Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes division/ibt v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation ( 2021 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
BROTHERHOOD OF )
MAINTENANCE OF WAY )
EMPLOYES DIVISION/IBT, )
)
Plaintiff, ) Civil Case No. 20-00844 (RJL)
)
Vv. )
)
NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER __)
CORPORATION, )
)
Defendant. )
{~...
MEMORANDUM OPINION
(March /&%, 2021) [Dkt. #4, #8]
This case presents a labor dispute over the right to perform certain safety-related
work along railroad tracks. Plaintiff Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes
Division/IBT (“‘BMWED’”) seeks a declaratory judgment against defendant National
Railroad Passenger Corporation (“Amtrak”) stating that Amtrak violates the Railway
Labor Act (““RLA”), 45 U.S.C. § 152 Seventh, by allowing outside contractors to perform
certain “flagging” work, which, BMWED asserts, is reserved to “BMWED-represented
Amtrak employees” under the parties’ collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”). See
Compl. [Dkt. #1] at 1, 6-7. Amtrak disagrees with BMWED’s interpretation of the CBA
but moves to dismiss on jurisdictional grounds, arguing that regardless of the correct
contract interpretation, this is a “minor dispute” subject to compulsory arbitration under
the RLA. See Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss (“Def.’s MTD”) [Dkt. #4-1] at 6.
Presently before the Court are Amtrak’s Motion to Dismiss under Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) [Dkt. #4] and BMWED’s Motion for Summary Judgment
[Dkt. #8]. Because I agree with Amtrak that its interpretation of the CBA is at least
“arguably justified,” I have concluded this is a minor dispute under the RLA and must
therefore be submitted to arbitration. See Consol. Rail Corp. v. Ry. Labor Execs.’ Ass’n,
491 U.S. 299, 307 (1989) (hereinafter “Conrail”’). Accordingly, for the following
reasons, defendant’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED, plaintiffs motion for summary
judgment is DENIED, and plaintiff's complaint is DISMISSED.
BACKGROUND
A. The Parties’ Agreement
Amtrak is a government-subsidized passenger rail carrier subject to the RLA.
Compl. 2. BMWED is a labor union representing Amtrak maintenance of way
employees, who are generally responsible for constructing, repairing, and maintaining
Amtrak’s track as well as bridges, tunnels, and related structures. Id. 1.
Amtrak and BMWED are parties to the CBA, which governs the rates of pay,
rules, and working conditions for maintenance of way employees working on Amtrak’s
Northeast Corridor (“NEC”). Jd. 96. The “Scope Rule” of the CBA, as amended in
1987, defines the scope of maintenance of way work as,
work, such as, inspection, construction, repairs and maintenance of water
facilities, bridges, culverts, buildings and other structures, tracks, fences and
roadbed, including catenary system, third rail, substations and transmission
in connection with electric train operation, and work which as of June 1,
1945, was being performed by these employees, such as station lighting,
power lines, floodlights, on elevators and drawbridges ....
Ex. A to Decl. of Aaron Buck (“Buck Decl.”) [Dkt. #4-2] at 11.
The CBA further provides that “[i]n the event [Amtrak] plans to contract out work
within the scope [of maintenance of way work],” it must notify BMWED. Jd. The CBA
then details certain additional restrictions on, and procedures for, contracting out such
work. /d. at 11-12.
A side letter to the CBA (“the Side Letter’), dated January 22, 1987, states that “‘it
is the Carrier’s intent to preserve work of the scope and magnitude historically performed
by members of the BMWE for the Carrier as of January 1, 1987, or prior thereto.”! Compl.
4 9; Def.’s MTD at 3.
B. The Present Dispute
The present dispute arises out of BMWED’s concern that Amtrak will allow
outside contractors to perform certain “flagging” work along the NEC. Generally
speaking, flagging work involves the “protection of workers and equipment on the tracks
and in the railroad right of way . . . from oncoming trains and other equipment.” Decl. of
Anthony Sessa (“Sessa Decl.) [Dkt. #8-3] { 8.
This work is necessary for the protection of workers and is required in order to
comply with federal regulations. See generally 49 C.F.R. Part 214, Subpart C. As
particularly relevant here, Federal Railroad Administration regulations require that when
work is done on or near live tracks, a Roadway Worker in Charge (“RWIC”) must be
present and undertake various responsibilities designed to ensure the safety of the
' Here, “the Carrier” refers to Amtrak and “BMWE” refers to BMWED’s predecessor organization, the
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes. Compl. { 1.
