WASHINGTON (December 22, 2011) – Members of the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU) and the Brotherhood Railway Carmen-Division TCU/IAM (Carmen) today ratified new contracts with the nation’s largest freight railroads. The TCU and the Carmen, which represent about 16,500 employees in collective bargaining, began negotiations with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) in January 2010.

The agreements implemented recommendations made by Presidential Emergency Board No. 243 (PEB 243), which President Obama appointed in October to help resolve the disputes between the railroads and 11 unions. The agreements are the first to be ratified since PEB 243 was appointed and the third and fourth to be ratified in this bargaining round; the first two were with the United Transportation Union and its Yardmasters Department.

Eight other unions have reached tentative agreements that are awaiting member ratification. The only union without a settlement, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE), has agreed with the railroads to extend the “cooling off” period until February 8, 2012, eliminating the immediate threat of a national rail strike. The railroads are making every effort to reach an agreement with the BMWE by February 8.

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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