Raillaborfacts.org, which is published by the National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC), provides background information on collective bargaining in the railroad industry, explanations of the key issues at stake in the current bargaining round and up-to-date news on the negotiations.

The 2010 round of collective bargaining began in the midst of the most challenging economic environment the railroad industry has faced in decades. In addition to grappling with the downturn, railroads also must pay billions for new safety technology mandated by Congress and deal with rapidly rising health care costs. The railroads and their employees must work together to ensure the industry weathers the current economic storm and continues to prosper in the future. Most pressing is the need to control health care costs, which are expected to grow by $1 billion annually by 2014 absent any changes, while also preserving a competitive wage-and-benefit package. Right now, rail employees are among the nation’s most highly compensated workers. Read More >