At Norfolk Southern, we work with our labor unions year-round to advance safety, service, productivity, and growth. Our craft colleagues represent over 80 percent of our workforce and power the American economy.

As part of our efforts to engage and involve labor in our operations, we welcomed leadership from all 13 of our unions to our Atlanta headquarters on August 29 for our first-ever 2024 Labor Council. During the discussion, senior leadership provided updates on safety, service, staffing, training, productivity, and growth, followed by a question-and-answer session.

“We’re proud to sit together with our labor leaders to collaborate about our joint commitment to being the gold standard of safety and to working together to foster a positive work environment and operate a successful railroad that delivers rewarding, family-sustaining careers,” said Alan Shaw, Norfolk Southern President and CEO. “Our labor partners are central to our ability to drive our unique strategy of service, productivity, and growth with safety at its core.”

“Our first-ever Labor Council is a testament to our dedication to coming together for a common purpose and enhancing our service to the women and men who are the service differentiator at NS,” said John Orr, Chief Operating Officer. “We established a platform for listening to and learning from one another. It’s an opportunity to accelerate our common understanding of challenges and opportunities, so that we can continue to deliver successfully together.”

NS remains committed to building positive, productive relationships with our labor partners. Listening to the feedback of our craft colleagues and labor leaders are key contributors of NS reaching tentative five-year agreements with nine unions to date, representing approximately 55% of our craft colleagues, four months ahead of the next scheduled collective bargaining rounds. The agreements, which are subject to ratification, provide unprecedented clarity for our craft colleagues with meaningful enhancements to pay, health care, and vacation time.