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American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) members recently ratified a Burlington Northern Santa Fe agreement by a two-to-one margin.

Taking effect Oct. 1, the contract resolves all wage and benefit issues raised during the 1999 national bargaining round, according to a prepared statement.

The pact provides dispatchers a lump sum payment and increases their daily pay rate from $234.95 to $258.85, and establishes health care cost sharing. To qualify for the lump sum payment, ADA members had to be employed as a dispatcher between July 2002 and August 2004, and BNSF had to make health and welfare contributions on the employee's behalf during the same 26-month period.