NCCC, BMWED extend contract cooling-off period into December

The National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) and Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) yesterday agreed to extend their contract bargaining cooling-off period from Nov. 19 to at least Dec. 4.

The extension eliminates the threat of a near-term freight-rail service disruption due to a BMWED job action, NCCC officials said in a press release. The union previously rejected a tentative agreement with the committee, which represents the nation’s major freight railroads in contract negotiations.

The period is subject to further extension to maintain alignment, if necessary, with other labor organizations, NCCC officials said.

“The railroads will remain engaged with the BMWED throughout the extended cooling-off period and will continue to seek an agreement based on the framework recommended by Presidential Emergency Board 250,” they said. “Three unions have open ratification votes, and the cooling-off period extension will allow the members of these unions to complete their voting without disruption from the threat of a strike.”

To date, seven unions have ratified agreements with the NCCC and three other ratification votes are pending.  As a result of the agreement, the two largest rail labor unions — the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen and SMART-Transportation Division — can complete their ratification votes without any potential work stoppage, said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies in a statement.

“This agreement affords all unionized employees the opportunity to vote on their agreements free of a looming strike threat,” he said. “Our goal remains the same — successfully completing this round of bargaining.”

The current bargaining round involves more than 30 railroads and about 115,000 rail employees. An association of all U.S. Class Is and many smaller freight and passenger railroads, the National Railway Labor Conference governs the NCCC.