Rail carriers, 3 labor unions reach contract agreements

The National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) today announced it reached a tentative agreement with the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCFO). 

The tentative pact marks the fourth national agreement achieved this month, following similar agreements with the Transportation Communications Union, the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers–Mechanical Department, NCCC officials said in a press release. 

The NCCC reached these national agreements, which are subject to member ratification on the railroads where they apply, on behalf of represented railroads that had not previously reached local agreements with these unions.

"With four tentative agreements within the first 20 days of the national bargaining round, we’re seeing strong momentum in our national bargaining efforts,” said Jeff Rodgers, chairman of the National Railway Labor Conference and the NCCC. “The NCCC’s tentative agreement with NFCO follows the pattern established by early local agreements between carriers and unions and reflects the industry’s commitment to promptly addressing employee priorities.” 

Meanwhile, two rail labor unions announced recent action on their contract negotiations. 

Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) who work for the Florida, Gulf & Atlantic Railway (FG&A) have ratified their first-ever contract. Prior to joining the BLET, the rail workers at the FG&A were not represented by a union.

Ratified on Nov. 21, the five-year contract covers a seniority roster with prior rights protections; grievance procedures and union protection from discipline; guaranteed extra boards with rest days; a process to promote engineers; a formal training process; paid personal time off; and other work rule and safety improvements BLET officials said in a weekly newsletter.

Additionally, the contract provides general wage increases of 17% (18.3% compounded) and establishes the ability for all train and engine employees to earn overtime wages.

Also last week, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division-International announced in a press release that represented employees of the Colorado & Wyoming Railway have ratified a five-year collective bargaining agreement. The C&W Railway is owned by parent company Evraz, which operates the Rocky Mountain Steel rail rolling mill in Pueblo.

The agreement includes improvements to the general wage packages, vacation, bereavement leave, personal leave and holidays while maintaining status quo on health care, profit sharing and 401(k) that are specific to that agreement.