New England rail strike: Union busters' test run
1986 1986-07Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 1 →
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By J.D. CRAWFORD A continuing strike struggle on three relatively small railroads in the New England region has sweeping implications and lessons for every rail worker in the country.
Last March 3, Maintenance of Way workers on the Maine Central Railroad were forced on strike when two-thirds of their membership was furloughed and wages unilaterally cut by more than 20 percent. The Maine Central is owned by Guilford Transportation Industries, which also owns the Boston & Maine and Delaware & Hudson railroads.
Guilford negotiators demanded that union members pay 50 percent of their health plan. Permanently laid-off workers, some with 10 to 20 years seniority, were offered no severance pay or compensation. Guilford Transportation also refused to call back furloughed employees in seniority order.
When Boston & Maine workers honored Maine Central picketlines at joint terminals, they received a letter from Guilford on April 23 stating that anyone who failed to show up for work on April 25 would be fired and replaced by scabs. This was a direct violation of the Railway Labor Act. Guilford also announced that (continued on page 4, in “But a Charlatan, That Stuff).'and”)
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Staff: Amanda Chapman, Paul Colvin, May May Gong, I SociAlise
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19:316-319 Revoluthon