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| Robert A. Scardelletti | |
|---|---|
| Name | Robert A. Scardelletti |
| Birth date | 1949 |
| Birth place | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Occupation | Labor leader |
| Known for | President of the United Transportation Union |
Robert A. Scardelletti was an American labor leader who served as president of the United Transportation Union (UTU) from 1991 to 2010. He led negotiations affecting workers at carriers such as Amtrak, Conrail, and the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, and was active in national discussions involving unions like the AFL–CIO and the Teamsters. Scardelletti worked with political figures and transportation officials from administrations including George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and had interactions with regulators such as the National Mediation Board and the Federal Railroad Administration.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Scardelletti grew up in a family connected to railroading and industrial labor in the Rust Belt, a region that includes Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. He attended local schools and began work on the railroads, becoming associated with regional carriers and yard operations that linked to systems like the Pennsylvania Railroad and later the Conrail network. His early employment brought him into contact with unions such as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, and with municipal and state labor offices in jurisdictions including Cuyahoga County and Columbus, Ohio.
Scardelletti rose through union ranks after joining predecessor organizations to the UTU during a period when railroad labor was shaped by events like the Railway Labor Act administration and the work of the National Mediation Board. He served in local positions and on regional committees that interfaced with carriers including Norfolk Southern, CSX Transportation, and commuter lines such as Metra and Long Island Rail Road. His work involved coordination with national unions and federations including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union on common bargaining strategies and legislative advocacy in state capitols such as Columbus, Ohio and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
As president of the UTU, Scardelletti managed an organization representing workers in railroads, transit agencies, and passenger services including Amtrak and regional authorities like the New Jersey Transit Corporation and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. He led the union during major industry changes, interacting with corporate entities such as Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Union Pacific Railroad and regulatory bodies like the Surface Transportation Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. His administration coordinated with other labor leaders including John Sweeney of the AFL–CIO and James P. Hoffa of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters on shared policy goals.
Scardelletti negotiated collective bargaining agreements covering wages, work rules, and safety protocols with carriers including Conrail, Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, and CSX Transportation. His tenure saw agreements influenced by technological changes in signaling and operations from corporations like Siemens and GE Transportation, and by safety initiatives promoted by the Federal Railroad Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. He led campaigns addressing workplace safety following incidents investigated by entities such as the National Transportation Safety Board, and pursued legislation alongside lawmakers like Senator John McCain, Senator Ted Kennedy, and Representative James L. Oberstar on rail safety and funding. The UTU under his leadership participated in multi-union coalitions with groups such as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.
Scardelletti engaged with political organizations and campaigns aligned with labor interests, interacting with the Democratic National Committee and coordinating endorsements with leaders like Richard Trumka and AFL–CIO officials. He testified before congressional committees including the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and worked with administrations such as Bill Clinton and George W. Bush on regulatory and funding matters affecting passenger services like Amtrak and regional transit authorities such as Chicago Transit Authority. The UTU also partnered with advocacy groups including Transportation Trades Department, AFL–CIO and national coalitions addressing infrastructure legislation such as bills debated in sessions presided over by figures like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.
Scardelletti retired from UTU leadership in 2010, ending a career that intersected with major carriers, labor federations, and government agencies including the Federal Railroad Administration and the National Mediation Board. His legacy includes negotiated contracts, safety initiatives, and institutional relationships with entities such as Amtrak, Conrail, Norfolk Southern, and unions like the Teamsters and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. Histories of American labor in the late 20th and early 21st centuries reference leaders he engaged with, including John Sweeney, Richard Trumka, and James P. Hoffa, as well as legislative actors like James L. Oberstar and Ted Kennedy. His career is discussed in studies of rail labor, labor law, and collective bargaining practices involving institutions such as the National Labor Relations Board and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Category:American trade unionists Category:1949 births Category:Living people