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6/23/2022
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is preparing to poll members to authorize a strike if one becomes necessary to reach the group's bargaining goals, National President Dennis Pierce announced yesterday.
Pierce made the announcement after holding a conference call with all BLET general chairmen. The call followed the National Mediation Board’s move to release the BLET and all other rail labor unions from mediation with the nation’s major rail carriers on June 17.
The NMB action triggered a 30-day cooling-off period, which expires at 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 18. At that point, the "self-help" process is available to the parties, unless President Joe Biden appoints a presidential emergency board (PEB) under the Railway Labor Act, officials said. A PEB would halt any strike or lockout by the parties, and would investigate and issue a report and recommendations concerning the dispute.
Conducting a strike vote does not necessarily mean a strike will occur, Pierce said.
"While we anticipate that President Biden will appoint a Presidential Emergency Board near the deadline, we must be prepared for all eventualities," he said in a press release.