Norfolk Southern, signalmen reach 5-year labor pact

Norfolk Southern Railway today announced that it has reached a five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS).

NS now has reached ratified agreements with 12 of its 13 unions. A tentative agreement is pending ratification by the final remaining union, according to an NS press release. The agreement with BRS covers nearly 970 union members across the Class I's network.

The pact calls for an 18.8% compounded wage increase over the next five years. It also offers more paid vacation earlier in members' career and enhances health and welfare benefits. In addition, the agreement call for local work-rule enhancements, such as improved travel-expense reimbursement and more flexible scheduling for signal construction.

"BRS and NS have established a positive working relationship through the collective efforts of our safety collaboration programs," said BRS President Michael Baldwin. "We've built on this relationship to drive progress at the bargaining table, allowing the parties to reach wage, health care and work rule changes that address the items most important to our members."