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United Transportation Union (UTU)-represented mechanical supervisors employed at Conrail Shared Assets recently ratified a new contract by an overwhelming margin.

The workers are employed in the Detroit, Mich., and New Jersey areas for Conrail Shared Assets, which is 51 percent owned by Norfolk Southern Corp. and 49 percent owned by CSX Transportation.

The contract is essentially the same as UTU’s national rail contract, with a few minor adjustments for local conditions, said UTU International Vice President J.R. “Jim” Cumby in a statement posted on the union’s Web site.

Meanwhile, UTU members employed at the South Carolina Public Railways also ratified a new contract.

The pact calls for wage increases and other benefits that mirror the national rail agreement, according to the union. The contract covers engineers and conductors working at the railway, which is a division of the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

In other rail labor news, the governing bodies of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division’s (BMWED) Allied Federation and Southern Pacific Atlantic Federation recently finalized a merger.

The newly created federation will retain the Allied Federation name and represent more than 7,000 BMWED members employed at CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Union Pacific Railroad and a number of short lines. Members include maintenance-of-way workers who build, construct, inspect and maintain tracks, bridges, buildings and equipment.

Dennis Albers was elected to head the new federation as general chairman.