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International Association of Machinists (IAM) members recently ratified a national agreement with the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC). The union represents about 7,000 rail employees.

The IAM is the 13th and final rail labor union to ratify a new national agreement with the NCCC — which represents more than 30 U.S. railroads — ending the current round of bargaining.

The NCCC and rail labor unions will begin the next round of bargaining in November 2009, with all agreements open for renewal as of Jan. 1, 2010.

Meanwhile, 15 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) members employed at the Connecticut Southern Railroad have unanimously ratified a new collective bargaining agreement — the first contract for the formerly non-union workforce, which joined the BLET in February.

The 39-month agreement includes a 10 percent general wage increase over the pact's first 27 months and provides other benefits.

Owned by RailAmerica Inc., the 78-mile Connecticut Southern operates between Springfield, Hartford and New Haven, Conn., and interchanges with CSX Transportation.