The nation's largest railroad operating union and a group representing the nation's leading railroads have reached a tentative five-year labor deal.
The United Transportation Union, which represents about a third of the nation's railroad workers, and the industry-representing National Carriers' Conference Committee, announced the deal Monday.
The UTU is the largest railroad operating union in North America with more than 600 locals, and all told, represents about 125,000 active and retired railroad, bus, mass transit and airline workers in the United States. The UTU is representing about 38,000 railroad employees in the negotiations, which began in January 2010.
The NCCC represent more than 30 railroads nationwide, including the West Coast Class I railroads BNSF and Union Pacific, as well as the other Class I railroads CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, and Norfolk Southern.
Terms of the tentative agreement have not been released pending a vote on the deal by the UTU members. If approved, the deal would apply retroactively to January 1, 2010.
Deals between the NCCC and two labor groups representing 11 other unions, remain in mediation.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
