The National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) was formed in 1963, growing out of the three separate regional Carriers Conference Committees which prior thereto had represented the carriers in the Eastern, Western and Southeastern geographical areas.  The NRLC was originally headquartered in Chicago, but moved to Washington, D.C. in September 1968.  The staff consists of 20 people, almost evenly divided between professional and support staff.

The NRLC represents member railroads in dealing with representatives of organized employees on a national level in matters involving railroad labor relations, appropriate matters before the courts, Congressional committees, and other governmental bodies, and other matters of interest or concern to its members.  Membership is open to any railroad within the continental United States.

The NRLC is responsible to and under the policy direction of an Executive Board, which consists of Class I railroad chief executives and the Chairman of the NRLC.  The Executive Board selects the Chairman of the NRLC, who is the chief executive officer of the NRLC and its spokesman.  The Board also selects one or more Vice-Chairmen. 

Essential functions of the NRLC, in addition to national bargaining, are (1) to maintain liaison with appropriate public and private sector representatives in order to inform the Executive Board, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee, and other railroad industry groups as to trends, developments, and changes in industrial and labor relations and the laws pertaining thereto; (2) to collect and compile pertinent statistical economic, legal and other data necessary to carry out the functions of the NRLC; and (3) to oversee and manage national benefit plans for railroad personnel.

The National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC) is organized within the NRLC.  It consists of the Chairman of the NRLC, who is also the Chairman of the NCCC, and the chief labor relations officers of the Class I railroads.  The NCCC is the body that collectively bargains during national negotiations with the unions representing rail industry employees.  Also, the NCCC represents and acts on behalf of the NRLC member railroads whenever appropriate.

Among other functions, the NCCC serves as one of the two components of the Joint Plan Committee which serves as a named fiduciary and as the administrator of the Railroad Employees National Health & Welfare Plan (“the Plan”).  The other component of the Joint Plan Committee is the Health and Welfare Committee of the Cooperating Railway Labor Organizations, which is comprised of representatives of railway labor organizations whose members participate in the Plan.

Joint Plan Committee - The JPC considers matters brought to it arising out of the interpretation, application or administration (including investment policy) of the Plan.  If the JPC is deadlocked on the matter, the matter can be referred to a neutral which is retained at the expense of the Plan for the duration of the current agreement.  A deadlock occurs whenever the Carrier members of the Committee, who have a total of one vote regardless of their number, and the Organization members of the committee, who also have a total of one vote regardless of their number, do not resolve a matter by a vote of two to nil and either side declares a deadlock.  The JPC has the power to create subcommittees as it deems appropriate and to choose a neutral chairman for such subcommittees, if desired.

The Health & Welfare Subcommittee - This subcommittee is one that was created by the Joint Plan Committee after the 1991 Presidential Emergency Board established Managed Care.  Management is represented by Burlington Northern Santa Fe, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, and Kansas City Southern.  Labor has representatives from the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, Transportation Communications International Union, United Transportation Union, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, National Conference of Firemen and Oilers.  Among other things, management members of this Subcommittee review the research on proposed Managed Care sites and make recommendations individually to their principles on the NCCC.