The agreement, which is subject to ratification, is consistent with the terms set by dozens of local and national contracts between railroads and unions that have been ratified as part of the 2025 bargaining round, according to the NCCC.
The terms of these pattern agreements provide:
- “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.”
The BRS tentative agreement follows ratification of nine national contracts—including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division; International Association of Sheet, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ Mechanical and Engineering Department; National Conference of Firemen & Oilers; American Train Dispatchers Association; Transportation Communications Union; Brotherhood of Railway Carmen; International Brotherhood of Boilermakers; and International Association of Machinists. Those contracts run through Dec. 31, 2029.
If BRS ratifies the agreement, half of the union-represented freight rail employees at railroads participating in national handling will be covered, according to NCCC.
“The decision by BRS to embrace this [tentative] agreement underscores the value the pattern framework provides for workers, bringing wage increases and enhanced benefits without having to wait years,” NCCC and National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) Chairman Jeff Rodgers said. “Our collaboration with BRS helps deliver stability and growth for rail workers while supporting the freight service that’s essential to American businesses and consumers.”
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, “establishing a clear pattern that addresses employee needs while strengthening the freight rail industry’s ability to provide safe, reliable service,” according to the NRLC. “The 18.8% wage increase in these pattern agreements builds 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. Under these agreements, average annual wages will rise to $135,000 and average total compensation will increase to $190,000.”
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).
Further Reading:
- CSX Secures Tentative Labor Agreements With BRS, IBB
- Unconventional Labor Talks Begin
- Canada’s Arbitration Mandate and the Hinrichs Maneuver
- CSX Tentative Agreements with BRC and SMART-TD GO-049 Extended to 12 Unions
