Opinion ID: 8704898
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Motion to intervene as of right

Text: BLET and UTU move to intervene, either as of right or permissively, on the basis of their representation of railroad workers who could be impacted by this decision. The unions argue that disposition of this action may, as a practical matter, impair or impede their ability to protect the interests of their members, who would be forced to choose between protecting the integrity of their CBAs and filing a complaint under FRSA if the Secretary could not rely on the ARB decision. NSR opposes intervention by the unions, arguing that the unions fail to meet the prerequisites for intervention as of right, and have no basis for requesting permissive intervention. The Court determines that neither union has shown that its interest as a collective bargaining overseer is sufficiently related to defending the Secretary’s interpretation of FRSA to merit intervention as of right. Furthermore, to the extent the unions’ interests do relate to this action, the unions do not contend that the Secretary’s representation is inadequate, nor do they contribute additional arguments to those raised by the Secretary. While the unions raise the specter of what interests may be at stake if the Court denies the motion to dismiss, since the Court is granting the motion, that particular argument is irrelevant.