IBEW, rail carriers reach tentative labor agreement

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has reached a new five-year tentative collective bargaining agreement with the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC), the union announced yesterday.

The agreement has terms similar to ones ratified with BNSF Railway Co. and CSX last month, IBEW officials said in a press release.

Benefits include an 18.77% compound wage increase over the next five years, changes to vacation benefits allowing workers to accrue vacation time earlier, and the option to carry-over up to four unused paid sick days per year, to a maximum of 20 days. Employees will also be able to cash out unused sick days 100% when they leave service.

Although the parties were unable to reach an agreement on additional sick leave benefits for IBEW members on the Conrail, the HB and the St. Louis Terminal Rail, the NCCC agreed to a side letter that allows for parties to meet again for discussion following the ratification.

The IBEW represents 3,500 workers with the freight carriers.