BNSF reaches tentative labor agreement with SMART-YM

Roughly 42% of railroad’s union workforce now covered under ratified or tentative agreements

FORT WORTH, Texas – BNSF Railway, in partnership with The International Association of Sheet, Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ – Transportation Division (Yardmasters) announced today members of the labor union have reached a tentative, five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Class I railroad.

The new agreement covers more than 320 yardmasters and gives covered employees unprecedented certainty about upcoming enhancements to their pay, health care, and vacation.

“We are pleased to reach this tentative agreement that continues to reward our employees for their many contributions while also strengthening BNSF’s ability to deliver safety, service and value for our customers,” said Katie Farmer, president and chief executive officer. “We thank the SMART-YM leadership for their work on behalf of their members and their commitment to collaboration through this bargaining round.”

The tentative agreement provides a 3.5-percent average wage increase per year over the next five years. It also offers railroaders more vacation earlier in their career and meaningful enhancements to an already robust suite of health care benefits.

"This tentative agreement provides paid sick leave, rest days for the extra board, improvements to healthcare, and a compensation package,” said General Chairman, Yardmasters, Matthew Burkart. “This is the first time the yardmaster craft has seen significant quality of life advancements since 1997."

This latest tentative agreement follows the recently announced national tentative agreement with International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Including the eight agreements already ratified through this bargaining round, more than 42 percent of BNSF’s workforce is covered by either ratified or pending tentative agreements.

Contact:
Kendall Kirkham Sloan
Director, External Communications
Media@BNSF.com