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workers involved. See Sessa Decl. J 8; see also 49 C.F.R. § 214.321. The RWIC must
be qualified in railway worker protection and, among other things, verify that workers are
aware of applicable safety rules, coordinate with train dispatchers, and ensure people and
equipment are in a safe position prior to the passage of any train. See Sessa Decl. { 8;
Buck Decl. § 6-7.
In February and March 2020, BMWED learned that Amtrak was training
employees of an outside contractor, RailPros, on track protection rules and procedures so
that RailPros employees could act as RWICs. Compl. 412. According to Amtrak’s
Senior Director Labor Relations, RailPros sought this training because it hoped to
provide flagging protection to third parties when those entities performed work on or near
Amtrak tracks such that compliance with the federal safety regulations is required.
Id. 4 14. After receiving training, RailPros began advertising positions described as
“Roadway Worker In Charge” at several locations along the NEC. Jd. 12.
BMWED took issue with an outside contractor such as RailPros performing work
it viewed as reserved to its members. Accordingly, it wrote to Amtrak, stating that
“under the CBA, performance of all on-track protection on Amtrak’s property, and
performance of such work for third party projects and for third parties engaged in non-
railroad work near Amtrak’s track structure such that Amtrak operating and roadway
worker rules apply, is reserved to BMWED forces.” Jd. § 15. It further asserted that
“this work has been performed exclusively by BMWED members since the inception of
Amtrak” and that if Amtrak permitted anyone other than BMWED-represented Amtrak
employees to perform such flagging work, it would “constitute a unilateral change of the
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CBA.” Id.
Amtrak responded with a letter coritesting BMWED’s interpretation. To Amtrak,
at least where the underlying work for which flagging was required was “not controlled
or instigated by Amtrak” and was “not for the exclusive benefit of the railroad,” and
where Amtrak was not hiring the vendor providing the flagging work, any flagging work
fell outside the scope of the CBA. See Ex. D to Buck Decl. Amtrak also contested
BMWED’s allegation of a “unilateral change,” arguing instead that the dispute was “a
matter of contract interpretation .. . and so must be resolved through arbitration under
Section 153 of the RLA.” Jd.
BMWED subsequently filed the instant complaint alleging that “by allowing a
contractor and contractor forces to perform flagging work on or near Amtrak property
where Amtrak operating and roadway worker rules apply, and to access to [sic] Amtrak
property to provide on track protection where Amtrak operating and roadway worker
rules apply, Amtrak is effectively rejecting, abrogating, and changing its agreements with
BMWED .. . in violation of Section 2, Seventh of the RLA.” Compl. § 22. Amtrak
moved to dismiss for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction in light of the mandatory
arbitration provisions of the RLA, see 45 U.S.C. § 153 First (i). Def.’s MTD at 1.
BMWED then moved for summary judgment on the basis that it had definitively shown
that the CBA reserves flagging work—including work performed for third parties that
neither inures to Amtrak’s benefit or is performed under Amtrak’s control—for its
2 Under the RLA, a “unilateral change” is a term of art specifically implicating a violation of 45 U.S.C. §
152 Seventh, which prohibits any carrier from “chang[ing] the rates of pay, rules, or working conditions
of its employees” except in the manner prescribed by the RLA. 45 U.S.C. § 152 Seventh.
5
members. See Pl.’s Mem. of Law in Opp’n to Def.’s MTD, and in Support of Pl.’s Mot.
for Sum. Judgment (“PI.’s MSJ”) [Dkt. #8-2] at 1-2. Both motions are now ripe and
resolved herein.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Federal courts possess only limited jurisdiction. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins.
Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). When, as here, a party moves to dismiss under
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), the Court must “determine whether it has
subject matter jurisdiction in the first instance.” Taylor v. Clark, 821 F. Supp. 2d 370,
372 (D.D.C. 2011). Where the Court lacks jurisdiction, it is powerless to provide
plaintiff any relief. Bhd. of Maint. of Way Employes Div./IBT v. Nat. R.R. Passenger
Corp., 217F. Supp. 3d 249, 256 (D.D.C. 2016) (hereinafter “BMWED”).
Under Rule 12(b)(1), plaintiff bears the burden of proving the Court has
subject-matter jurisdiction. Biton v. Palestinian Interim Self-Gov’t Auth., 310 F. Supp. 2d
172, 176 (D.D.C. 2004). The Court must accept as true all well pleaded factual
allegations and draw all reasonable inferences in plaintiff's favor. Am. Farm Bureau v.
