The National Railway Labor Conference said it has reached tentative collective bargaining agreements with four additional unions this week: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the Transportation Communications International Union. The deals were struck after a Presidential Emergency Board made settlement recommendations earlier this month.
In September it had reached an agreement with the United Transportation Union and its Yardmasters Department.
The agreements cover wages, benefits, and other issues. Details were not released pending ratification votes by union members.
As mandated by the Railway Labor Act, the carriers and seven remaining unions are in a 30-day “cooling off” period to negotiate voluntary settlements, which would avert any potential disruptions to rail service. During this period, which ends Dec. 6, strikes are not permitted.
NRLC, through its National Carriers’ Conference Committee represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions, which represent 132,000 employees.
