April 22, 2003

This will update you on the status of the conference on “Labor Management Relations at the Passenger Railroads.”  The conference is scheduled for Thursday, September 25, full day, and Friday, September 26 until noon.

Following the Board’s March 5, 2003 notification, about sixty (60) members of organizations and carriers contacted us about their interest.  Based on this excellent initial response, we feel confident that the conference will draw over one hundred (100) participants.

The conference will be held at Caesar’s Atlantic City.  We have made arrangements with Caesar’s to set aside a block of eighty-five (85) rooms at the rate of $105 per night for the nights of September 24 and 25.  To register for this conference you must:

• By May 30, 2003, call, fax or e-mail me with the firm number and/or names of participants from your organization.  The cost is $125 per person, which includes two (2) breakfasts, a luncheon and conference materials.  You may use the attached “Registration Form”.  This special rate is available until May 30, 2003 only.  After May 30, the registration fee will be $150.00.  

Larry Gibbons
Deputy Chief of Staff
National Mediation Board
1301 K. Street, N.W., Suite 250E
Washington, D.C. 20005-7011
Fax:  (202) 692-5084
Tel.:  (202) 692-5060
Email:  gibbons@nmb.gov

Checks of conference fees should be made payable to: Passenger Rail Labor Conference.

• By June 1, 2003, make your reservations at Caesar’s by calling: 1-800-345-7253.  The group reservation office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please refer to the conference name, “Labor Management Relations at the Passenger Railroads,” when making your reservation in order to receive the special rate.

If we do not have enough participants confirmed by June 1, 2003, we will be forced to cancel the conference to avoid penalty fees.                  

Enclosed is a preliminary agenda.  We will be contacting the parties for suggestions for panel participants.  David Gunn, President of AMTRAK and Bryon Boyd, President of UTU, have been invited as speakers.  All three NMB Board Members will be present, as will many of the mediators and staff of the Board.                                                                                     

On behalf of the Steering Committee,

Larry Gibbons
Deputy Chief of Staff/Mediation

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

 8:00  -  8:30        Registration and Continental Breakfast

 8:30  -  9:15        Welcome/Opening Remarks (NMB Chairman & Speaker)  

 9:15  - 10:30       Panel Discussion: Collective Bargaining: How it Works and How to Make it Work                                                                   

10:30 - 10:45       Break  

10:45 - 12:00       Panel Discussion: Mediation/9(a): Working with a Mediator; Impact and Process of Section 9(a) Emergency Boards

12:00 -  1:30        Luncheon and Speaker (Byron Boyd invited)

 1:30  -  2:30        Panel Discussion: ADR: Grievance-Mediation and Interest-Based Bargaining

 2:30  -  2:45        Break  

 2:45  -  4:15        Panel Discussion: Security/Safety and Terrorism: Workplace Security/Safety and Changes Resulting from the Threat of Terrorism

 4:15  -  5:15        RLA Basics: An overview of the RLA for newcomers

 5:30  -  6:30        Reception – Cash Bar

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

 8:30  -  9:00       Continental Breakfast  

 9:00  - 10:40      Panel Discussion: Section 3: Changes in Case Handling; New Approaches

10:40 - 11:00       Break

11:00 - 11:45       Speaker - David Gunn, President, AMTRAK  

11:45 - 12:00       Closing                                   

All panels will be composed of labor, management and neutral representatives

LABOR MANAGEMENT RELATIONS AT THE PASSENGER RAILROADS

Conference Invitee List  

CARRIERS  

Metro North
LIRR
PATH
NJT
SEPTA
AMTRAK
NICTD
METRA
MBTA
VRE
MARC
NCCC

UNIONS

UTU
BLE
TCU
IBEW
IBB&B
IAM
SMWIA
BRS
ACRE
ATDD
IBT
HERE
SEIU
TWU
RITU
NCF&O
BRC
AFRP

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

DOT
FRA
FTA
DOL

OTHERS

NARR

Registration Fee

Conference registration fee is $125.00 per person if received no later than May 30, 2003.  After May 30, the registration cost will be $150.00.  The registration fee includes the cost of all conference materials, continental breakfast daily, breaks, and a luncheon on Thursday.  Please make your checks or money orders payable to Passenger Rail Labor Conference, and mail your registration form to:

Passenger Rail Labor Conference
Attention:  Larry Gibbons
National Mediation Board
1301 K Street, NW, Suite 250East
Washington, DC 20005
Phone (202) 692-5060
Fax (202) 692-5084

Duplicate this form as necessary.  

  Check or Money Order Enclosed                      

Hotel Information

The conference will be held at Caesar’s Atlantic City.  Make your reservations by calling 1-800-345-7253, by June 1, 2003.  Please refer to the conference name, “Labor Management Relations at the Passenger Railroad,” when making your reservation in order to receive the special rate.