Belt Railway of Chicago prevails over union in Railway Labor Act dispute

Client(s) Belt Railway Company of Chicago, The

On behalf of The Belt Railway Company of Chicago, Jones Day obtained injunctive and declaratory relief against union SMART-TD in a labor dispute arising under the Railway Labor Act ("RLA"). The Belt sought injunctive relief against SMART-TD regarding an anticipated strike over a change in work assignments and declaratory relief that the dispute between the parties was a minor dispute subject to mandatory arbitration under the RLA. Following an evidentiary hearing on the parties' cross-motions for preliminary injunction, the court denied SMART-TD's motion, granted the Belt's motion, and ruled in favor of the Belt on its declaratory judgment claim, finding that the dispute was minor and subject to arbitration before the National Railroad Adjustment Board.

The Belt Railway Company of Chicago v. International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers - Transportation Division, No. 1:24-cv-01395 (N.D. Ill.)