Norfolk Southern is proud to announce that members of the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Mechanical Department (SMART-MD) have voted to ratify new agreements with Norfolk Southern Corporation a month before the start of the next collective bargaining round.

The ratification by ATDA and SMART-MD follows successful ratification votes by the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division/TCU (BRC) and the Transportation Communications Union (TCU) last month. To date, Norfolk Southern has reached tentative agreements with nine of its 13 unions covering nearly 65% of its craft workforce. Covered employees will enjoy significant improvements to pay, health care, and vacation in the upcoming year.

“The collaborative relationship Norfolk Southern has with our labor partners that enables these early agreements is vital to avoiding a multi-year bargaining process and ensuring peace of mind for covered employees,” said Mark R. George, Norfolk Southern President and CEO. “We’re thankful for the support of our labor leaders and look forward to continuing to work together to deliver for our customers, our communities, and our people.”

The newly ratified agreements provide a 3.5-percent average wage increase per year over the next five years. They also offer Norfolk Southern railroaders more vacation earlier in their career and make significant improvements to an already robust suite of health care benefits.

In addition to ATDA, BRC, SMART-MD, and TCU, Norfolk Southern has reached similar tentative agreements, which are still subject to ratification, with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Transportation Division (SMART-TD), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division Yardmasters (SMART-TD Yardmasters), the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Blacksmiths (IBBB), and the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCFO).