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Surface Transportation Board Chairman Roger Nober expects the board to "look closely" at any proposed or future job transfers to Mexico or other nations resulting from railroad mergers, according to a news item posted on United Transportation Union's Web site.

"Employees are partners [with the carriers] in the railroad business," said Nober at an Aug. 26 UTU meeting in Philadelphia. "Their interests should be considered when railroads seek STB authority to merge."

Nober also promised to continue seeking UTU input on rail-safety and operational matters considered by STB in conjunction with past or future mergers, UTU said.

Also during the meeting, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) Specter pledged to continue trying to preserve funding for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). As chairman of a Senate labor-related subcommittee, Specter is credited with turning back an attempt to cut OSHA funding 30 percent, UTU said.