April 06, 2023
Class I

For NS T&E Crews, More Time Off for Medical Visits (UPDATED)

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor

(NS Photograph)

Norfolk Southern (NS) is providing 7,500 craft railroaders additional time off for up to three scheduled routine and preventative medical visits, the Class I railroad reported in the “Story Yard” section of its website.

“This change was negotiated under the most recent [December 2022] national agreement with the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) unions,” according to NS’s April 4 article.

The new time-off benefit for NS’s SMART-TD and BLET railroaders can be used for a range of routine and preventative care visits, including regular checkups, physicals, screenings, and other services designed to prevent illnesses or a medical condition from developing, the railroad said. Preventative dental, vision and hearing appointments are also included.

“This change will ensure that our T&E crews have the time off they need to proactively manage their health,” NS Vice President Transportation Floyd Hudson said. “The health and welfare of our team is critical and a top priority for Norfolk Southern.”

NS has not yet reached formal paid sick leave agreements* with SMART-TD and BLET, an NS spokesman told Railway Age on April 6. “However, after national negotiations closed in December, we immediately reached out to both unions to discuss paid sick leave and other quality of life priorities they might have, and we remain engaged in active and productive discussions with both on these topics,” he reported.

The Class I added that it “is committed to partnering with our labor leaders to develop industry-leading changes that will improve our employees’ quality of life. … We look forward to further collaboration in the months ahead as we work to negotiate and implement the priorities that will have the greatest positive impact for our craft railroaders.”

* NS has already reached paid sick leave agreements with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Blacksmiths; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; Brotherhood of Railway Carmen; Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters; National Conference of Firemen and Oilers; International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation Workers, Mechanical epartment (SMART-MD); and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.