The Engines of Sodor were overworked and full of complaints. Edward wanted an overhaul. Henry wanted special coal. James wanted to be repainted. Gordon wanted not to pull trucks. Percy wanted his own trains. Duck wanted a branchline. Bear wanted more time in front of the cameras. The true story of how they achieved this remains secret, until now. They got their way by forming a Labor Union.

The idea first flew into Thomas's funnel. He wondered what the Fat Controller would do if none of his engines would work. He then realized this would be a viable threat. He talked to Duck, who talked to Donald and Douglas, who talked to James, who talked to Gordon, who talked to Henry, who talked to Edward, who talked to BoCo, who talked to Bear. Soon, every Engine of the Island was in-they were going to go on strike on August 7th.

On the 7th, the Fat Controller noticed that none of his Engines were showing up for their trains. So he went to Tidmouth sheds.

"We're going on Strike," said Henry

"We won't work until you accept our terms," continued Gordon

So Fatty drove to Edward and BoCo's shed. They explained

"We're also going on Strike," said Edward

"We won't work until you accept our terms," continued BoCo

Soon, he realized that no Engine would work until he gave in to their terms, so he ran up to Edward to listen to the terms.

"I'll get back to you within 2 business days with the terms," announced Edward, and headed to Tidmouth to consult.

"We need to formulate our terms, so Fatty knows what to give us," he explained

"Let's make sure that in the future, we won't need to strike to get our way," said Henry, "let's form a Union and make him give it Executive power"

Percy didn't understand any of that, but he was drowned out by sounds of approval.

"We must form a cabinet," said Bear, "we need a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Management Relations Director."

"I want to be the President," said Thomas, "I'm the most useful Engine."

"I should be the President," said Gordon, somewhat more loudly, "I have very powerful connections and a lot of experience"

"I want Edward to be the President," said Percy, "he's the wisest of us all"

"I don't want to be the President," said Edward.

It was put up to a vote among the union members, and by a vote of 6-5, with 3 abstaining, Gordon was elected President of the Union, despite his excessive Bombast.

The election for Vice-President boiled down to Henry, James, and Thomas. Thomas won by a division of 5-3-3, with 3 abstaining (at this point it was suspected that Bill and Ben were asleep, and that Percy did not know how to vote)

Next was the Director of Management Relations. Although James wanted the job, Edward was talked into it, since he was, in the words of the ever-so-pompous Gordon, "the best speaker of us all." The vote was 11-1, with 2 abstaining (at this point Bill and Ben were audibly snoring, but at least Percy learned how to vote).

Next was the position of Treasurer. Henry and Bear, both of whom have good attention to detail, ran for the position. By a vote of 6-6, with Bill and Ben abstaining, it was declared a tie and broken by the Presidential vote being cast for Henry.

The Secretary race was deeply contested. There were 4 candidates: Duck, James, Donald and Douglas on a rotational, and Toby all ran. After a preliminary round resulted in 4 votes each for Duck and the Scots, 3 for Toby, and 1 for James, James dropped out and a revote occurred. This time, Donald and Douglas managed to gain James' vote, as well as Bill and Ben, who finally awoke from their slumber, putting them at a count of 7, with Duck having 4 and Toby 3. The newly-elected Secretaries collected everyone's demands for Fatty, while the Treasurer ordered Takeout Chinese Coal for the whole group. Then, the board rolled off to formulate their terms in a proper letter, and Bear and James collaborated on drafting a Union Constitution.

Soon, the terms were ready, and the Union management returned to the Sheds. Gordon, feeling Presidential, used the Turntable shack as a Podium and spoke:

"The officers will take their stations and the union will come to Order!" he boomed, while using his whistle as a makeshift gavel.

"Sergeant-at-Arms, Montague," he called to Duck, who he picked to stand watch

"Mr. President," answered the Great Western Engine

"Are all present members of our union or guests?"

"Mr. President, all present are members of our Union or Guests"

"My fellow Engines, I now declare this meeting of the Engines' Union of Sodor open for business. Vice-President, inform the Sergeant-at-arms!"

"Is there a motion on the floor?" boomed Gordon, with another "tap" of his "gavel."

Several Engines whistled

"I recognize Mr. Donald and Mr. Douglas."

"We move that the following terms, as drafted by the board, be accepted," said Donald.

Douglas began to read: "The terms are as follows:

We, the Engines of the North Western Railway, seeing that we have been treated unequally, and seeking a guarantee of fair treatment, do hereby demand:

That the Board of the Engines' Union of Sodor be recognized as an executive entity with power over the Controller of the Railway.

That the Treasurer of the Engines' Union of Sodor be allocated a budget of no less than 10% of the Railway's revenues every month.

That no Engine may be scrapped, sold for scrap, or transported for scrap on Railway equipment

That Engines designed for Passenger hauling not be used for Freight

That any Engine may demand an inspection within a 24-hour notice, and any repairs be funded in no more than 10% by the Union

That any Engine may be provided with the option of receiving at least one repainting every month, on the expense of the Railway

That any Branch lines be staffed by an independent team of Engines, particularly with regards to the Arlesburgh Branch

That any new Engines be compelled to join the Union

That any Engine so qualified must be provided with at least one regular train service every month

That the hiring of a new director must be approved by a ⅗ majority vote of the Union Board

That a violation of any of the above will allow the board of the Union to seek to remove the current Controller"

Gordon whistled again. "Is there a second?"

"Second!" yelled James

"Call for Acclimation?" asked Gordon

"Call!" yelled Henry

"Is there any dissent? Dissent? Dissent?" asked Gordon, while making a full spin on the turntable. "Seeing and hearing none, the Motion clearly passes."

"Yee!" squealed Percy

The next day, Gordon and Edward provided the Fat Controller with their Terms, which he reluctantly accepted. Since then, the Union has made decisions for many years