The contract, effective July 1, 2025, also includes enhanced dental, and vision benefits and establishes an employee-only health plan. Improved vacation benefits will provide 15 paid days off for workers with six years or more seniority, 20 days off for workers with 15 years or more seniority, and 25 days off for workers with 23 years or more seniority.
“This is a big win for TWU railroad workers,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “This new contract locks in real wage increases and ensures that hardworking TWU members will be able to better provide for their families with increased pay and benefits.”
Conrail workers represented by the TWU play a critical role in inspecting and repairing railcars, the union noted. By the end of the five-year contract, TWU rail workers at Conrail will make more than $48 an hour and more $100,000 a year in base pay, not including potential overtime pay.
“This ratified contract ensures significant wage increases without needing to resort to an extremely long and politically fraught mediation process,” said TWU Rail Division Director John Feltz. “Our hardworking Conrail Members in Detroit, Philadelphia, and New Jersey now have the security of a five-year deal along with better benefits.”
The TWU says it will continue to negotiate for paid sick days at the local level with Conrail, which currently operates three rail networks in the Detroit area, Philadelphia/South Jersey area, and North Jersey with the shared assets of CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS).
