Bush Approves Rail Arbitration Decisions

President Bush is upholding three arbitrators’ decisions in the railway labor disputes that triggered a nationwide rail shutdown in June, the White House said Monday.

The arbitration grew out of a strike in June by the International Assn. of Machinists against a regional railway that touched off a lockout by major rail lines that effectively halted the nation’s rail system.

“I don’t really think (Bush) had an alternative” to upholding the decisions, as he had signed legislation in June that ordered the railroads to restore operations and created a binding arbitration process, said Mark Filipovic, the machinists’ assistant railroad coordinator.

Management felt the same way. “We did not anticipate disapproval by the White House,” said Amtrak spokesman Clifford Black.

“We’re gratified by the president’s announcement,” said Charles I. Hopkins, chairman of the National Railway Labor Conference that represented the 40 freight lines involved in the talks. “We are not surprised, but nevertheless it’s gratifying to have it all signed, sealed and delivered.”

The White House decision makes the arbitrators’ rulings final in three of the four remaining disputes. The arbitrators sided for the most part with the union in two cases and with management in the third:

* The International Association of Machinists and the National Railway Labor Conference. An arbitrator awarded skill differentials of 25 cents to 50 cents an hour for certain job categories, as the union had requested. The Machinists also got the right to establish their own health and welfare program separate from other unions.

The arbitrator’s ruling was considered a compromise.

“It definitely is progress in the right direction,” Filipovic said from the union’s national headquarters in Upper Marlboro, Md.

* The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Amtrak, the passenger rail line. The arbitrator awarded a lump sum of $2,000 in retroactive wages for each of the union’s 1,300 workers, close to the union’s request, plus a 20% wage increase over six years. Amtrak wanted to give only 10% increases.

* The International Assn. of Machinists and Amtrak, the national passenger line. An arbitrator awarded the union a 24% wage increase over six years but rejected skill differentials.

The fourth dispute, between Amtrak and the American Train Dispatchers Assn., is due to be resolved by an arbitrator by Aug. 18.

Under the law, the decisions become final unless the President disapproves them within three days after they are rendered.