The newly ratified agreement provides a 3.5% average wage increase per year over the next five years. It also offers NS railroaders more vacation earlier in their career and makes “significant improvements to an already robust suite of health care benefits,” according to the Class I.
The ratification by BMWED follows successful ratification votes by the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Mechanical Department (SMART-MD), the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division/TCU (BRC), and the Transportation Communications Union (TCU) last month. To date, NS has reached tentative agreements with nine of its 13 unions, covering nearly 65% of its craft workforce. Covered employees will enjoy significant improvements to pay, health care, and vacation in the upcoming year, the Class I noted.
In addition to BMWED, ATDA, BRC, SMART-MD, and TCU, NS has reached similar tentative agreements, which are still subject to ratification, with the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division Yardmasters (SMART-TD Yardmasters), the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Blacksmiths (IBBB), and the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCFO).
“Norfolk Southern is pleased to be making substantial progress with our labor partners on reaching early agreements that offer highly competitive wages and benefits that recognize our employees’ contributions to our customers and our communities,” said NS President and CEO Mark R. George. “We would like to congratulate the leadership of BMWED for their support in reaching this critical milestone well ahead of the next round of bargaining.”
