3 of 12 rail unions announce tentative deal with 24% raises

[Omaha Steve]

FILE - A Norfolk Southern freight train passes a train on a siding as it approaches a crossing in Homestead, Pa., Wednesday, April 27, 2022. Three of the 12 unions negotiating with the nation's biggest freight railroads reached a tentative deal, Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, which will deliver 24% raises in line with what a special presidential panel of arbitrators recommended earlier this month to resolve the stalemate before a strike could happen. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)


By JOSH FUNK 53 minutes ago

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Three of the 12 unions negotiating with the nation’s biggest freight railroads have reached a tentative deal which will deliver 24% pay raises, in line with what a special presidential panel of arbitrators recommended earlier this month to resolve the stalemate before a strike could happen.

The tentative five-year deal announced Monday covers more than 15,000 members of the International Association of Machinists, the Transportation Communications Union and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen unions.

But the two biggest rail unions that represent engineers and conductors said over the weekend they still haven’t been able to reach a deal their members would accept.

The railroads have until mid-September to reach agreements with all their unions before federal law would allow them to go on strike. If it gets to that point, however, Congress is expected to step in to keep the trains moving because a rail strike could be devastating to the economy. Lawmakers could impose terms on both sides or order arbitration.

FULL story: https://apnews.com/article/business-government-and-politics-497a373594515a27e7435cdf97df7a41