UTU, NCCC near new five-year accord

The United Transportation Union Friday said a tentative new five-year national rail agreement covering wages, benefits and working conditions has been reached between the UTU and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC). The tentative agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010, and extends through Dec. 31, 2014.

The pact, which amends the existing national agreement, must be ratified by each affected UTU craft under the craft-autonomy provisions of the UTU Constitution. The existing national agreement remains in force under provisions of the Railway Labor Act. Details of tentative agreement have not been made public; a formal presentation to the Association of UTU General Chairpersons must be made, prior to a ratification vote by members.

Railroads represented by the NCCC include BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, and many smaller railroads, UTU said. Some 38,000 UTU members are affected by the tentative new agreement.

UTU International President Mike Futhey thanked his negotiating team for “their hard work and long hours. I am confident our general chairpersons will react positively when the details of this agreement are presented to them.”