Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73
§20110 Effect on employee qualifications and collective bargaining
Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE V— - RAIL PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - SAFETY › Chapter CHAPTER 201— - GENERAL › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL › § 20110
Summary
The Secretary of Transportation can set only employee qualifications that are about safety. Railroad carriers and unions can still make agreements about worker qualifications under the Railway Labor Act, as long as those agreements do not conflict with the safety rules.
Full Legal Text
Title 49, §20110
Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
This chapter does not—
(1)authorize the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations and issue orders related to qualifications of employees, except qualifications specifically related to safety; or
(2)prohibit the bargaining representatives of railroad carriers and their employees from making collective bargaining agreements under the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), including agreements related to qualifications of employees, that are not inconsistent with regulations prescribed and orders issued under this chapter.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 2011045:431(a) (2d, last sentences).Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, § 202(a) (2d, last sentences), 84 Stat. 971. In clause (2), the words “railroad carriers” are substituted for “common carriers” for consistency in this part.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Railway Labor Act, referred to in par. (2), is act May 20, 1926, ch. 347, 44 Stat. 577, which is classified principally to chapter 8 (§ 151 et seq.) of Title 45, Railroads. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 151 of Title 45 and Tables.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 20110
Title 49 — Transportation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73