Florida-based railway CSX has tentatively agreed to new collective bargaining agreements with three unions representing its workers.
According to a release from CSX, the deals will cover the next five years for the Transportation Communications Union, the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and SMART-TD, all of which represent workers in the railway's Northern Mid-Atlantic region.
“I want to recognize the labor leaders who have stepped up to serve the best interests of their members and our employees in getting these historic deals done well in advance of their contracts even coming open for negotiation,” said CSX president and CEO Joe Hinrichs.
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The tentative agreements — which still need to ratified by the three unions' members — include 3.5% yearly wage increases, and improvements to paid vacation and health care. In a joint statement announcing the deals, the unions said that this marks the largest wage increase they've received from CSX in more than 20 years, and their first "meaningful improvements" to time-off policies in over 50 years.
"CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs promised he would do everything possible to reach a fair and timely agreement," Transportation Communications Union president Artie Maratea said. "He kept his word and I appreciate that."
