A joint resolution to provide for the resolution of issues in a railway labor-management dispute, and for other purposes.
Bill: S.J.Res.61 | Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard (R-NC)
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
This joint resolution requires the parties to the disputes between certain railroads and labor organizations to accept the recommendations in the report of the Presidential Emergency Board Numbered 250 that was issued on August 16, 2022, with respect to any such disputes that remain unresolved by 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 16, 2022.

117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. J. RES. 61

 To provide for the resolution of issues in a railway labor-management 
                    dispute, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 12, 2022

 Mr. Burr (for himself and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following joint 
   resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
 To provide for the resolution of issues in a railway labor-management 
                    dispute, and for other purposes.

Whereas the labor disputes between certain railroads represented by the National 
        Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference 
        and their employees represented by certain labor organizations threaten 
        to interrupt essential transportation services of the United States;
Whereas continuous service of essential transportation is in the national 
        interest, including the national health, agriculture, interstate 
        commerce, and defense;
Whereas the President, by Executive Order 14077 of July 15, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 
        43203; relating to establishing an emergency board to investigate 
        disputes between certain railroads represented by the National Carriers' 
        Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference and their 
        employees represented by certain labor organizations), and pursuant to 
        the provisions of section 10 of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 160), 
        created Presidential Emergency Board Numbered 250 to investigate the 
        disputes and report findings;
Whereas the recommendations of Presidential Emergency Board Numbered 250, issued 
        on August 16, 2022, have not resulted in settlement of all of the 
        disputes;
Whereas all the procedures provided under the Railway Labor Act for resolving 
        the disputes will be exhausted as of 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on 
        September 16, 2022, at which time essential transportation services will 
        be subject to interruption;
Whereas Congress, under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, has the 
        authority and responsibility to ensure the uninterrupted operation of 
        interstate commerce and essential transportation services; and
Whereas Congress has in the past enacted legislation for such purposes: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CONDITIONS FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES.

    With respect to any disputes referred to in Executive Order 14077 
of July 15, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 43203; relating to establishing an 
emergency board to investigate disputes between certain railroads 
represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee of the 
National Railway Labor Conference and their employees represented by 
certain labor organizations), that are not resolved pursuant to mutual, 
written agreement by 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 16, 
2022, the provisions of the Report and Recommendations of Presidential 
Emergency Board Numbered 250, issued on August 16, 2022, applicable to 
such disputes shall be binding on the parties to such disputes and 
shall have the same effect as though arrived at by agreement of such 
parties under the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 et seq.).

SEC. 2. MUTUAL AGREEMENT PRESERVED.

    Nothing in this joint resolution shall prevent a mutual, written 
agreement by the parties described in section 1 to any terms and 
conditions that are different from those established by this joint 
resolution.
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