Answer:

The Railway Labor Act, as it is applied today, is the culmination of over a century of experience with federal legislation governing labor relations of employers and employees engaged in the rail industry. Its primary purpose is to promote and maintain peace and order in those relations as a means of avoiding interruptions in interstate commerce. During this period, Congress developed a comprehensive policy for dealing with transportation labor problems, and the law probably represents the most advanced form of labor relations procedure in this country. While not exactly utopian, the Railway Labor Act imposes positive duties on both carriers and employees alike, defines the rights of the parties and makes provisions for the protection of such rights. The Act also prescribes methods of settling various types of disputes, and sets up agencies for adjusting differences.

In order to understand the Railway Labor Act, it is important to briefly review the legislation that preceded its enactment.

Arbitration Act

The first federal legislation dealing with railway labor relations was enacted by Congress in 1888. The law provided: (1) for voluntary ad hoc arbitration when both parties to the dispute agreed; and, (2)the president could establish boards of inquiry to investigate labor disputes that threatened to interrupt interstate commerce. The boards of inquiry were to make a public report of the findings and to make recommendations. During the ten years of the law