Railroads reach deal with union

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1208&u_sid=10240941

Published Friday | January 25, 2008
Railroads reach deal with union
BY JOE RUFF
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The nation's largest railroad union has reached a tentative contract agreement with a committee representing Omaha-based Union Pacific Corp. and other major freight rail companies, officials said Thursday.

The contract with the United Transportation Union means rail companies have reached agreements with unions representing about 95 percent of unionized freight rail workers, according to the National Carriers' Conference Committee.

UTU members must ratify the latest contract, which would be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2005, and be in force through Dec. 31, 2009. About 46,000 union members, or one-third of the railroad industry's unionized work force, would be affected by the contract, including conductors, brakemen, engineers, firemen, hostlers, switchmen and yardmasters.

Union officials said the agreement was reached after nearly three years of negotiations. It would provide a 17 percent general wage increase over the life of the contract, cost-of-living adjustments and a cap on health care contributions.

Over the last year, about 12 other unions reached similar agreements with the railroads.