REPRESENTATION ISSUES UNDER THE RAILWAY LABOR ACT

REPRESENTATION ISSUES UNDER THE RAILWAY LABOR ACT
Roland P. Wilder, Jr., Joshua D. McInerney, Katherine A. McDonough
PART I
PRELIMINARY
I. STATUTE: The Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. § 151 et seq.)
A. GENERAL PURPOSES: § 151 (a)
B. RIGHT TO ORGANIZE: § 152, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth
1. Choice of Representatives: § 152, Third
2. Organization and Collective Bargaining, § 152, Fourth
3. Agreements Not To Join Prohibited: § 152, Fifth
4. Representation Disputes Procedures and the NMB: § 152, Ninth
II. INTERPLAY WITH THE NLRA: COMITY AND GUIDANCE BY ANALOGY
A. INTERCHANGE BETWEEN ACTS
1. National Mediation Board’s assertions of jurisdiction over employer
activity and employees engaged therein honored by National Labor
Relations Board. Air Cargo Transp., 289 N.L.R.B. 176 (1988); DHL
Corp., 260 N.L.R.B. 17 (1982). See Chicago Truck Drivers v. NMB, 670
F.2d 665 (7th Cir. 1982).
2. UPS/FedEx: NLRA or RLA? What is required to be a “Carrier”?
a. Federal Express Corp., 323 N.L.R.B. No. 157 (1997) (Federal
Express trucking employees are not subject to LMRA; NMB has
determined that it has jurisdiction; operation is “integrally related”
to company’s air operations).
b. NLRB properly declined to certify to NMB issue of whether UPS
drivers and package employees were subject to LMRA or RLA.
UPS v. NLRB, 92 F.2d 1221 (D.C. Cir. 1996).
c. NLRB asserts jurisdiction over UPS despite claim it is subject to
jurisdiction of the NMB. UPS of Ohio, 321 N.L.R.B. 300 (1996).

d. NMB declines to assert jurisdiction over sorters and drivers
working for a carrier under a Postal contract with the carrier
where the carrier did not have the authority to “supervise and
direct” the employees. Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., 28
N.M.B. 216 (2001).
B. EFFECT OF NLRB CERTIFICATION
NLRB certification not binding upon NMB due to the two Acts’ dissimilar
defining characteristics of employee bargaining groups; NLRB certification not
directly transferable to RLA covered carrier. Air Florida, Inc., 7 N.M.B. 261
(1979).
C. APPLICABILITY OF NLRA CASES
“While employers covered by the Railway Labor Act are not subject to the
provisions of the NLRA, the NLRA and cases interpreting it nevertheless provide
some guidance in the interpretation of certain provisions of the Railway Labor
Act.” ALPA v. United Airlines, Inc., 802 F.2d 886, 898 (7th Cir. 1986); Trans
International Airlines, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 650 F.2d
949 (9th Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1110 (1981). See Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen v. Jacksonville Terminal Co., 394 U.S. 369, 383, reh. denied,
394 U.S. 1024 (1969); Adams v. Federal Express Corp., 547 F.2d 319 (Cir.
1976), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 915 (1977), on remand, 470 F. Supp. 1356, 1361
(W.D. Tenn. 1979), aff’d, 654 F.2d 452 (6th Cir. 1981). See also Steele v.
Louisville & N.R.R., 323 U.S. 192, 200-02 (1944); Eastern Airlines, Inc., 9
N.M.B. 285 (1982); Felter v. Southern Pac. Co., 359 U.S. 326, 332 n.10 (1959);
Laker Airways, Ltd., 8 N.M.B. 236 (1981). Cf. Ground Services, Inc. 8 N.M.B.
112 (1980) (joint employer concept adopted).
But see US Airways, Inc., 28 N.M.B. 91 (2000) (RLA and NLRA are different
statutes and no rule requires NMB to accept NLRB policy as dispositive of
disputes under RLA).
III. COVERAGE: JURISDICTION UNDER THE RLA
A. CARRIERS
1. “Carrier.” Case law defines as a two-part-test: ownership or control and
company’s functions vis-à-vis transportation. Board must apply statutory
test in a rational and reviewable manner. Longshoremen v. NMB, 870
F.2d 733 (D.C. Cir. 1989); Delpro Company v. Railway Carmen, 519 F.
Supp. 842 (D. Del. 1981), aff’d, 676 F.2d 960 (3d Cir. 1982), cert. denied,
459 U.S. 989 (1983).
2. NMB Decisions:

