Article
Industrial Union for Rail Workers
February 2004
http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/4806/1/203/
Jan. 1, 2004, was a historic date for railroad
unionism but was little noticed outside the industry. The
Teamsters and the oldest of the rail craft unions, the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, merged. The controversy amongst rail
workers about the issues of a truckers’ union essentially
taking over a rail union has been mixed with positive feelings
about Teamsters President Hoffa’s invitation to all
rail labor to form one big umbrella, the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers and Trainmen.
The historic weakness of craft unionism,
pointed out first by rail unionism’s greatest leader,
Eugene V. Debs, has been glaring and obvious to many in the
last 20 years. The Teamsters have actually formally invited
all rail labor to join via the method of merger and this suddenly
realistic potential of unity and industrial unionism has excited
many. Yet many feel leery of merging with a union that has
politically lobbied against pro-rail issues and has had historic
problems with internal democracy.
Railway car mechanics have particularly strong
grievances against the weak bargaining strategy of their union
and might be fertile ground for a pro merger movement.
Since January, the new Rail conference of
the Teamsters has brought in 1,400 new train crew members
on the Canadian Pacific and has put out formal merger proposals
across the North American rail unions. There has been one
reliable source this writer spoke with who maintains that
two rail unions have shown serious interest. With many reservations
and some very positive glimmers of hope, a number of rail
workers are awaiting further developments.
One thing is certain, and that is that craft
unionism in the rail industry long ago exhausted its positive
potential. Five or 10 small unions bargaining separately cannot
match the power of one big union standing up to the rail industry
as a united front from the engine house to the clerks office
to the locomotives’ cabs.
– Phil Amadon
Phil Amadon is a 27-year railway car mechanic in Ohio.
Reprinted by permission from the website of Steelwheel (steelwheel.org),
the railway car mechanics’ rank and file organization.
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