of their number,
do not resolve a matter by a vote of two to nil and either
side declares a deadlock. The JPC has the power to
create subcommittees as it deems appropriate and to choose
a neutral chairman for such subcommittees, if desired.
The
Health & Welfare
Subcommittee -
This subcommittee is one that was created by the Joint Plan
Committee after the 1991 Presidential Emergency Board established
Managed Care. Management is represented by Burlington
Northern Santa Fe, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern,
Union Pacific, and Kansas City Southern. Labor has
representatives from the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
Employes, Transportation Communications International Union,
United Transportation Union, Sheet Metal Workers International
Association, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood
of Railroad Signalmen, National Conference of Firemen and
Oilers. Among other things, management members of this
Subcommittee review the research on proposed Managed Care
sites and make recommendations individually to their principles
on the NCCC.