NCCC, BMWED Reach Tentative National Agreement (Updated 1/27)
The five-year agreement (download below; courtesy of BMWED) is subject to ratification by the nearly 8,000 BMWED-represented railroaders.
The terms are consistent with the pattern established by more than 50 other national and local agreements, including ratified local agreements covering approximately 6,500 BMWED employees at both Norfolk Southern and CSX.
The terms provide:
- “Wage increases of 18.8% over five years. Based on current inflation projections, this will translate to real wage growth for covered railroaders 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. In 2025, health care premiums will decrease 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.”
“The BMWED leadership extends its sincere appreciation to every member who contributed to this effort,” the union said in its tentative agreement announcement. “Your engagement and solidarity have been instrumental in achieving a deal that reflects the hard work and commitment of our brotherhood. This achievement is also a testament to the unwavering dedication and hard work of Our system Officers and the membership who have tirelessly advocated for fair wages and benefits on their respective railroads.”
“We would like to thank the leaders of BMWED for their partnership in reaching this tentative agreement,” NCCC and National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) Chairman Jeff Rodgers said. “It’s a major step forward and a testament to the ongoing collaboration between the industry and its unions to address employee priorities and promptly resolve this bargaining round. This agreement rewards freight rail employees with increased wages, enhanced benefits and improved access to paid time off, and it gives freight railroads the certainty needed to continue driving America’s economy and supply chain.”
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 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 this progress, establishing a clear pattern that prioritizes employee needs while strengthening the freight rail industry’s ability to provide safe, reliable service,” according to NRLC. “Building on the historic 24% wage increase from the 2022 bargaining round, the terms of the BMWED agreement represent the industry’s ongoing efforts to provide competitive compensation and benefits to employees. These agreements are projected to increase wages for covered employees by nearly 50% (compounded) 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).
