National Mediation Board (NMB)

• The NMB facilitates the arbitration process, assists in organizing, and assists in contract negotiations should mediation be involved.

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

• The NLRB facilitates the arbitration process, assists in organizing, and assists in contract negotiations outside the Railway Labor Act.

Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC)

• The RSAC has representatives from Labor, Railroads, the FRA, and other vested parties regarding new regulations for the rail industry.

Fatality Analysis of Maintenance of Way Employees and Signal (FAMES)

• FAMES consist of Representatives of Railroads, the FRA, and affected Labor Unions. Its sole purpose is to review all roadway worker fatalities with the goal of identifying risks, trends and factors to prevent further incidents. 

Rail Worker Hazardous Materials Training Program

• The Rail Worker Hazardous Materials Training Program is funded by a grant and facilitated by the Teamsters with a National Board of Railroad Labor Union Representatives, to which the BRS is a member. Classes are provided and are designed to train railroad workers on the materials they work around. This program also provides training and tools that enable union workers to deliver quality hazardous materials training to their coworkers.

American Passenger Train Association (APTA)

• APTA consists of passenger train agencies that lobby for funding and regulatory issues. The BRS participates to the extent possible, as there are times, such as funding for crossing and signal upgrade projects, where we will work together.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

• The NTSB is an independent federal accident investigation agency whose mission is to determine the probable cause of transportation accidents and to formulate safety recommendations to improve transportation safety. Nearly all Grand Lodge Officers and Representatives are trained “party investigators” that are used by NTSB to assist in signal related railroad accidents.

AFL-CIO, Transportation Trades Department (TTD)

• The AFL-CIO, TTD consists of a coalition of 33 member unions dedicated to providing a bold voice for transportation workers across America. TTD is devoted to protecting middle class jobs, expanding collective bargaining, and ensuring modern, safe and secure transportation operations and infrastructure.

Operation Lifesaver (OLI)

• OLI is a non-profit organization and leader in rail safety education for the public. OLI’s mission is to prevent collisions, injuries, and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings. The BRS has a member on OLI’s National Advisory Council.

Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)

• The RRB is an independent agency of the federal government of the United States. The RRB’s primary function is to administer comprehensive retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness benefit programs for the nation’s railroad workers and their families, under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts. The Labor Member of the RRB has been a Signalman for several decades. Currently, former NRAB Vice President John Bragg is the Labor Member.

Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)

The FELA is a U.S. federal law that was enacted in 1908 to protect and compensate railroad workers injured on the job. The BRS works actively with FELA Attorneys to ensure this law is not changed or revoked. The BRS also maintains a Designated Legal Counsel list, available for members to use.