[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      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.

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