Labor Negotiations
National bargaining between railroads & labor unions
More than 30 railroads have been engaged in national bargaining with the rail unions since November 2004 through the National Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference. The 1926 Railway Labor Act (RLA) governs collective bargaining between railroads and labor organizations that represent railroad employees, ensuring that there are no disruptions to rail transportation because of labor disputes.
Railroad Fact
Railroad Facts Temporarily Unavailable.
Negotiations overview
The nation's major freight railroads have now reached final agreements with 12 unions representing nearly 95% of the 145,000 employees of Class I railroads covered in national bargaining that began in November 2004.
Current status
- 6/10/2008 - UTU Ratifies Accord with Freight Railroads
Members of the United Transportation Union (UTU) have approved a new national agreement with the nation's major freight railroads, joining eleven other unions that had previously reached final agreements on new contracts. - 1/24/2008 - Freight Railroads Reach Accord with UTU
The nation’s major freight railroads and the United Transportation Union (UTU) reached tentative agreement Wednesday on a new contractcovering wages, benefits and other issues. - 9/19/2007 - Four More Unions Ratify Accord with Freight Railroads
Members of four more unions have ratified new agreements with the nation's major railroads, joining seven other unions that have reached final agreements on new contracts. - 8/30/2007 - Train Dispatchers Ratify Accord with Freight Railroads
Members of the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) have ratified a new agreement with the nation's major railroads, joining eleven other unions that have reached final or tentative agreements on new contracts. - 7/17/07 - Five More Unions Reach Agreement with Freight Railroads
With the help of National Mediation Board Mediator Ernie DuBester, the nation's major freight railroads reached a tentative agreement Tuesday with five rail labor unions representing about 30,000 unionized employees. The agreements, which now go to members for ratification, would bring to 12 the number of unions that have reached agreements with the railroads. - 6/26/07 - Coalition Unions Ratify Accord with Freight Railroads
Members of six of the seven unions that represent approximately half of the unionized employees in the freight railroad industry have ratified new agreements with the nation's major railroads, setting a pattern for contract settlements with the unions still remaining in negotiations.
Labor unions
There are 13 labor unions that are currently in national bargaining with the National Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference.
Bargaining process
- Railroads and their organized employees engage in collective bargaining under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which was passed in 1926.
- The system created by the RLA, designed to avoid disruptions to rail transportation due to labor disputes, follows various steps including compulsory mediation, in an effort to encourage negotiated settlements.
