NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Railway Co. and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen last month reached a tentative new agreement, which extends through 2014 and continues to link engineers’ compensation to Norfolk Southern’s performance.
The agreement is subject to ratification by employees.
The agreement, which covers approximately 5,100 locomotive engineers, continues to provide an annual bonus opportunity based on the same performance criteria used to determine management bonuses. The BLET has participated in Norfolk Southern’s bonus program since 1996.
Other highlights of the new agreement include general wage increases, improved incentive pay for weekend and holiday work, increased 401(k) matching contributions, and improvements to vacation arrangements that are coupled with new qualifying requirements that will improve engineers’ availability for work.
The agreement also includes work rule changes defining engineers’ job responsibilities and rules that will permit more efficient operations.
BLET General Chairmen Ray Wallace, Willard Knight and Cole Davis expressed support for the agreement, which they said will continue to prove beneficial to their members.
NS Executive Vice President Administration John Rathbone and Vice President Labor Relations Mark MacMahon indicated that the agreement is a continuation of the collaborative partnership between NS and the BLET and that it will facilitate efforts to improve operating efficiency and
customer service.
— PRNewswire-FirstCall
