The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“NATIONAL RAIL STRIKE AVERTED” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1407 on July 30, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
NATIONAL RAIL STRIKE AVERTED
______
HON. SUSAN MOLINARI
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, July 30, 1996
Ms. MOLINARI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that rail labor and management have resolved their disputes through collective bargaining and have pledged that they will not engage in strikes or lockouts during the August recess while these agreements are being ratified.
This announcement is the culmination of almost 2 years of negotiations between the unions and railroads. The negotiations have followed Railway Labor Act procedures and have involved mediation before the National Mediation Board and ultimately appointment by President Clinton of three Presidential emergency boards. I am gratified that the collective bargaining process has worked and that the parties have been able to reach agreement without congressional intervention.
This result would not have been possible without the bipartisan support of House and Senate Members, including Chairman Bud Shuster, ranking committee member Mr. Oberstar, and ranking subcommittee member, Mr. Wise and Senators Kassebaum and Kennedy. I also want to recognize the valuable input and coordination we have had from the White House and the Department of Transportation in this effort. Finally, I want to thank the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff, who worked many hours and over the weekend in an effort to resolve these issues--
especially Jack Schenendorf, Bob Bergman, Glenn Scammel, Alice Davis, and Susan Lent. this was truly a team effort and we should congratulate ourselves on the fact that we avoided congressional intervention because of our success in persuading the parties to reach a voluntary agreement.
Given the devastating impact of a national rail strike on the Nation's economy, it was critical that Congress receive assurances from the parties that they would not engage in strikes or lock-outs during the August recess. Overall, some $2.7 billion of goods move by rail every day. Many industries rely heavily on rail transportation, including automobile manufacturing, paper, chemicals, and coal. Because many industries rely heavily on just-in-time manufacturing processes, a strike of even a few days would have a serious impact. A strike also would stop service on many Amtrak and commuter rail lines, which not only would impact railroads financially, but would strand passengers.
In closing, I want to express my optimism that the parties to all of the open disputes will be able to ratify their agreements. However, in the event that these agreements are not ratified, I will not hesitate to bring legislation to the floor that will bring closure to these disputes. In fashioning this legislation, I would not foreclose consideration of last-best-offer arbitration, which Congress imposed on the parties to settle the 1992 rail labor dispute. I hope that this will not be necessary and that the union members will ratify their agreements, providing closure to this process.
____________________