Holland America Westours, 29 N.M.B. 140 (2002); Trux Transp., Inc.
d/b/a/ Trux Airline Cargo Services, 28 N.M.B. 518 (2001); Aeroground,
Inc., 28 N.M.B. 510 (2001); Globe Aviation Services, 28 N.M.B. 41
(2000); Quality Aircraft Services, 24 N.M.B. 286 (1997); Service Master
Aviation Services, 24 N.M.B. 186 (1997); Welch Aviation, Inc., 21
N.M.B. 329 (1994); TNT Skypak Inc., 20 N.M.B. 153 (1993); Caribbean
Airline Services, Inc., 19 N.M.B. 242 (1992); SAPADO I, (Dobbs
International Services), 18 N.M.B. 525 (1991); Intertec Aviation, L.P., 17
N.M.B. 487 (1990); E.G. & G. Special Projects, Inc., 17 N.M.B. 457
(1990); C.W.S., Inc., 17 N.M.B. 371 (1990); Glenway, Inc., 17 N.M.B.
257 (1990); Sky Valet, 17 N.M.B. 250 (1990); Intermobile Company, 17
N.M.B. 223 (1990); Bankhead Enterprises Inc., 17 N.M.B. 153 (1990);
Pacific Rail Services d/b/a Intermodal Management Services, 16 N.M.B.
468 (1989); Florida Express Carrier, Inc., 16 N.M.B. 407 (1989); Jimsair
Aviation Services, Inc., 15 N.M.B. 25 (1988); Sky Chefs, Inc., 15 N.M.B.
397 (1988); Prospect Airport Services, Inc., 15 N.M.B. 70,72 (1988);
New York Interstate Service, Inc., 14 N.M.B. 439 (1987); Counsel For
Airport Opportunity, 14 N.M.B. 251 (1987); Energy Support Services,
Inc., 14 N.M.B. 326 (1987); Allied Maintenance Corp., 13 N.M.B. 255
(1986); Ohio Barge Line, Inc., 11 N.M.B. 290 (1984); International
Aviation & Travel Academy, 10 N.M.B. 481 (1983); Cybernetics &
Systems, Inc., 10 N.M.B. 108 (1983).
3. Interstate Commerce Act or the Department of Transportation or Federal
Aviation Administration reporting requirements and/or regulation may
affect jurisdiction. Holland America Westours, 29 N.M.B. 140 (2002);
UTDC Transit Services, Inc., 17 N.M.B. 343 (1990); Tri County
Community Rail Organization, 17 N.M.B. 321 (1990). See also SIRTOA
v. ICC, 718 F.2d 533 (2d Cir. 1983). Railway Labor Executives’ Ass’n v.
ICC, 859 F.2d 997 (D.C. Cir. 1988).
4. Successorship or sale of entity may result in change of RLA jurisdiction.
Pan Am World Services, 18 N.M.B. 5 (1990) (no longer “carrier” after
sale by parent company). Sky Valet, 23 N.M.B. 155 (1996) (cleaners at
Logan Airport subject to RLA even though cleaners had previously been
represented by SEIU and covered by NLRA since 1984). Compare Pan
Am World Services v. TWU, No. 85-261-CIV-ORL-18, (M.D. Fla., Mar.
18, 1985) (PAA Corporate reorganization not sufficient to divest court of
RLA jurisdiction).
B. JURISDICTIONAL STANDARDS.
RLA jurisdiction established by: 1) nature of work traditionally performed and 2)
sufficient control. Argenbright Security, Inc., 29 N.M.B. 340 (2002); Argenbright
Security, Inc., 29 N.M.B. 332 (2002); Integrated Airline Security Services, Inc.,
29 N.M.B. 196 (2002); Huntleigh USA Corp., 29 N.M.B. 121 (2001); Trux

