Agreements come months before next collective bargaining
round, giving covered employees early assurances on significant
future improvements to pay, health care, and vacation
ATLANTA, Aug. 23,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation
(NYSE: NSC), in partnership with BNSF Railway, has reached
tentative, five-year collective bargaining agreements with the
Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division/TCU (BRC), the International
Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers -
Mechanical Department (SMART-MD), and the Transportation
Communications Union/IAM (TCU). Norfolk Southern also has reached
tentative agreements with multiple General Committees for the
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and
Transportation Workers - Transportation Division (SMART-TD).
The agreements, which are subject to ratification, cover
approximately 30% of Norfolk Southern's union workforce and come
four months before the opening of the next collective bargaining
round, giving covered employees unprecedented certainty about
upcoming enhancements to their pay, health care, and vacation.
"Our craft railroaders are the heart and soul of Norfolk
Southern, and we are committed to supporting our colleagues who
power our network every day," said Alan H.
Shaw, Norfolk Southern president and CEO. "I want to thank
the labor leaders who share our commitment to our craft colleagues
and helped us reach this deal early, ensuring peace of mind with
clear knowledge about upcoming pay, healthcare and vacation
improvements. We look forward to reaching similar agreements with
the rest of the unions at Norfolk Southern."
The tentative agreements provide a 3.5-percent average wage
increase per year over the next five years. They also offer
railroaders more vacation earlier in their career and make
meaningful enhancements to an already robust suite of health care
benefits.
"I appreciate Norfolk Southern CEO Alan
Shaw stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing,"
said Artie Maratea, National
President TCU. "Ensuring our members and Norfolk Southern front
line employees have solid agreements in a timely manner is a huge
step in the right direction and we look forward to continuing to
work together in the future."
"BRC is proud to reach this agreement with Norfolk Southern,"
said Don Grissom, General President
BRC. "Alan and his team worked hard and we appreciate their
commitment to make this a reality. This agreement proves that we
can make great progress working together for our members."
"The tentative agreements provide real wage increases,
substantial improvements to paid time off that the railroads have
historically fought us on, improvements to health and welfare
benefits with an added benefit option for those that want it," said
SMART Directing General Chairperson, John
McCloskey. "These tentative agreements, if ratified, take
away the uncertainty of when the next round of national
negotiations will be completed, and if and when annual pay
increases will be implemented."
"I am so proud of the progress we continue to make with
Alan Shaw and the Norfolk Southern
team as we partner to improve the lives of our members," said
Jeremy Ferguson, National President
SMART-TD. "Our members told us they wanted to be recognized for the
value of their contributions without going through another long and
protracted bargaining round. With these tentative agreements,
together we have honored that request, removing the delay and
rewarding Norfolk Southern employees with the pay and benefits they
deserve."
About Norfolk Southern
Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its
predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials
that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric
and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to
furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers
avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by
shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7
million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and
Norfolk Southern originates more automotive traffic than any other
Class I Railroad. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive
intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the
country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to
every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as major
ports in the Gulf of Mexico and
Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.
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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation