railroad unions

Derailment, safety, partnerships among rail’s big issues in 2023

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2023 seemed to kick off quietly for U.S. freight railroads: The industry had seen the resolution of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/derailment-safety-partnerships-among-rails-big-issues-in-2023

Lower volumes prompt furloughs at Union Pacific

Amid a drop in rail traffic, Union Pacific has furloughed at least 94 employees, including 43 machinists in 11 locations, according to an official with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).

Josh Hartford, special assistant to the international president of IAM, said employees were told that the furloughs were happening because of plans to store 200 locomotives now and potentially an additional 100 within the next few weeks or months.

UP confirmed that furloughs...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/lower-volumes-prompt-furloughs-at-union-pacific

Union group pushes for passage of rail safety bill

Rail union representatives are poised to adopt a policy statement that urges Congress to pass a rail safety bill — one that mandates a minimum of two-person crew sizes on all passenger and freight trains, regulates train lengths exceeding 7,500 feet and ensures adequate inspections of rail cars, locomotives and brakes.

The latest policy statement of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO cites at least 18 areas where regulations and guidance via the Federal Railroad...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-group-pushes-for-passage-of-rail-safety-bill

Norfolk Southern reaches sick leave agreements with 2 more unions

Norfolk Southern has secured sick leave agreements with two more unions, bringing the total number of unions with such deals with NS up to eight.

The latest agreements are with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, or IAM, and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, or BRC, NS (NYSE: NSC) said Tuesday. The agreement will provide more than 1,350 workers with four new days of paid sick leave per year, plus the opportunity to use three days of existing paid time off as sick...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/norfolk-southern-reaches-sick-leave-agreements-with-2-more-unions

Rail workers say safety legislation doesn’t go far enough

Rail union groups are lending support to federal officials’ calls to reform rail safety but say even more steps can be taken to implement and bolster safe practices.

Railroad Workers United (RWU), an interunion group consisting of craft employees, said the Railway Safety Act proposed by a bipartisan group of five senators last week is a good first step by calling for restrictions on train length and weight, train crew staffing minimums, the regulation of wayside detectors and restrictions on the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-workers-say-safety-legislation-doesnt-go-far-enough

2 rail unions vote to go on strike at CN if talks falter

Members of two Unifor unions have voted to go on strike at CN if a collective agreement can’t be reached between both parties.

The vote on whether to go to strike was 98% of Local 100 members and 97% of Council 4000 members, according to a Sunday news release. 

Both sides are anticipated to head back to the bargaining table next week. 

Wages and benefits are one of the issues of contention. Although wages and benefits improved in the latest proposed agreement, the compensation falls under today’s...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/2-rail-unions-vote-to-go-on-strike-at-cn-if-talks-falter

CSX reaches sick leave agreements with train engineers, mechanical workers

Eastern U.S. railroad CSX has reached agreements with two unions over sick leave.

The agreements with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division (BMWED) and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC) are effective Wednesday and affect approximately 5,000 railroad workers.

BMWED represents engineering employees, while BRC represents mechanical workers, according to CSX (NASDAQ: CSX).

“CSX is committed to listening to our railroaders and working with their representatives to find...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-reaches-sick-leave-agreements-with-train-engineers-mechanical-workers

FRA hears clashing views from railroads, unions on train crew size

Railroads and unions gave conflicting views during a hearing by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on a proposed rulemaking that would require freight trains generally to have at least two crew members in the locomotive cab. The agency is gathering public testimony through next week.

Here are some key issues that the railroads and unions addressed at the Wednesday hearing:

Mandating set crew size blocks innovative work configurations, say railroads

The railroads and the unions just ended a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fra-hears-clashing-views-from-railroads-unions-on-train-crew-size

Rail industry must overcome strained labor relations in order to survive

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The drama about whether union members would go on strike has passed, with Congress passing...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-industry-must-overcome-strained-labor-relations-in-order-to-survive

Freight rail carriers bristle at BMWED requests for more concessions

The U.S. freight railroads involved in collective bargaining with the rail labor unions have panned the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division’s counteroffer for a new labor agreement.

“Now is not the time to introduce new demands that rekindle the prospect of a railroad strike,” said the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), the group representing the freight railroads in contract negotiations, late Wednesday. 

Six other unions have already ratified their agreements, the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-rail-carriers-bristle-at-bmwed-requests-for-more-concessions

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