News
12/18/2008 - Freight Railroads Name New Chief Labor Negotiator
The nation's major freight railroads today announced the appointment of A. Kenneth Gradia as chairman of the National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC). He will succeed Robert F. Allen, who is stepping down after 15 years as the railroads' chief negotiator.
10/02/2008 - IAM Ratifies Accord with Freight Railroads, Successfully Concluding Current Bargaining Round
Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) have approved a new agreement with the nation's major freight railroads, bringing the current bargaining round to a close.
Negotiations Overview
In October 2008, the nation's major freight railroads successfully concluded the national bargaining round that began in November 2004. The railroads have reached final agreements with all 13 major rail unions, which represent some 145,000 employees of Class 1 railroads.
The Real Story: Railroads & the Economy
America's freight railroads - a $55 billion industry - are a vital link in the national economy, connecting producers with manufacturers and distributors at home and abroad, via a network of more than 140,000 route-miles that serve every major U.S. port and metropolitan area.
Since 1981, average rail rates have dropped by half, resulting in real savings for consumers. In fact, if all freight moving by rail were shifted to truck, consumers would see their costs jump by almost $70 billion a year, according to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officers (AASHTO).
