INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, November 29 — Yesterday, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), a partner union of the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG), announced that the union’s members had ratified the new national agreement.
The BRS is now the second of six CBG unions to ratify the deal. On November 27, the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) announced that nearly two-thirds of its members voted in favor in order to ratify the new agreement. The BRS represents more than 8,000 members affected by the contract.
“This round of bargaining brought its unique challenges, going from an arms-reach of an agreement back to square one following the 2016 presidential elections,” BRS President Dan Pickett said. “As mediation was starting to stalemate, in the final hours we were able to get the Carriers to shift some of their positions and come to an agreement we felt was fair for our brothers and sisters. Although, we desired to see no changes in healthcare, we understood that such a position is difficult in today’s culture; however, we were able to freeze the employee’s monthly health and welfare contribution. A key to this agreement was taking the damaging work rule proposals off the table while securing real wage increases.” stated President Pickett. “Joining the CBG coalition proved to be an effective strategy for our members in this round of bargaining, and I am proud that our organization was a member.”
To read President Pickett’s full statement, please visit the BRS website here.
The six unions comprising the CBG include: the American Train Dispatchers Association; the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (a Division of the Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters); the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers; the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers / SEIU; and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers. Collectively, the CBG unions represent more than 85,000 railroad workers covered by the various organizations’ national agreements.