CSX has reached a tentative agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) for a new five-year contract. The agreement, which still requires ratification by union members, will affect around 3,400 locomotive engineers represented by BLET. The railroad operator stated that the new contract mirrors the wage increases and improvements to health and welfare benefits seen in its other union agreements.
Joe Hinrichs, the CEO of CSX, expressed that the agreement offers competitive pay and better healthcare for the locomotive engineers, alongside changes to work rules aimed at providing more predictable assignments and improving quality of life. CSX emphasized that these changes are designed to enhance the working conditions for its employees while maintaining a competitive compensation package.
The Jacksonville-based railroad operator has already ratified agreements covering 54% of its unionized workforce. CSX employs 17,600 unionized workers, according to the company’s latest quarterly filing. The company also noted that the only significant workgroup yet to reach a new agreement is the trainmen and conductors, who are represented by the SMART-TD union. However, CSX is actively negotiating with that group to finalize their contract as well.
This agreement marks a key step in CSX’s ongoing efforts to settle labor disputes and create a stable work environment for its employees. As the company continues to negotiate with other unions, the finalized contract with BLET could serve as a template for other agreements within the railroad industry, addressing both compensation and work-life balance concerns for workers.
By addressing these issues, CSX aims to not only maintain its labor relations but also to ensure the continued smooth operation of its services, which are crucial for the transportation of goods across the United States. The negotiations and settlements reflect broader trends in the labor market, where unions and employers alike are working to find solutions that balance worker welfare with business needs.
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