US Code

Public Law 119-88 (05/04/2026)

45 U.S.C. § 797c

Central register of railroad employment

(a)

Register

(1)
The Railroad Retirement Board (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Board”) shall prepare and maintain a register of persons separated from railroad employment after at least one year of completed service with a railroad who have declared their current availability for employment in the railroad industry. The register shall be subdivided by class and craft of prior employment and shall be updated periodically to reflect current availability.
(2)
Each entry in the register shall include, or provide access to, basic information concerning the individual’s experience and qualifications.
(3)
The Board shall place at the top of the register those former railroad employees entitled to priority under applicable provisions of law, including this chapter.
(b)

Corporation employees

As soon as is practicable after , the Corporation shall provide to the Board the names of its former employees who elect to appear on the register and who have not been offered employment with acquiring railroads.

(c)

Vacancy notices; warning; civil penalty

(1)
Each railroad shall timely file with the Board a notice of vacancy with respect to any position for which the railroad intends to accept applications from persons other than current employees of that carrier.
(2)
(A)
As soon as the Board becomes aware of any failure on the part of a railroad to comply with paragraph (1), the Board shall issue a warning to such railroad of its potential liability under subparagraph (B).
(B)
Any railroad failing to comply with paragraph (1) of this subsection after being warned by the Board under subparagraph (A) shall be liable for a civil penalty in the amount of $500 for each subsequent vacancy with respect to which such railroad has so failed to comply.
(d)

Placement

The Board shall, through distribution of copies of the central register (or portions thereof) to railroads and representatives of classes or crafts of employees and through publication of employment information derived from vacancy notices filed with the Board, promote the placement of former railroad employees possessing requisite skills and experience in appropriate positions with other railroads.

(e)

Employment applications

In addition to its responsibilities under subsections (a) through (d) of this section, the Board shall facilitate the filing of employment applications with respect to current vacancies in the industry by former railroad employees entitled to priority under applicable provisions of law, including this chapter.

(f)

Expiration

The provisions of this section shall cease to be effective on the expiration of the 6-year period beginning on .

(g)

Resolution of disputes

section 797b of this titlesection 907 of this titlesection 1004 of this titleAny dispute, grievance, or claim arising under this section, , , or shall be subject to resolution in accordance with the following procedures:
(1)
Any employee with such a dispute, grievance, or claim may petition the Board to review and investigate the dispute, grievance, or claim.
(2)
section 797b of this titlesection 907 of this titlesection 1004 of this titlesection 153 of this title The Board shall investigate the dispute, grievance, or claim, and if it concludes that the employee’s rights under this section, , , or may have been violated, the dispute, grievance, or claim shall be subject to resolution in accordance with the procedures set forth in .
(3)
section 797b of this titlesection 907 of this titlesection 1004 of this titlesection 153 of this title In the case of any violation of this section, , , or , the Adjustment Board (or any division or delegate thereof) or any other board of adjustment created under shall, where appropriate, award such relief, including back pay, as may be necessary to enforce the employee’s rights.

Pub. L. 93–236, title VII, § 704Pub. L. 97–35, title XI, § 1143(a)95 Stat. 663 Pub. L. 97–468, title II, § 23596 Stat. 2547 Pub. L. 99–272, title IV, § 4011(a)100 Stat. 108 (, as added , , ; amended , , ; , (b), , , 109.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 99–272, § 4011(a)1986—Subsec. (c). , designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

Pub. L. 99–272, § 4011(b)Subsec. (f). , substituted “6-year” for “4-year”.

Pub. L. 97–468, § 235(a)1983—Subsec. (f). , substituted “4-year” for “3-year”.

Pub. L. 97–468, § 235(b)section 797b of this titlesection 907 of this titlesection 1004 of this titlesection 797b of this titleSubsec. (g). , substituted “this section, , , or ” for “this section or ” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–272, title IV, § 4011(d)100 Stat. 109

section 797b of this title“The amendments made by subsections (a) and (c) [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [], and the amendment made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall be effective as of .”
, , , provided that: