What happens next in the national bargaining process if the NCCC cannot reach a voluntary agreement with the remaining unions?
National bargaining continues between NCCC and the remaining unions that have not yet reached agreements. Once tentative agreements are reached, each union will hold a member ratification vote. If direct bargaining is not successful, negotiations enter mediation. The National Mediation Board (NMB) assumes control of the schedule, location and format of negotiations. The NMB’s goal […]
What are the key terms included in the pattern bargaining agreements reached so far?
Key highlights of these pattern agreements include: Wage increases of 18.8% over five years. Based on current inflation projections, this increase will translate to real wage growth for covered railroaders and pay certainty for the life of the contract. Enhancements to world-class health and welfare benefits with no increase to the employee contribution rate. In 2025, health care premiums […]
What progress has been made on sick leave since the last round of bargaining?
Since the last round of national bargaining concluded in December 2022, America’s Class I freight railroads have continued collaborating with unions at the local level and reached more than 50 local agreements to provide individual paid sick days for employees who did not previously have them. Today, more than 97% of craft employees at NCCC […]
Are wage increases included in the pattern agreements?
Yes. Class I railroad employees have long been among the highest-paid workers across U.S. industries. The 2022 national agreements resulted in a historic 24% wage increase over five years (2020–2024). Today, most Class I rail employees earn between $90,000 to $140,000 in annual wages (depending on their craft), with an average annual wage of $111,000. […]
How long does the average employee work in the railroad industry?
Railroading has presented an opportunity for generations of Americans to turn a job into a lifelong career. The median tenure in the freight rail industry is three times longer than the private sector, with unionized rail employees having a median tenure of more than 13 years. By comparison, the median tenure for private sector workers […]
