The ratification brings the current bargaining round to a close; the unions representing 132,000 freight rail workers all have reached voluntary agreements with the railroads.

“The completion of this final agreement underscores the continuing vitality of national collective bargaining in our industry and the effectiveness of the Railway Labor Act processes in helping the parties reach voluntary agreements,” said A. Kenneth Gradia, chairman of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), the railroads’ bargaining representative.

“We are grateful to the members and staff of the National Mediation Board, as well as the members of Presidential Emergency Board No. 243, who helped the parties resolve their differences peacefully. These agreements are a vital step in ensuring that we will continue to work together to help drive America’s economic growth in the years ahead.”

The NCCC represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions.

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Railroads Now Have Agreements with All 13 Unions in National Bargaining

WASHINGTON (Feb. 2, 2012) – The nation’s major freight railroads today reached a tentative agreement with the last unsettled union, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE), which represents more than 25,000 employees in the current round of national bargaining. The deal follows contract ratifications announced earlier today by members of the American Train Dispatchers Association and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.

The railroads have now reached agreements with all 13 of the rail unions in national bargaining; 12 of those agreements have been ratified. The BMWE agreement eliminates the threat of a national rail strike on Feb. 8.

“These agreements demonstrate that voluntary bargaining continues to work in the rail industry,” said A. Kenneth Gradia, chairman of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), the railroads’ bargaining representative. “The carriers and the unions, with the critical support of the National Mediation Board, have resolved their differences, ensuring they will continue to work together to help drive America’s economic growth today and in the future.”

The NCCC represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions.

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WASHINGTON (Feb. 2, 2012) – Members of the American Train Dispatchers Association and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen have ratified new contracts with the nation’s largest freight railroads. The unions, which together represent approximately 8,600 employees in this bargaining round, began negotiations with the railroads’ bargaining representative, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), in January 2010.

The 12 ratified agreements cover more than 107,000 employees, or more than 80 percent of all employees covered in the current round of national bargaining. The railroads are making every effort to reach an agreement with the last union, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, before the current “cooling off” period ends on Feb. 8.

The NCCC represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions.

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WASHINGTON (January 17, 2012) – Members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, Iron Ship Builders, Forgers and Helpers; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; and the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association have ratified new contracts with the nation’s largest freight railroads. The unions, which together represent approximately 9,000 employees in this bargaining round, began negotiations with the railroads’ bargaining representative, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), in January 2010.

“We’re pleased that these three unions, like the five before them, have ratified their agreements, which implement the balanced terms recommended by the Presidential Emergency Board after carefully weighing the parties’ positions,” said A. Kenneth Gradia, Chairman of the NCCC.

The railroads now have ratified agreements with 10 of the 13 unions in national bargaining, representing nearly 100,000 employees. Two other unions have reached tentative agreements that are still in the ratification process. The only union without a settlement, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE), has agreed with the railroads to extend the “cooling off” period until February 8, 2012, eliminating the immediate threat of a national rail strike. The railroads are making every effort to reach an agreement with the BMWE by February 8.

The NCCC represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions.

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The agreements implemented recommendations made by Presidential Emergency Board No. 243 (PEB 243), which President Obama appointed in October to help resolve the disputes between the railroads and 11 unions. The agreements bring the number of ratified contracts to seven, representing nearly 90,000 employees or about 68% of those in national handling. The other four ratified contracts are with the United Transportation Union, its Yardmasters Department, the Transportation Communications Union/IAM and the Brotherhood Railway Carmen-Division TCU/IAM.

Five other unions have reached tentative agreements that are awaiting member ratification. The only union without a settlement, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE), has agreed with the railroads to extend the “cooling off” period until February 8, 2012, eliminating the immediate threat of a national rail strike. The railroads are making every effort to reach an agreement with the BMWE by February 8.

The NCCC represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions.

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The agreements implemented recommendations made by Presidential Emergency Board No. 243 (PEB 243), which President Obama appointed in October to help resolve the disputes between the railroads and 11 unions. The agreements are the first to be ratified since PEB 243 was appointed and the third and fourth to be ratified in this bargaining round; the first two were with the United Transportation Union and its Yardmasters Department.

Eight other unions have reached tentative agreements that are awaiting member ratification. The only union without a settlement, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE), has agreed with the railroads to extend the “cooling off” period until February 8, 2012, eliminating the immediate threat of a national rail strike. The railroads are making every effort to reach an agreement with the BMWE by February 8.

The NCCC represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions.

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WASHINGTON (December 1, 2011) – The nation’s major freight railroads today reached tentative agreements with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the American Train Dispatchers Association, which together represent about 26,500 employees in collective bargaining. The last remaining union without a settlement, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE), has agreed with the railroads to extend the “cooling off” period until Feb. 8, 2012, eliminating the immediate threat of a national rail strike.

