The UTU and the BLET jointly petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration Aug. 12 in opposition to a request by the NNEPRA that it be allowed to bypass a 'Buy America' provision in the law and go offshore to buy track-nut fasteners.

The NNEPRA wants to use a federal tax-dollar subsidy to purchase track-nut fasteners from a foreign hardware manufacturer.

The waiver request of the NNEPRA should be denied, say the UTU and the BLET, because track-nut fasteners are readily available here in the homeland, produced by American workers.

Signing the opposition petition with the FRA were UTU National Legislative Director James Stem and BLET National Legislative Representative John Tolman, who wrote:

"As part of the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act's 'Buy America' provision, the NNEPRA received a $35 million grant to extend Amtrak's Downeaster passenger service from its existing route of Boston to Freeport, Maine.

"It is a fundamental principle that taxpayer investments should create American jobs [and in support of this principle] the UTU and the BLET oppose the NNEPRA request for a waiver from the 'Buy America' requirement.

"NNEPRA has requested a waiver to allow them to purchase foreign made 1 1/8-inch nuts, standard nuts that are produced domestically and are readily available. A cursory Internet search found that Grainger, a tool and hardware supply company, sells these nuts, and they are made in the United States," the UTU and the BLET told the FRA.

Grainger, a Fortune 500 company with 18,000 employees and headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., was named this year by Computerworld magazine as "one of the best places to work," and was named by Fortune magazine as one of the "most admired companies."

Additionally, the UTU and the BLET told the FRA, the 'Buy America' requirements should be waived for only the most persuasive reasons. "If the design of the track bolt requires foreign-made nuts, then we suggest a design change," they said.

"If our country is going to restore our manufacturing capabilities, these trivial, nuisance waivers must be rejected," the UTU and the BLET told the FRA.