Title 45RailroadsRelease 119-73

§156 Procedure in changing rates of pay, rules, and working conditions

Title 45 › Chapter CHAPTER 8— - RAILWAY LABOR › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 156

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Carriers and employee representatives must give at least thirty days’ written notice before changing pay, rules, or working conditions. They must agree on a time and place to meet within ten days after that notice, and the meeting must take place during the thirty-day period. If notice is given, talks are underway, or the Mediation Board is asked or offers help, the carrier cannot change pay, rules, or working conditions until the Mediation Board acts under section 155, unless ten days pass after talks end with no request or offer of the Board’s help.

Full Legal Text

Title 45, §156

Railroads — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Carriers and representatives of the employees shall give at least thirty days’ written notice of an intended change in agreements affecting rates of pay, rules, or working conditions, and the time and place for the beginning of conference between the representatives of the parties interested in such intended changes shall be agreed upon within ten days after the receipt of said notice, and said time shall be within the thirty days provided in the notice. In every case where such notice of intended change has been given, or conferences are being held with reference thereto, or the services of the Mediation Board have been requested by either party, or said Board has proffered its services, rates of pay, rules, or working conditions shall not be altered by the carrier until the controversy has been finally acted upon, as required by section 155 of this title, by the Mediation Board, unless a period of ten days has elapsed after termination of conferences without request for or proffer of the services of the Mediation Board.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1934—Act June 21, 1934, inserted “in agreements” after “intended change” in text, struck out provision formerly contained in text concerning changes requested by more than one class, and substituted “Mediation Board” for “Board of Mediation” wherever appearing.

Executive Documents

Wage and Salary AdjustmentsEx. Ord. No. 9299, eff. Feb. 4, 1943, 8 F.R. 1669, provided procedure with respect to wage and salary adjustments for employees subject to this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

45 U.S.C. § 156

Title 45Railroads

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73