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10/13/2022
Members of the SMART Railroad, Mechanical and Engineering Department (SMART MD) voted to ratify a tentative agreement with the nation's major freight railroads, the union and National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) announced yesterday.
The vote was passed with a 54% margin in favor of the negotiated contract, SMART MD officials said in a press release.
The ratified contract includes "historic" wage increases, five annual service recognition payments, an additional paid day off and enhanced health care benefits. Members will immediately receive a 13.5% wage increase, as well as retroactive pay and $3,000 in service recognition payments within 60 days, union officials said.
"It was up to our members to decide whether to accept this agreement, and the members have made the decision to ratify a contract with the highest wage increases we have ever seen in national freight-rail bargaining," said Joseph Sellers Jr., general president of SMART.
"However, we hear the concerns of our members who may be disappointed in the outcome of this vote, and I promise that we will never stop fighting to ensure that they receive the wages, benefits and working conditions that they deserve for keeping the American economy running," he added.
Tentative agreements between six other unions and the NCCC have yet to be ratified. The NCCC represents 30 U.S. freight railroads in collective bargaining.