Unions, railroads reach industry solution on new work, rest standards

HOUSTON, Tex. (March 23) — Most of the largest U.S. rail carriers and their unions have reached an agreement in principle on a plan to reduce worker fatigue, identified by federal officials as perhaps the most pervasive safety issue in the railroad industry.

The new work and rest guidelines — which do not cut the number of hours an employee can work — were announced last week by the United Transportation Union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), which negotiates national labor contracts for most class-1 railroads.

The guidelines would not apply to the U.S. operations of Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railroad because they are not covered by the national labor agreement.

Reached outside the regulatory process, the deal could eliminate the need for the U.S. government to change current hours-of-service rules, the groups said.

The guidelines would not reduce the number of hours worked. Each rail employee can work up to 12 consecutive hours before being relieved, but can extend their workday when delays prevent them from reaching their scheduled destination. Workers typically spend long periods of time for transportation to the terminal that their train was supposed to reach.

Other rules would address: assigned work days/rest days; a minimum amount of undisturbed rest (eight hours); availability for duty after time-off; regular assigned service; timely pick-up of crews who’ve worked the maximum hours permitted by law; periodic safety inspections of crew transportation vehicles and the amount of hours for their drivers; minimum standards for the quality and safety of crew lodging facilities; accuracy of published crew line-ups; and the maximum number of continuous hours for yardmasters.

Guidelines to deal with fatigue were established “after months of study and education,” said Robert Allen, chairman of the NCCC, “and incorporate the validated science known about fatigue in the working environment.”

He said the agreement would provide flexibility for local management and union officials to be able to tailor guidelines to fit their specific operating needs. “This is far better than a one-size-fits-all legislative solution,” Allen noted.

Charles Little, president of the United Transportation Union, hoped to extend the agreement to carriers not in the national agreement.

Committees charged with developing specific rules are to be in place at each participating railroad by May 2. Specific proposals are due by Sept. 18, with implementation by Dec. 18.