The agreement with ATDA, NCCC says, “reflects terms consistent with the pattern established by earlier local agreements and is subject to member ratification.”
“This agreement marks another step forward in our ongoing work to address employee priorities and strengthen the freight rail industry,” said National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) and NCCC Chairman Jeff Rodgers. “Our goal in these negotiations is to build on the industry’s core strengths: safe, high-paying jobs for employees, reliable service for customers, and ongoing reinvestment in infrastructure and innovation. The agreement with ATDA helps achieve these goals and builds on the pattern established by earlier agreements, laying the groundwork for further progress.”
According to NRLC, national bargaining has already seen significant progress following its opening with the exchange of Section 6 notices on Nov. 1, 2024. Building on the 24% wage increase from the 2022 bargaining round, the agreements reached over the last few months include:
- Increased pay by 18.8% over five years.
- Enhanced world-class health and welfare benefits with no increase to the employee contribution rate.
- Giving employees access to more paid vacation time earlier in their careers.
These agreements, NRLC says, already cover thousands of employees and serve as a pattern for ongoing national negotiations. A list of carriers and unions participating in national handling can be found here. Additional information about the bargaining round is available here.
Further Reading:
