Freight rail workers reach tentative deal after 3 years of talks

Freight rail workers reach tentative deal after 3 years of talks    The union representing nearly 7,800 railroad machinists Thursday announced it had reached a tentative labor agreement with major U.S. freight railroads.
   The deal, if approved by union membership, would cap nearly three years of negotiations between the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the railroads' National Carriers Conference Committee. The union began negotiations in November 2004 and the membership's last contract expired at the start of 2005.
   The IAM negotiated as part of a union coalition representing 36,000 railroad machinists, carmen, clerks and electricians and included the Transportation Communications Union and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Transport Workers Union. Each union will ratify the agreement independently. The NCCC represents major U.S. freight rail carriers, including CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and Union Pacific.
   Officials for the IAM are recommending ratification of the tentative agreement.
   If approved the contract would be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2005.
   Details of the new agreements will be released after they are sent to members for review. Ratification voting is expected to be completed by mid-September 2007.