“This round of bargaining will stand as one of the most successful in freight rail history — not just for the results it delivered, but for how they were achieved,” said Jeff Rodgers, chairman of the National Railway Labor Conference and the NCCC. “All parties chose a path of collaboration, and every railroader covered by these agreements is better off for it.”
Historic Bargaining Round Concludes
The 2025 round of national handling was the fastest in decades, closing in only 18 months. The prior four rounds averaged more than three years. The 2025 round also is notable because all 12 unions – ATDA, BLET, BMWED, BRC, BRS, IAM, IBB, IBEW, NCFO, SMART-MD, SMART-TD, and TCU – reached and ratified agreements without resort to a Presidential Emergency Board, interest arbitration, or emergency legislation for the first time since the 2005 round.
The progress in this round reflects the strength of an industry-wide pattern that took hold in local and national agreements resulting from collaborative discussions beginning even before Section 6 notices were served. The emergence of a strong pattern early in the round accelerated the typical bargaining timeline, ensuring employees don’t have to wait years to see gains from new agreements and establishing stability for the industry.
Gains for Freight Rail Workers
The 18.8% wage increase in the pattern agreements builds on the historic 24% wage increase from the 2022 bargaining round. Together, they represent a nearly 50% (compounded) wage increase for covered employees between 2020 and 2029. Under these agreements, average annual wages will rise to approximately $135,000 and average total compensation will increase to $190,000, cementing freight railroading as one of the strongest careers in American industry. Freight rail employees also will maintain access to world-class health and welfare benefits with no increase to the employee contribution rate and have access to more paid vacation time earlier in their careers.
About the National Railway Labor Conference
The National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) is an association representing all U.S. Class I freight railroads — and many smaller freight and passenger lines. Through its NCCC, the NRLC leads national negotiations with the 12 major rail labor organizations.