“We’re pleased that we have now settled with 12 of the 13 unions in this bargaining round. Everyone wins when we reach voluntary agreements,” said A. Kenneth Gradia, Chairman of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), the railroads’ bargaining representative. “In a tough economy, these agreements offer a terrific deal for rail employees. They lock in well-above market wage increases of more than 20 percent over six years, far exceeding recent union settlements in other industries.”

The NCCC represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions.

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WASHINGTON (Nov. 29, 2011) — The nation’s freight railroads have not reached agreements with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the American Train Dispatchers Association to extend the current “cooling off” period. The railroads’ proposed extension – which a third union, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, accepted – was contingent upon the acceptance by all three unions. Absent an extensionof the “cooling off” period or tentative settlement agreements, these unions and the railroads will be free under the Railway Labor Act to exercise “self-help” at 12:01AM on Dec. 6.

“The railroads have made and will continue to make every effort to reach agreements with the remaining three unions. During the busiest shipping and travel period of the year, a nationwide disruption of rail service would deal a crushing blow to our nation’s economy, potentially costing our country $2 billion a day,” said A. Kenneth Gradia, Chairman of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), the railroads’ bargaining representative.

“The Presidential Emergency Board appointed by President Obama to help avert such an outcome made recommendations for the resolution of these disputes. The railroads – and eight other unions – have agreed to implement these settlement terms, which reflect the Board’s careful consideration of both sides’ arguments. We urge the remaining unions to reach agreements with the railroads before December 6. ”

The freight railroads have reached settlements with 10 of the 13 rail unions covering more than 60 percent of the 132,000 employees in the current round of bargaining.

The NCCC represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions.

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]]> http://www.raillaborfacts.org/2011/11/railroads-unions-fail-to-reach-agreement-on-extension-of-cooling-off-period/feed/ 0 http://www.raillaborfacts.org/2011/11/railroads-agree-to-extend-cooling-off-period-if-three-unsettled-unions-agree/ http://www.raillaborfacts.org/2011/11/railroads-agree-to-extend-cooling-off-period-if-three-unsettled-unions-agree/#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:30:58 +0000 NRLC http://stage.raillaborfacts.org/?p=909

Extension Would Avert National Rail Strike During Busy Holiday Shipping, Travel Period

WASHINGTON (Nov. 23, 2011) — The nation’s major freight railroads announced today they would join in an agreement with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes to extend negotiations beyond a “cooling off” period set to expire Dec. 6. The extension agreement is contingent upon similar agreements being reached with the American Train Dispatchers Association and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the two other unions that have not yet reached settlements with the railroads. All three agreements must be reached by November 29. Without securing such agreements with each of the three unions, there would be a continuing threat of a strike or other service disruptions after the current “cooling off” period expires.

The freight railroads have reached settlements with 10 of the 13 rail unions covering more than 60 percent of the 132,000 employees in the current round of bargaining and including eight unions that have agreed to implement settlement recommendations made by a Presidential Emergency Board on Nov. 5.

A. Kenneth Gradia, Chairman of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), the railroads’ bargaining representative, said the carriers would agree to the negotiation extension to “maximize the chances of voluntary agreements.  It is critical to the national interest to make every reasonable effort to avoid the threatened service disruption during the busy holiday shipping season and potentially cost the U.S. economy $2 billion a day.”

Without an extension, the unions and the railroads would be free under the Railway Labor Act to exercise “self-help” such as a strike or lockout on Dec. 6.  The agreements would extend the “cooling off” period until Feb. 8.

The NCCC represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions.

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Ten of 13 Unions, Representing More Than 80,000 Employees, Have Now Reached Voluntary Settlements

WASHINGTON (November 17, 2011) — The nation’s major freight railroads reached tentative collective bargaining agreements with four additional unions representing more than 11,000 employees: the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, Iron Ship Builders, Forgers and Helpers; the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association; the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers; and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.

The railroads now have a total of 10 agreements covering more than 60% of the 132,000 employees in this bargaining round. The other unions which have reached agreements include the United Transportation Union and its Yardmasters Department, the Brotherhood Railway Carmen, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the Transportation Communications International Union, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

All of the tentative agreements implement the recommendations laid out by a Presidential Emergency Board appointed by President Obama. Details are not being released pending ratification votes by union members.

Only three unions have not reached voluntary settlements. The railroads are making every effort to reach settlements with these unions to ensure there are no disruptions to rail service. As mandated by the Railway Labor Act, the carriers and remaining unions are in a 30-day “cooling off” period. During this period, which ends December 6, strikes are not permitted.

The NCCC represents more than 30 railroads, including BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific in national bargaining with the 13 major rail unions.

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