IAM workers ratify national labor agreement with major freight roads

A seventh rail labor union has ratified the tentative national collective bargaining agreement recently reached with the major U.S. railroads.

Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) approved the contract, the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC) — which represents the nation’s major freight railroads in collective bargaining — announced Friday.

About 5,000 rail workers are IAM members. The agreement was ratified by 52% of about 4,900 voting members.

Like the agreements ratified by six other rail unions, the IAM pact implements the recommendations of a Presidential Emergency Board, including the largest rail industry wage package in nearly five decades, NCCC officials said in a press release. It also maintains rail employees’ health benefits and adds an additional day of paid time off for IAM-represented workers.

An initial ratification attempt at IAM failed last month. The leaders of several unions believe the tentative national agreement doesn't properly address work-life balance issues for employees.

“Our union recognizes that the agreement wasn’t accepted overwhelmingly, so our team will continue conversing with our members at our rail yards across the nation. This agreement is the first step in addressing some of the issues in our industry,” IAM leaders said in a statement. “Our fight was able to shine a light on the work-life balance issues as well as the lack of proper paid sick leave. Our union will continue to amplify the deficiencies in the carriers’ sick leave and attendance policies.

Two unions — the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) and the Brotherhood of Railway Signalmen — earlier this year failed to ratify agreements and currently don’t have a tentative agreement pending ratification, NCCC officials said. The BMWED has the earliest strike deadline and could initiate a work stoppage as early as Nov. 19, they added.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and SMART-Transportation Division, the two largest rail labor unions, both plan to announce ratification vote results later this month. The voting process for both unions concludes on Nov. 20.