E.P.A., 121 F. Supp. 2d 84, 90 (D.D.C. 2000). But “the Court may give the plaintiff's
factual allegations closer scrutiny” than it would in assessing a motion under Rule
12(b)(6), and the Court may consider materials outside of the pleadings. Logan v. Dep’t
of Veteran Affairs, 357 F. Supp. 2d 149, 153 (D.D.C. 2004).
ANALYSIS
Congress has restricted the subject-matter jurisdiction of federal district courts to
hear claims under the RLA. See, e.g., 45 U.S.C. § 153 First (establishing the National
Railroad Adjustment Board (the “Board”) and channeling disputes over the interpretation
and application of railway labor agreements to arbitration before it). District courts retain
jurisdiction over so-called “major disputes” but lack the ability to hear “minor disputes”
in the first instance. BMWED, 217 F. Supp. 3d at 255. Thus, the principal question
before the Court is whether the parties’ contract dispute is “major” or “minor.”
The Supreme Court has adopted the major/minor distinction as a “shorthand
method [for] describing two classes of controvers[ies].” Conrail, 491 U.S. at 302. Major
disputes arise under Section 2 Seventh and Section 6 of the RLA. See 45 U.S.C § 152
Seventh and § 156. These involve “disputes over the formation of collective agreements
or efforts to secure them . . . not [the] assertion of rights claimed to have vested.in the
past.” Elgin, J. & E. Ry. Co. v. Burley, 325 U.S. 711, 723 (1945); see also Conrail, 491
U.S. at 303. Under the RLA, major disputes require a “lengthy process of bargaining and
mediation,” and federal courts have subject-matter jurisdiction to issue injunctions in
order to preserve the status quo pending completion of the necessary procedures.
Conrail, 491 U.S. at 303.
Minor disputes, by contrast, arise under Section 2 Sixth and Section 3 First (i) of
the RLA. 45 U.S.C. § 152 Sixth and § 153 First (i). These controversies “relate[].. . to
the meaning or proper application of a particular [contractual] provision with reference to
a specific situation or to an omitted case.” Conrail, 491 U.S. at 303 (quoting Burley, 325
U.S. at 723). The claim in minor disputes is “to rights accrued” not merely an argument
“to have new [rights] created for the future.” /d. (quoting Burley, 325 U.S. at 723).
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Under the RLA, such disputes are subject to compulsory and binding arbitration before
the Board, and federal courts lack subject-matter jurisdiction to hear the claim in the first
instance. See id. at 310 (holding “courts must defer to the arbitral jurisdiction of the
Board” to resolve minor disputes).
In Conrail, the Supreme Court elaborated on the distinction between major and
minor disputes by clarifying that,
[T]he line drawn in Burley looks to whether a claim has been made that the
terms of an existing agreement either establish or refute the presence of a
right to take the disputed action. The distinguishing feature of such a [minor]
case is that the dispute may be conclusively resolved by interpreting the
existing agreement.
Id. at 305 (internal citations omitted).
Thus, disputes focusing on contractual interpretation will generally constitute
minor disputes. But to avoid enabling one party to obtain mandatory binding arbitration
simply by framing a dispute as one of contractual interpretation, the Supreme Court has
held that a dispute is minor only where “the [contested] action is arguably justified by the
terms of the parties’ collective-bargaining agreement.” Jd. at 307. “Where, in contrast,
the employer’s claims are frivolous or obviously insubstantial, the dispute is major.” Id.
The employer bears a “relatively light burden” under this standard. Id. Indeed,
there is “a strong presumption in favor of finding a dispute to be minor” and if “doubt
arises about the classification of a dispute, the dispute is . .. considered to be minor.”
BMWED, 217 F. Supp. 3d at 256 (quoting Oakey v. U.S. Airways Pilots Disability
Income Plan, 839 F. Supp. 2d 225, 231 (D.D.C. 2012) and Bhd. of Maint. of Way Empls.
v. Burlington N. Santa Fe R.R., 270 F.3d 637, 639 (8th Cir. 2001)).
8
To resolve the question of whether a dispute is major or minor, the Court must
analyze the parties’ contractual arguments to determine whether they are arguably
justified.? BMWED, 217 F. Supp. 3d at 258. In making this assessment, the Court relies
not only on the traditional tools of contract interpretation but may also consider other
sources such as the “practice, usage, and custom” of the parties and “the common law of
a particular industry.” Conrail, 491 U.S. at 311-12 (noting that a “collective bargaining
agreement is not an ordinary contract . . . [but] is a generalized code to govern a myriad
of cases which the draftsmen cannot wholly anticipate’).
