Three More Unions Ratify Agreements with Freight Railroads
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Three More Unions Ratify Agreements with Freight Railroads
Nearly 75% of Employees Now Have Ratified Agreements
WASHINGTON (January 17, 2012) – Members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, Iron Ship Builders, Forgers and Helpers; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; and the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association have ratified new contracts with the nation’s largest freight railroads. The unions, which together represent approximately 9,000 employees in this bargaining round, began negotiations with the railroads’ bargaining representative, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), in January 2010.
“We’re pleased that these three unions, like the five before them, have ratified their agreements, which implement the balanced terms recommended by the Presidential Emergency Board after carefully weighing the parties’ positions,” said A. Kenneth Gradia, Chairman of the NCCC.
The railroads now have ratified agreements with 10 of the 13 unions in national bargaining, representing nearly 100,000 employees. Two other unions have reached tentative agreements that are still in the ratification process. 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.
Original Press Release (PDF)
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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For more information contact: Joanna Moorhead, National Railway Labor Conference, 202-862-7257.
About AAR: The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the world's leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers. AAR members include the major freight railroads of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. Learn more at www.aar.org. Follow us on Twitter: AAR_FreightRail or Facebook: www.facebook.com/freightrail.