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2/23/2023
The Surface Transportation Board yesterday said it welcomes the recent paid sick leave agreements that CSX and Union Pacific Railroad have negotiated with rail unions.
"These types of collaborative efforts to tackle quality-of-life issues should result in the further strengthening of our national rail network by promoting both retention of existing workers and providing incentives for potential new hires," STB members said in a press release.
Earlier this month, CSX reached agreements providing paid sick leave with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCFO). UP reached similar agreements with the BRC and NCFO.
The STB issued its statement before Norfolk Southern Railway announced it reached a paid sick leave agreement with the BMWED that will cover about 3,000 workers.
Paid sick leave and quality-of-life issues for rail workers were key points of contention in last year’s contract negotiations between the nation's major freight railroads and rail unions. In addition, rail labor leaders raised the topic at public hearings the STB held last year on rail service problems.