Here, BMWED argues that the parties’ dispute is major because the terms of the
CBA reserve flagging work for BMWED-represented employees to the exclusion of
third-party vendors. Pl.’s MSJ at 13. Specifically, BMWED contends that because its
forces have historically “provided protection for workers and equipment on Amtrak track
and right of way .. . for Amtrak, and for contractors,” the Side Letter’ applies and
insulates all such work from being contracted out to other parties. Jd. In support,
BMWED provides declarations purporting to show “a consistent, longstanding practice”
dating back to 1979 of BMWED “perform[ing] flagging work even when other work is
contracted-out, and even when the work is not on the right of way and is at the behest of
3 In taking a “peek” at the merits, see BMWED, 217 F. Supp. 3d at 258, the Court remains mindful that
ultimate authority over contract interpretation in the context of railway labor disputes is reserved to the
Board. Air Line Pilots Ass’n, Int'l v. E. Air Lines, Inc., 869 F.2d 1518,1524 (D.C. Cir. 1989) (hereinafter
“ALPA’’) (“It is the role of the arbitrator, not the court, to choose between the parties’ interpretations of
the Agreement.”).
4 Both parties contend the Side Letter’s terms are relevant in interpreting the Scope Rule in the CBA.
PI.’s MSJ at 13; Def.’s MTD at 9. Accordingly, the Court treats the Side Letter as constituting part of the
parties’ agreement. See S.E. Pennsylvania Transp. Auth. v. Bhd. of R.R. Signalmen, 882 F.2d 778, 783
(3d Cir. 1989) (noting the permissibility of relying on side letter agreements in interpreting collective
bargaining agreements under the RLA).
entities other than Amtrak.” Jd. at 14; see also Sessa Decl.; Decl. of Jed Dodd (“Dodd
Decl.”) [Dkt. #8-4].
Amtrak, on the other hand, contends the dispute is minor because “‘it is at least
arguable that the Scope Clause does not apply when a flagging contractor is retained by a
third party to do work that is not for the benefit of Amtrak.” Def.’s MTD at 9. Amtrak
rejects BMWED’s interpretation of the Side Letter, arguing instead that, under the terms
of the Side Letter, work must have been historically performed exclusively by BMWED-
represented employees to be covered under the Scope Rule. Jd. Since that is not the case
here, Amtrak contends that it is at least arguable that the flagging work in question is not
reserved to BMWED forces. Jd.; see also Buck Decl.; Decl. of Andrew Keefe (“Keefe
Decl.”) [Dkt. #12-2].°
Additionally, Amtrak relies on numerous arbitration awards in which the Board
found that where work is not performed at the carrier’s instigation, under its control, at its
expense, or exclusively for its benefit, contracting out said work does not run afoul of the
applicable scope rule in other collective bargaining agreements. Def.’s MTD at 10. For
the following reasons, I agree with Amtrak that this is indeed a minor dispute.
1. The Parties’ Agreement
The text of the parties’ agreement favors Amtrak. The Scope Rule in the CBA
itself is silent regarding flagging work. Accordingly, both parties rely on the text of the
> Amtrak also points to the “for the Carrier” language in the Side Letter, contending that this excludes
work performed by third parties that is outside of Amtrak’s direction or control and is not for Amtrak’s
benefit from being covered under the Scope Rule. See Def.’s MTD at 10; Def.’s Reply in Support of
Motion to Dismiss (“Def.’s Reply”) [Dkt. #12] at 7-8.”
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Side Letter as controlling. Def.’s MTD at 9; Pl.’s MSJ at 13. The Side Letter expresses
Amtrak’s “intent to preserve work of the scope and magnitude historically performed by
members of BMWE for the Carrier as of Jan. 1, 1987, or prior thereto.” Compl. § 9.
This supports Amtrak’s proposed reading. How so?
