Eastern mergers: a bigger role for labor?

Railway Age, Jan, 1997

In the western railroad mega-mergers, the railroads kept labor organizations informed, sought their support (or at least their neutrality) and in the case of Union Pacific-Southern Pacific actually won the backing of two major unions. But early on, a greater labor involvement could be predicted for the merger battle shaping up in the East.

Already, the prediction seems to coming true, with the AFL-CIO primed to analyze the proposals and develop a position and with Conrail and CSX holding a "get-acquainted" session with Big Labor's Transportation Trades Department. Meanwhile, a Congressional powerhouse, Rep. Bud Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, made it clear that he would be keeping a close eye on the proceedings. A major Shuster concern: Merger's effect on Conrail jobs.