Resolution #3 --RWU Resolution on

Building Real Bargaining Power

Whereas, the rail carriers have succeeded for years in establishing “pattern contracts” by first bargaining with one of the rail unions, and then using provisions of the Railway Labor Act to “force” that pattern on remaining unions; and

Whereas, Rail Labor, as a result of pattern bargaining, has for years been forced to settle for substandard agreements, both national and “on-property”; and

Whereas, the rail carriers have been making record profits and should be sharing more, instead of less, of those profits with the very railroad workers whose productivity and hard work have contributed immensely to building those record profits; and

Whereas, only by building unity and solidarity of all rail crafts and their respective unions will we be able to stop “pattern bargaining” and create the real bargaining power we need;

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that Railroad Workers United (RWU) at its Founding Convention in Dearborn, Michigan, April 11, 2008 pledge to do all in its power to convince all rail unions to create a “United Bargaining Coalition” and wholeheartedly cooperate with each other to strengthen bargaining power and end substandard pattern contracts; and

Be in Further Resolved that RWU will forward this resolution of intent to all International officers of all rail unions in North America; and

Be it further Resolved that the United Bargaining Coalition operate under the principle that “no one settles until all settle.”

Be it Finally Resolved that RWU will commit to a cross-craft inter-union education of the membership of all unions to support such a “United Bargaining Coalition”.

The above Resolution was adopted by those members assembled at the RWU Convention, April 11, 2008.