Apparently ACRE has decided to attend the Commuter Rail Conference hosted by the National Mediation Board (NMB) in Baltimore on March 23 & 24. ACRE is a late registrant to this conference; as of February 17 ACRE had not registered to attend. What could have prompted ACRE's sudden interest to attend this conference?

Metro-North's Director of Labor Relations, Ray Burney is participating on a discussion panel concerning pattern bargaining settlements. Perhaps Mr. Burney could use support from ACRE when the conversation during the panel discussion turns to the involvement of an Association that broke the established pattern and in the process placed all of the remaining Unions on Metro-North in an impossible bargaining position.

Are there any slot machines in Baltimore? The only other NMB seminar attended by ACRE was held in Atlantic City several years ago. ACRE sent approximately 8 officers and billed the membership and ACRE organization for around $14,000.00 in expenses. ACRE's entire participation consisted of a single question directed to an International Officer during a discussion panel. The question was “what percentage of member ballots were returned during your last contract vote?” That became ACRE's $14,000.00 question.