IAM reached a tentative agreement with NCCC in March. Covering members through Dec. 31, 2029, the new contract follows the pattern set by nine other agreements ratified as part of the 2025 bargaining round. The terms include:
- “Wage increases of 18.8% over five years. Based on current inflation projections, this increase will translate to real wage growth for covered railroaders, along with pay certainty for the life of the contract.
- “Enhancements to world-class health and welfare benefits with no increase to the employee contribution rate. Employees’ 2025 health care premiums have decreased to about $277/month, well below the national average of more than $500/month for employer-provided family coverage.
- “Access to more paid vacation time for employees earlier in their careers.”
Members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) approved their contract last month; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED-IBT) in March; the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) and International Association of Sheet, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ Mechanical and Engineering Department (SMART-MD) in January; and the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers (NCFO), Transportation Communications Union (TCU) and Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC) in December.
“The successful ratification of this agreement by IAM-represented employees marks a continuation of the great progress and strong collaboration we’ve seen in this bargaining round,” NCCC and National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) Chairman Jeff Rodgers said. “We are grateful to IAM’s leadership for their partnership in reaching an agreement that delivers gains for their members and strengthens the industry’s future.”
The NRLC is an association representing all U.S. Class I railroads and many smaller freight and passenger lines. Through its NCCC, NRLC leads national negotiations with the 12 major rail labor organizations*.
Background
The 2025 national bargaining round began with the exchange of Section 6 notices on Nov. 1, 2024. Early local agreements between several rail carriers and unions set the stage for progress, according to the NRLC. “The 18.8% wage increase in these pattern agreements built on the historic 24% wage increase from the 2022 bargaining round,” it said. “Taken together, these wage increases represent a nearly 50% (compounded) wage increase for covered employees between 2020 and 2029.”
Download below a list of carriers and unions participating in national handling. Carriers that reached an early local agreement covering a particular craft do not participate in national bargaining with respect to that craft. Additional information about the bargaining round is available at RailNegotiations.com.
* The unions are: International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Div. (SMART-TD & SMART-TD-YDM); Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE); Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (BLET); Brotherhood Railway Carmen (BRC); Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS); International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); Transportation Communications International Union (TCU); National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCFO); American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA); International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART); and International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, Iron Ship Builders, Forgers and Helpers (IBB).