Transp., Inc. d/b/a/ Trux Airline Cargo Services, 28 N.M.B. 518 (2001);
Aeroground, Inc., 28 N.M.B. 510 (2001); North American Aviation Service,
PHL, Inc./FDH&W, 28 N.M.B. 155 (2000); Foreign and Domestic Car Service,
Inc., 28 N.M.B. 82 (2000); Globe Aviation Services, 28 N.M.B. 41 (2000);
Dalfort Aerospace, L.P., 27 N.M.B. 196 (2000); Dobbs International Services,
Inc., 27 N.M.B. 537 (2000); Milepost Industries, 27 N.M.B. 362 (2000); Ogden
Aviation Services, 23 N.M.B. 98 (1996); International Total Services, 26 N.M.B.
72 (1998); Quality Aircraft Services, 24 N.M.B. 286 (1997); Federal Express, 23
N.M.B. 32 (1995).
1. Nature of Work: Traditionally Performed Activities:
Taxi and Charter operations:
Rocky Mountain Holdings L.L.C. d/b/a Eagle Airmed of Arizona, 26
N.M.B. 132 (1999); Hansen Flying Service, 24 N.M.B. 15 (1996);
Cardinal Drilling Company, 20 N.M.B. 474 (1993); AMR
Combs-Memphis, Inc., 18 N.M.B. 380 (1991); United Jet Center, 18
N.M.B. 354 (1991); York Aero, Inc., 17 N.M.B. 498 (1990); Eagle
Aviation and Executive Air Terminal, 15 N.M.B. 204 (1988); Jimsair
Aviation Services Inc., 15 N.M.B. 85 (1988); Tri State Aero, Inc., 9
N.M.B. 256 (1982); Elliot Flying Service Inc., 9 N.M.B. 156 (1981).
But see C&E Aero Services, 10 N.M.B. 62 (1982) (Company’s common
carrier activities in interstate commerce (25 flights per year) are sporadic
and negligible).
2. Security Services:
Argenbright Security, Inc., 29 N.M.B. 340 (2002); Huntleigh USA Corp.,
29 N.M.B. 121 (2001); International Total Services, 26 N.M.B. 72
(1998); Ogden Aviation Services, 20 N.M.B. 181 (1993); International
Total Services, 20 N.M.B. 537 (1993); Andy Frain, Inc., 19 N.M.B. 161
(1992); Airport Aviation Services, Inc., 19 N.M.B. 190 (1992); Flight
Terminal Security Co., 16 N.M.B. 387 (1989); Stanley Smith Security, 16
N.M.B. 379 (1989); Olympic Security Services, Inc., 16 N.M.B. 277
(1989); Globe Security Systems Co., 16 N.M.B. 208 (1989) International
Total Services, 16 N.M.B. 44 (1988); New York Interstate Service, Inc.,
14 N.M.B. 439 (1987); Ground Handling, Inc., 13 N.M.B. 116 (1986);
International Total Services, 9 N.M.B. 392 (1982); ARA Environmental
Services, 9 N.M.B. 37 (1981).
3. Refueling Services:
Air BP, A Division of BPOIL, 19 N.M.B. 90 (1991); Airport Aviation
Services, 19 N.M.B. 190 (1992); Mercury Refueling Inc., 9 N.M.B. 451

(1982).
4. Catering:
Nikko Inflight Catering Co., Ltd., 19 N.M.B. 434 (1992); Chelsea
Catering Corp., 19 N.M.B. 301 (1991); SAPADO I, (Dobbs International
Services), 18 N.M.B. 525 (1991); Sky Chefs, Inc., 15 N.M.B. 397 (1988).