FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway and the SMART-TD Yardmasters have reached a tentative, five-year collective bargaining agreement.
The agreement, announced on Friday, covers more than 320 yardmasters and gives covered employees certainty about 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,” BNSF CEO Katie Farmer said in a statement. “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% average wage increase per year over the next five years, more vacation time earlier in yardmasters’ careers, and improved health care benefits.
“This tentative agreement provides paid sick leave, rest days for the extra board, improvements to healthcare, and a compensation package,” General Chairman, Yardmasters, Matthew Burkart said in a statement. “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% of BNSF’s workforce is covered by either ratified or pending tentative agreements.