It is at least arguable that the plain meaning of the term “historically performed”
requires work to have been performed exclusively by BMWED employees. See Def.’s
MTD at 9. Indeed, BMWED does not meaningfully oppose this interpretation as one
potential reading of the Side Letter.° Instead, it argues that its showing as to historical
practice is sufficient to obtain summary judgment. Pl.’s MSJ at 15—16 (contending
BMWED “has shown that its members, and not contractor forces, have provided flagging
for contractors working on or near the NEC right of way, including when contractors
were working for third parties”). But this ignores the fact dispute created by the parties’
dueling declarations as to who actually performed flagging work for third-parties along
the NEC in the past. Compare Buck Decl. § 14 (stating “BMWED employees have never
exclusively provided flagging for third parties”); and Keefe Decl. § 4—15 (rejecting
contention that BMWED exclusively performed flagging work on the NEC and providing
examples of other entities who provide flagging work); with Sessa Decl. J 9-10 (stating
that both prior to and after January 1, 1987, BMWED-represented employees performed
flagging work “for both Amtrak employees and contractor work forces”) and Dodd Decl.
4 5 (“During my entire tenure . . . flagging work on the Northeast Corridor . . . was
° BMWED does make generalized statements that the parties’ “agreement is not conditional, or
contingent.” Pl.’s MSJ at 14. To the extent these statements are intended to suggest that Amtrak’s
proposed interpretation is frivolous or obviously insubstantial, the Court disagrees.
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performed by BMWED represented employees, and not by contractor flaggers.”).
The Court need not, and should not, resolve this dispute here. See, e.g., Sheet
Metal Workers Int'l Ass’n v. Kan. City S. Ry., No. 09-00091, 2009 WL 3756440, at *4
(W.D. Mo. Nov. 9, 2009) (refusing to resolve factual issue regarding parties’ working
relationship in holding dispute was minor). It is enough to conclude that BMWED fails
to definitively show that it has exclusively performed the flagging work it claims is
reserved to its members. See Pl.’s Reply Mem. in Support of Pl.’s MSJ (“PI.’s Reply”)
[Dkt. #15] at 2-3; see also Second Decl. of Jed Dodd (“Second Dodd Decl.”) [Dkt. #15-
1].’
Because Amtrak presents a viable reading of the parties’ agreement and has
presented sufficient support to show it may, as a factual matter, prevail on its
interpretation, it’s contractual position can hardly be deemed “frivolous” or “obviously
insubstantial.” Conrail, 491 U.S. at 306; see also Sheet Metal Workers Int’l Ass’n, 2009
WL 3756440, at *3—4 (relying on sworn statements of carrier’s employees as to contested
factual issue in holding that dispute was minor under the RLA). Accordingly, the dispute
is minor.* See Bhd. of Maint. of Way Emps. Div., IBT v. BNSF Ry. Co., No. CIV 06-245
JCH/LFG, 2008 WL 5489360, at *7 (D.N.M. Sept. 17, 2008) (holding dispute over
7 To take one example, BMWED does not refute Amtrak’s assertion that Amtrak trained and permitted
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (“SEPTA”) employees to perform flagging work on
Amtrak property, including Amtrak property not leased to SEPTA. See Keefe Decl. J 6. In response,
BMWED simply states that “Amtrak has not shown that SEPTA employees actually performed flagging .
..and BMWED is not aware of any instance where employees of SEPTA performed flagging.” Pl.’s
Reply at 5. .
8 In making this determination, the Court reiterates that it is not resolving, or issuing any opinion on, the
merits of the parties’ dispute. ALPA, 869 F.2d at 1521.
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BMWED’s alleged right to perform certain maintenance of way work under the
applicable scope rule of the parties’ collective bargaining agreement was minor); see also
CSX Transp., Inc. v. TCTU, 480 F.3d 678, 684 (4th Cir. 2007) (holding disputes centering
on alleged violations of the scope rule in the parties’ agreement were “classic minor
disputes . . . because they relate to the interpretation of a collective bargaining
agreement”).?
2. Arbitral Precedent
Numerous arbitration awards further confirm the plausibility of Amtrak’s position.
When confronted with questions regarding the reach of various scope rules in collective
bargaining agreements between unions and other carriers under the RLA, arbitrators
routinely recognize “that the Carrier is generally not held liable for contracting out where
the work is totally unrelated to railroad operations, or where the work is undertaken at the
sole expense of the other party and is for the ultimate benefit of others, or where the
Carrier has no control over the work for reasons unrelated to having contracted out the
work.” Ex. C to the Second Decl. of Nikii L. McArthur (“Second McArthur Decl.”)
