BNSF, SMART-TD Reach Tentative Agreements
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
(BNSF Photograph)
BNSF on May 24 announced on LinkedIn that it has reached new tentative agreements with the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) granting individual paid sick days.
The agreements cover the former GN Road (Great Northern), SP&S (Spokane, Portland & Seattle), C&S (Colorado & Southern), HBT (Houston Belt & Terminal), JTD (Joint Texas Division), LAJ (Los Angeles Junction Railway), ATSF N/S (Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe), and ATSF Coastlines. They are “part of larger ongoing discussions about modernizing the work environment,” according to the Class I, which noted that 10 of its 12 labor unions are now covered by paid sick leave agreements.
“Building upon existing BNSF paid time off and sickness benefits, these SMART-TD members will receive an additional four paid days off to use as sick days and gain the ability to convert up to three personal leave/single day vacation days to paid sick days,” BNSF reported. “Additionally, paid sick days will not accumulate points under BNSF’s attendance program.”
“We are pleased that our union partners have taken this important step forward to help BNSF modernize its agreements to the benefit of its employees and their members,” the railroad continued. “BNSF remains committed to continued dialogue including the potential addition of paid sick days for those crafts that did not already have individual paid sick days prior to the recent national bargaining round.”
Most recently, BNSF reported reaching paid sick leave agreements with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on April 20; with the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC) on April 17; and with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) on March 17.
