Arlington, VA (Jan. 30, 2024) – Today, the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) announced it has reached a national tentative agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). This agreement is the latest in a series of national pattern agreements between railroads and unions. The IBEW agreement is now subject to member ratification.
“We’re grateful for the close collaboration with our IBEW partners as we work to build a stronger future for freight rail employees and railroads,” said Jeff Rodgers, chairman of the NRLC and NCCC. “This continued progress shows that we can work together to invest in employees while supporting railroads’ long-term growth and stability.”
The IBEW tentative national agreement reflects terms consistent with the pattern established through more than 50 other local and national agreements, including five national contracts that have already been ratified. The terms of these pattern agreements include:
- Wage increases of 18.8% over five years. Based on current inflation projections, this will translate to real wage growth for covered railroaders with 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 will decrease to about $277/month, well below the national average of more than $500/month for employer-provided family coverage.
- Access to more paid vacation time for employees earlier in their careers.
About the National Bargaining Round
The national bargaining round began with the exchange of Section 6 notices on Nov. 1, 2024. Early local agreements between several rail carriers and unions set the stage for this progress, establishing a clear pattern that prioritizes employee needs while strengthening the freight rail industry’s ability to provide safe, reliable service.
Building on the historic 24% wage increase from the 2022 bargaining round, the terms of these pattern agreements are projected to increase wages for covered employees by nearly 50% (compounded) between 2020 and 2029.
A list of carriers and unions participating in national handling can be found here. Carriers that reached an early local agreement covering a particular craft do not participate in national bargaining with respect to that craft. Additional information about the bargaining round is available at RailNegotiations.com.
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.
