Show Am I by Senator Orrin Hatch Rail strike influence When the nations nation's railroad engineers Including between and BOO in Utah went on strike at the end of September they Influenced more than their fellow railroad workers and those who ride the rails as passengers The strikers led a shutdown that threatened every Industry that relies on railway transportation Including the coal grain ore and Industrial materials industries Many of these Industries are arc firmly base In Utah's economy and a stoppage of the rail delivery of coal was especially threatening to utah I have always believed that Congress should not inject itself Into most labor disputes But this dispute had repercussions that threaten threatened d more than the divi railroad industry As chairman of the Senates Senate's Labor Committee I held hearings on the strike where witnesses testified that all aft estimated railway workers would lose their jobs If the strike continued along with in trades that depend on rail shipment The strike would cost the American economy up to 1 billion a aday days day witnesses said Also threatened were the Railroad Workers Worker's Pension Fund and the coal in- in industry's industry's Black Lung fung Trust Fund both of which have experiences recent financial difficulties If the rails stopped running the money stopped stopped flowing into these im- im important por ant f When railroad management and andI I unions couldn't reach a settlement on their own Congress was asked to step In Inand inand and draft an agreement that was acceptable acceptable table to both sides Potential negative repercussions that would be felt throughout the entire national economy underscored the need for quick action And quick action is what Congress produced pro pro- produced After the hearings were held In my Labor Committee I drafted a resolution tion suggested by the Reagan administration ad- ad administration ministration that called for an im- im immediate immediate mediate return to work by the striking engineers My committee passed the resolution and less than an hour later It passed the Senate The House of Representatives approved It the next day While I f will tontine contine to oppose the en- en entry entry try of Congress Into labor disputes In Inthis Inthis this case alls all's well that ends well The devastating Impacts the strike held for forthe forthe the entire economy sparked a duty Con Con- Congress Congress gress could not avoid J JIn In old restaurant lingo Eve with the lid on was a piece of apple pie pic |