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The National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) is an association of all U.S. Class I freight railroads and many smaller freight and passenger lines.
Through its National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), the NRLC represents most of its members in national (multi-employer) negotiations with the twelve major rail labor organizations. The last round, which ended in 2026, covered more than 30 railroads and more than 100,000 employees.
The NCCC is chaired by the Chairman of the NRLC and includes the senior labor relations executives of following railroads: BNSF Railway Company, CSX Transportation, Inc., Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Union Pacific Railroad and the U.S. railroads owned directly or indirectly by Canadian National.
In addition to national bargaining, the NRLC represents the railroads in the administration of the multi-billion dollar industry-wide health and welfare plans for rail employees; on rail labor issues before federal agencies, congressional committees and the courts; and in labor arbitration cases. It also provides training programs for rail management.
The NRLC was formed in 1963 when three regional railroad conferences formed a single, nationwide entity. The organization has been based in the Washington, D.C. area since 1968.
A collaborative process delivers a strong, efficient outcome for railroads, unions, and employees Arlington,...
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Once ratified, NCCC-BRS deal will close out the current national bargaining round Arlington, Va. (June...
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In the one year since national bargaining opened, eleven unions have ratified twelve national agreements...
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2025 bargaining round has seen historic collaboration between freight rail carriers and the unions Arlington,...
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Get the latest facts and figures about jobs, employment, and bargaining in the freight rail industry.
Freight rail jobs offer an unmatched blend of competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities. Many people turn their freight rail jobs into careers and some freight rail families stay with the industry for generations.
The 18.8% wage increase in the most recent pattern bargaining agreements builds on the historic 24% wage increase from the 2022 bargaining round. Taken together, these wage increases represent a nearly 50% (compounded) wage increase for covered employees between 2020 and 2029. Under these agreements, average annual wages will rise to $135,000 and average total compensation will increase to $190,000.
Rail employees’ total compensation packages include platinum-level health care benefits and a secure railroad retirement benefit that provides nearly twice as much retirement income as the average Social Security payment. Rail employees can cover their entire family for about $308 a month, far less than the more than $500 monthly average cost of employer-provided family coverage reported in the most recent Kaiser Family Foundation employee benefits survey.
Freight railroads also offer hundreds of career paths and opportunities for everyone – from high school graduates to those with professional degrees. Railroading often runs in the family – many employees have generations of industry veterans in their families and are pursuing their own lifelong railroading careers with the average tenure being at least twice that of comparable industries and occupations, a reflection of the rewarding opportunities railroad careers provide.
