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Newsroom

Welcome to the NRLC newsroom. Here you’ll find the latest updates and media resources. Sign up for our newsletter to receive these updates via email.

NCCC, IAM Announce National Tentative Agreement

Arlington, Va. (March 31, 2025) – The National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) today announced it has reached a national tentative agreement with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). The agreement, subject to [...]

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NCCC, IBB Announce National Tentative Agreement

Arlington, Va. (March 26, 2025) – The National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) today announced it has reached a national tentative agreement with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB). The agreement, which is subject to member [...]

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IBEW Members Vote to Ratify National Agreement with NCCC

Arlington, Va. (March 25, 2025) – The National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) today announced that members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have voted to ratify a national collective bargaining agreement. This ratified [...]

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BMWED Members Vote to Ratify National Agreement with NCCC

Arlington, Va. (March 20, 2025) – The National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) today announced that members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED-IBT)—the industry’s second-largest labor [...]

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NCCC Announces National Tentative Agreement with IBEW

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 [...]

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NCCC, BMWED Announce National Tentative Agreement

Arlington, Va. (Jan. 23, 2025) – Today, the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) of the Teamsters Rail Conference – the industry’s second largest union – [...]

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Media Facts

Get the latest facts and figures about jobs, employment, and bargaining in the freight rail industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about the freight rail industry or our collective bargaining process?

Who are the parties involved in national railroad bargaining?

The current national collective bargaining agreements between freight rail carriers and rail unions can reopen for negotiation starting in November 2024. At that time, “Section 6 notices” will be exchanged and bargaining will begin.

National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) members maintain open lines of communication with their freight rail union counterparts. As recent events have demonstrated, these discussions can provide opportunities to resolve priority issues on mutually agreeable terms. We’re encouraged by the early progress to reach agreements, some of which have been ratified, and support our members’ efforts to invest in good freight rail jobs while maintaining the industry’s ability to compete in the future.

Carriers and unions that have reached ratified agreements will not need to participate in the upcoming bargaining round. The early agreements also do not change the timeline for national bargaining.

The most recent round of bargaining included more than 30 railroads represented by the National Carriers’ Conference Committee and 12 rail unions:

  • International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Div. (SMART-TD & SMART-TD-YDM)
  • Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE)
  • Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (BLET)
  • Brotherhood Railway Carmen (BRC)
  • Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS)
  • International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
  • Transportation Communications International Union (TCU)
  • National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCFO)
  • American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA)
  • International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART)
  • International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, Iron Ship Builders, Forgers and Helpers (IBB)

The timing of the process can vary. Sometimes agreements are reached quickly, and at other times, negotiations have proceeded through each part of the RLA process. In the next round of negotiations, we want to reach timely, voluntary agreements that are beneficial for all stakeholders.