railroad unions

Rail firefighters and oilers vote to ratify labor agreement

Members of the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers (NCFO) have voted by a 58.7% margin to ratify their labor contract with U.S. freight railroads.

The agreement calls for the highest wage increase in 48 years, five annual service recognition payments, an additional paid day off and enhanced autism health care benefits, according to NCFO President Dean Devita. The agreement also calls for increasing a maximum hearing benefit from $600 to $2,000, a 22% wage increase and retroactive pay within...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-firefighters-and-oilers-vote-to-ratify-labor-agreement

IBEW approves new railroad labor contract

Rail workers with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have voted to ratify the union’s labor contract with U.S. freight railroads.

IBEW joins two other unions, theTransportation Communications Union/IAM and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, that voted to ratify their contracts. IBEW has nearly 4,000 members working for member carriers of the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC), the group representing the railroads in labor negotiations.

“The wage and benefits...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ibew-approves-new-railroad-labor-contract

Locomotive machinists, mechanics reach new deal with railroads

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 19 has reached a new tentative agreement with the group representing the freight railroads in contract negotiations.

This agreement tweaks one that IAM rejected earlier this month. IAM represents locomotive machinists, track equipment mechanics and facility maintenance personnel at the freight railroads represented by the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC).

“Throughout this process of seeking a new...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/locomotive-machinists-mechanics-reach-new-deal-with-railroads

Class I railroads work to quickly resume operations

A locomotive with the letters BNSF emblazoned on the front travels on track through a forest.

The U.S. operations of the Class I railroads are working to resume operations “immediately” now that a deal has been reached to avoid a strike by union members on Friday.

Two of the largest labor unions — those representing locomotive engineers and train conductors — reached an eleventh-hour tentative agreement with the railroads. The agreement, announced early Thursday, averts a strike that could have begun as early as just after midnight Friday.

“We are moving immediately to resume normal...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/class-i-railroads-work-to-quickly-resume-operations

Railroads wind down some operations; White House eyes options to move freight

The U.S.-based Class I railroads have been taking steps this week to prepare for a potential strike by union members after midnight Friday by embargoing security-sensitive material and even winding down operations for intermodal and temperature-controlled rail traffic.

On Wednesday, Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) will close all its gates to intermodal traffic at 5 p.m. local time as part of a controlled shutdown of its network ahead of a possible strike. This includes in-gates for loaded and empty...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/railroads-wind-down-some-operations-white-house-eyes-options-to-move-freight

Rail machinists and mechanics reject tentative labor agreement

Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) have voted to reject the tentative labor agreement brokered by labor and freight rail representatives, less than two days before a potential strike by members of two of the largest rail unions who are still at the negotiating table.

But IAM is extending its negotiations with the National Carriers Conference Committee, the group representing the freight railroads, to Sept. 29, “out of respect for other unions in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-machinists-and-mechanics-reject-tentative-labor-agreement

Class I railroads to suspend security-sensitive shipments ahead of potential strike

The Class I railroads are preparing to adjust operations in the event a strike occurs on Sept. 16, saying they will suspend the shipments of security-sensitive and hazardous material.

A late-day Friday service update from Norfolk Southern Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins describes how NS (NYSE: NSC) will start to issue embargoes for certain types of shipments, including rail security-sensitive material.

Elkins said 10 out of 12 unions are poised to agree to new labor contracts, but two have not...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/class-i-railroads-to-suspend-security-sensitive-shipments-ahead-of-potential-strike

Economic impact from freight rail strike could total $2b per day

An aerial photograph of locomotives parked in a rail yard.

Rail stakeholders are concerned that a possible strike by some union members due to stalled contract negotiations could result in multibillion dollar economic impacts.

The Association of American Railroads estimates that a nationwide shutdown of rail operations could cost $2 billion in lost economic output each day, according to a report released Thursday. AAR reached its conclusions by updating data from a 1992 Federal Railroad Administration econometric study. 

AAR, which represents freight and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/economic-impact-from-freight-rail-strike-could-total-2b-per-day

2 more freight rail unions reach tentative agreements for new labor contract

A train hauling intermodal containers passes by under a bridge.

Two more railroad unions have reached tentative labor agreements with the U.S. freight railroads right before Labor Day weekend.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) both said the labor agreements are based on recommendations from the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB), a three-person independent committee appointed by President Joe Biden that sought to come up with ways that the unions and railroads could settle their...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/2-more-freight-rail-unions-reach-tentative-agreements-for-new-labor-contract

3 railroad unions reach tentative agreements toward ending contract standoff

Three railroad unions have reached tentative agreements with U.S. freight railroads on a new labor contract.

The three unions are the Transportation Communications Union (TCU)/IAM (International Association of Machinists), Brotherhood of Railway Carmen and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. 

Those unions, whose memberships total more than 15,000 rail employees, or nearly 11% of workers at the bargaining table, will send out the tentative agreement to members for...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/3-railroad-unions-reach-tentative-agreements-toward-ending-contract-standoff

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