Railroads Now Have Agreements with All 13 Unions in National Bargaining

WASHINGTON (Feb. 2, 2012) – The nation’s major freight railroads today reached a tentative agreement with the last unsettled union, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE), which represents more than 25,000 employees in the current round of national bargaining. The deal follows contract ratifications announced earlier today by members of the American Train Dispatchers Association and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.

The railroads have now reached agreements with all 13 of the rail unions in national bargaining; 12 of those agreements have been ratified. The BMWE agreement eliminates the threat of a national rail strike on Feb. 8.

“These agreements demonstrate that voluntary bargaining continues to work in the rail industry,” said A. Kenneth Gradia, chairman of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), the railroads’ bargaining representative. “The carriers and the unions, with the critical support of the National Mediation Board, have resolved their differences, ensuring they will continue to work together to help drive America’s economic growth today and in the future.”

The NCCC represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions.

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