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The National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC) recently withdrew its mediation application at the National Mediation Board in order to resume negotiations with the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC) May 18-20 in Washington, D.C.

The NCCC submitted the application in March after the seven rail labor unions belonging to the coalition refused to continue bargaining until the parties agreed on procedural issues. Coalition members needed ground rules to clarify the process under which the seven unions can bargain in concert, RLBC officials believe. The coalition comprises the Teamsters Rail Conference’s Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division; Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; National Conference of Firemen and Oilers: Sheet Metal Workers International Association; International Brotherhood of Boilermakers; and American Train Dispatchers of America.

"We're pleased that we have resolved these procedural issues and that we can now begin substantive negotiations with the unions," said NCCC Chairman Robert Allen in a prepared statement.

The NCCC bargains for 32 U.S. railroads, including all the Class Is. The committee’s current round of bargaining involves negotiations with 13 major rail labor unions.