---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 20110"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "20110"
heading: "Effect on employee qualifications and collective bargaining"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/20110"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Rail Programs"
  - "Part A — Safety"
  - "Chapter 201 — General"
  - "Subchapter I — General"
---

# §20110. Effect on employee qualifications and collective bargaining


This chapter does not—

- (1) authorize the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) of Transportation to prescribe regulations and issue orders related to qualifications of [employees](/usc/49/21101.md?p=3), except qualifications specifically related to safety; or
- (2) prohibit the bargaining representatives of [railroad carriers](/usc/49/20102.md?p=3) and their [employees](/usc/49/21101.md?p=3) from making collective bargaining agreements under the Railway Labor Act ([45 U.S.C. 151](/usc/45/151.md) et seq.), including agreements related to qualifications of [employees](/usc/49/21101.md?p=3), that are not inconsistent with regulations prescribed and orders issued under this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 868.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 20110 | 45:431(a) (2d, last sentences). | Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, § 202(a) (2d, last sentences), 84 Stat. 971. |

In clause (2), the words “railroad carriers” are substituted for “common carriers” for consistency in this part.

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Railway Labor Act, referred to in par. (2), is act May 20, 1926, ch. 347, 44 Stat. 577, which is classified principally to chapter 8 (§ 151 et seq.) of Title 45, Railroads. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 151 of Title 45 and Tables.