[Dkt. # 12-3] (BMWED vy. BNSF Railway Co., NRAB 3d Div., Awd. No. 35634 (2001));
see also Declaration of Nikii L. McArthur (“McArthur Decl.”) [Dkt. #4-3] (collecting
arbitration awards). That is, the Board has readily accepted the principle that Amtrak
now advocates for: “subcontracting not performed at the Carrier’s instigation, under its
° The Side Letter further supports Amtrak’s interpretation by plausibly preserving only work performed
“for the Carrier,” within the sweep of the Scope Clause. That is, under the plain meaning of the term “for
the Carrier” —which refers to Amtrak—the Side Letter could arguably be interpreted as not extending the
Scope Rule to any work done for entities other than Amtrak, such as flagging work performed for third
parties. See Def.’s Reply at 7.
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control, at its expense or for its exclusive benefit” is generally not covered under scope
rules in collective bargaining agreements. E.g., Ex. A to Second McArthur Decl.
(BMWED v. BNSF Railway Co., NRAB 3d Div., Awd. No. 40501 (2010)). This
precedent confirms Amtrak’s position is at least arguable.
As BMWED notes, the arbitration awards Amtrak relies on do not involve the
precise CBA at issue here. See Pl.’s MSJ at 23. Indeed, due to the brevity of the awards,
the precise contractual language at issue in each is omitted. See generally McArthur
Decl.; Second McArther Decl. As such, the Court is unaware of the exact degree of
similarity between the terms of the scope rules interpreted therein and those presently at
issue. This necessarily deprives the awards of some degree of persuasive power. But
BMWED confuses the Court’s task in suggesting that the awards are therefore irrelevant.
See Pl.’s MSJ at 18-19.
The Court need not decide whether the arbitration awards are so analogous to the
case before us that they control the merits of the contract dispute. See ALPA, 869 F.2d at
1523 (holding that for courts to issue a “view on the merits” would “usurp[] the role of
the arbitrator in interpreting and applying the contract”). I need only assess the
plausibility of Amtrak’s contractual argument and decide whether it veers so far off
course as to consist of mere frivolity. Conrail, 491 U.S. at 307. For this endeavor, a long
line of arbitral awards accepting the principle that now serves as the cornerstone of
Amtrak’s argument is surely persuasive, even if those awards involved “other carriers,
other agreements, and another union,” Pl.’s MSJ at 18. See Conrail, 491 U.S. at 310-11(holding analysis of a collective bargaining agreement requires consideration of “the
14
common law of a particular industry” and describing arbitrators on the Board as “experts
in the common law of the [] industry” (internal quotation marks and citations omitted));
Bhd. of Maint. of Way Emps. Div., 2008 WL 5489360, at *5, *7 (holding dispute minor in
part due to significant arbitral precedent supporting carrier’s proposed contractual
interpretation); cf Bhd. of Maint. of Way Emps. v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co.,
138 F.3d 635, 641 (7th Cir. 1997) (stating courts must look to “parallel labor agreements,
even those involving other parties” in interpreting the terms of collective bargaining
agreements under the RLA).
In Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, IBT v. BNSF Railway
Co., for example, the court considered numerous arbitral awards in concluding that
defendant’s contractual argument was arguably justified and the dispute was therefore —
minor. 2008 WL 5489360, at *7. There, BMWED brought suit based on a similar
argument to the one presented here, namely that the scope rules of the parties’ collective
bargaining agreement required the defendant carrier to use BMWED-represented
employees to perform certain maintenance work “customarily and historically”
performed by BMWED employees. /d. at *2. The carrier countered that no such right
ensued under the agreement because the tracks over which BMWED claimed a right to
work had been sold to a third party. Jd. at *7. In concluding that the defendant carrier
had “plausible contractual justifications,” the court noted the “numerous arbitration
awards [that] stand for the principle that when a carrier no longer owns the property to be
maintained, maintenance and improvement work is not within the scope of rules
governing the relationship between the union and the carrier.” Jd. at *5.
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This reasoning is persuasive and applicable to the instant dispute. Amtrak
presents numerous arbitration awards recognizing the principle that work not performed
at the carrier’s instigation, under its control, at its expense, or for its benefit generally
falls outside the scope rule in collective bargaining agreements. Especially here, where
the contractual language is silent on the work in question, this precedent affirms the
plausibility of Amtrak’s position. Accordingly, the parties’ dispute is a minor one over
which the Court lacks jurisdiction.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS defendant’s motion to dismiss,
DENIES plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, and DISMISSES the action in its
entirety. An Order consistent with this decision accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
4
RICHARD J. et
United States District Judge
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