TCU, CSX Reach Local Agreement; BMWED-ID Ratifies New NICTD Agreement

TCU on Aug. 20 announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with CSX Transportation. The tentative agreement is a five-year term which “provides 17.5% in general wage increases (18.77% compounded), improves vacation agreement elements, secures improvements in health and welfare benefits while maintaining the current 15% monthly contribution and modifies local work rules currently in effect.”

According to the union, this is the largest wage increase received on CSX in any round of bargaining outside of a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) in more than 20 years and provides the first “meaningful improvements” to the National Vacation agreement in more than 50 years. The wage increase, TCU adds, also marks the first time its members will have a new agreement in place before the expiration of the current agreement with this tentative agreement containing a “me too” provision similar to the previous round.

“Our current contract with the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) is through the end of this year,” noted TCU, which began negotiating with the NCCC following a membership survey from local lodges with members in national bargaining. “The survey results were clear, our members wanted an agreement without waiting for years of unnecessary delay which has long been the standard in this industry,” the union said.

“It became obvious there was no path to reach an agreement in a timely manner with the NCCC, and negotiations would be at a standstill,” the union noted. TCU National President Maratea instructed representatives to engage with each of the individual carriers at the local level in an attempt to reach agreements. Bargaining locally, TCU says, would also allow the union the opportunity to address a number of carrier specific work rule issues, which are “often abandoned in national bargaining or when part of a larger coalition.”

“I cannot recall a time in my entire career when there has been a new contract in place before the expiration of the current contract with any of the freight carriers,” said Maratea. “Our members made it clear this needed to change. I am proud to let our members know we have met that goal and reached a tentative agreement that will provide real wage growth, improve vacation and improve our great health insurance benefits.  And we did it without years of unnecessary delay and stall tactics. This is a truly historic moment in negotiations with the freight railroads and I am proud that TCU is leading the way. I appreciate the hard work of our entire negotiating committee, and we look forward to getting the ratification process under way in the coming days.”

“While we hoped to be able to reach an agreement with the NCCC, that wasn’t the case,” added Maratea. “CSX did the right thing and stayed at the bargaining table and reached a fair agreement for our members. CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs promised he would do everything possible to reach a fair and timely agreement. He kept his word, and I appreciate that. The other carriers should take note and can be assured we are expecting timely agreements from every one of them as well.”

In related news, the Burlington System Division of the BMWED-ID on Aug. 19 announced that it has ratified a new agreement with NICTD in less than a week, with 100% voter turn-out, with 90% voting to ratify.

This tentative agreement was reached on Aug. 1, 2024—the day after the union’s last contract ended, which BMWED-ID says, “shows a commitment to timely bargaining on both sides of the table.”

“This is a huge victory for our NICTD brothers; we celebrate with them today and hope that this contract and negotiation timeline will set an example for others in the industry,” the union stated.

Highlights of the newly negotiated terms can be found below.