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On July 1, United Transportation Union (UTU) officers signed a new national agreement — just the second national agreement ratified by UTU members in the union's 39-year history.

Retroactive to Jan. 1, 2005, and expiring Dec. 31, 2009, the contract calls for a 17 percent general wage increase, retroactive pay, a cap on health care contributions and no work rule changes. The pact covers about 46,000 conductors, brakemen, engineers, firemen, hostlers, switchmen and yardmen.

The UTU and National Carriers' Conference Committee — which bargains for more than 30 U.S. railroads, including the Class Is — negotiated for more than 38 months before reaching a tentative agreement in January.