---
kind: "section"
citation: "45 U.S.C. § 797c"
title: "45"
title_heading: "Railroads"
number: "797c"
heading: "Central register of railroad employment"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/45/797c"
units:
  - "Chapter 16 — Regional Rail Reorganization"
  - "Subchapter VII — Protection of Employees"
---

# §797c. Central register of railroad employment

- (a) **Register—**
  - (1) The [Railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) Retirement Board (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Board”) shall prepare and maintain a register of persons separated from [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) employment after at least one year of completed service with a [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) who have declared their current availability for employment in the [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) 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](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) employees entitled to priority under applicable provisions of law, including this chapter.
- (b) **Corporation employees—** As soon as is practicable after August 13, 1981, the [Corporation](/usc/45/702.md?p=5) 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](/usc/45/702.md?p=15).
- (c) **Vacancy notices; warning; civil penalty—**
  - (1) Each [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) shall timely file with the Board a notice of vacancy with respect to any position for which the [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) 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](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) to comply with [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the Board shall issue a warning to such [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) of its potential liability under [subparagraph (B)](#c-2-B).
    - (B) Any [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) failing to comply with paragraph (1) of this subsection after being warned by the Board under [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A) shall be liable for a civil penalty in the amount of $500 for each subsequent vacancy with respect to which such [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) has so failed to comply.
- (d) **Placement—** The Board shall, through distribution of copies of the central register (or portions thereof) to [railroads](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) 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](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) employees possessing requisite skills and experience in appropriate positions with other [railroads](/usc/45/702.md?p=15).
- (e) **Employment applications—** In addition to its responsibilities under subsections [(a)](#a) through [(d)](#d) of this section, the Board shall facilitate the filing of employment applications with respect to current vacancies in the industry by former [railroad](/usc/45/702.md?p=15) 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 August 13, 1981.
- (g) **Resolution of disputes—** Any dispute, grievance, or claim arising under this section, [section 797b of this title](/usc/45/797b.md), [section 907 of this title](/usc/45/907.md), or [section 1004 of this title](/usc/45/1004.md) 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) The Board shall investigate the dispute, grievance, or claim, and if it concludes that the employee’s rights under this section, [section 797b of this title](/usc/45/797b.md), [section 907 of this title](/usc/45/907.md), or [section 1004 of this title](/usc/45/1004.md) may have been violated, the dispute, grievance, or claim shall be subject to resolution in accordance with the procedures set forth in [section 153 of this title](/usc/45/153.md).
  - (3) In the case of any violation of this section, [section 797b of this title](/usc/45/797b.md), [section 907 of this title](/usc/45/907.md), or [section 1004 of this title](/usc/45/1004.md), the Adjustment Board (or any division or delegate thereof) or any other board of adjustment created under [section 153 of this title](/usc/45/153.md) shall, where appropriate, award such relief, including back pay, as may be necessary to enforce the employee’s rights.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–236, title VII, § 704, as added Pub. L. 97–35, title XI, § 1143(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 663; amended Pub. L. 97–468, title II, § 235, Jan. 14, 1983, 96 Stat. 2547; Pub. L. 99–272, title IV, § 4011(a), (b), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 108, 109.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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

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

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

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

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–272, title IV, § 4011(d), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 109, provided that: “The amendments made by subsections (a) and (c) [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 797b of this title] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Apr. 7, 1986], and the amendment made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall be effective as of August 1, 1985.”