US Code

Public Law 119-83 (04/13/2026)

45 U.S.C. § 1004

Railroad hiring

(a)
Each person who is an employee of the Rock Island Railroad on , and who, prior to , is separated or furloughed (other than for cause) from his employment with such railroad, or from his employment with another rail carrier providing temporary service over lines of the Rock Island Railroad, as a result of a reduction of service by such railroad or such temporary service carrier shall, unless found to be less qualified than other applicants, have the first right of hire by any other rail carrier that is subject to regulation by the Commission for any vacancy that is not covered by (1) an affirmative action plan, or a hiring plan designed to eliminate discrimination, that is required by Federal or State statute, regulations, or Executive order, or by the order of a Federal or State court or agency, or (2) a permissible voluntary affirmative action plan. For purposes of this section, a rail carrier shall not be considered to be hiring new employees when it recalls any of its own furloughed employees.
(b)
section 907 of this title The rights afforded to Rock Island Railroad employees by this section shall be coequal to the rights afforded to Chicago, Milwaukee, Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad Company employees by .

Pub. L. 96–254, title I, § 10594 Stat. 400 Pub. L. 97–468, title II, § 236(b)96 Stat. 2547 (, , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 97–4681983—Subsec. (a). substituted “” for “”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Abolition of Interstate Commerce Commission and Transfer of Functions

Pub. L. 104–88section 1302 of Title 49section 101 of Pub. L. 104–88section 1301 of Title 49section 205 of Pub. L. 104–88section 1301 of Title 49Interstate Commerce Commission abolished and functions of Commission transferred, except as otherwise provided in , to Surface Transportation Board effective , by , Transportation, and , set out as a note under . References to Interstate Commerce Commission deemed to refer to Surface Transportation Board, a member or employee of the Board, or Secretary of Transportation, as appropriate, see , set out as a note under .

Exemption of National Railroad Passenger Corporation in Hiring Qualified Train and Engine Employees

section 4011(c) of Pub. L. 99–272section 797b of this titleSection inapplicable to National Railroad Passenger Corporation in hiring of qualified train and engine employees holding seniority rights to work in intercity rail passenger service in connection with the assumption by such Corporation of functions previously performed under contract by other carriers, see , set out as a note under .