BMWED, BRS Reach Tentative Agreement With Amtrak
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWED) and Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) members have reached a tentative agreement, after negotiating as a coalition for 15 months, with Amtrak on a seven-year contract that calls for a 28.5% general wage increase retroactive to 2022.
The deal will proceed to membership over the next three weeks for ratification with a vote tally count scheduled for April 12.
In addition to the general wage increase, other details of the tentative agreement include:
- No monthly increase in cost sharing for health and welfare benefits with the addition of coverage for hearing aids.
- Accidental death and dismembership insurance coverage increased from $25,000 to $50,000.
- Martin Luther King Jr. added as a contractual holiday.
- Bereavement improvements to include the addition of half siblings, step siblings, stepparents and stepchildren.
- Paid parental leave up to 10 weeks.
- Paid time off improvements that allow for the accumulation of additional paid time off and permit a portion to be carried over to the following year.
“This tentative agreement is a monumental victory for the BMWED and BRS members employed with Amtrak,” said BMWED United Passenger Rail Federation General Chairman Anthony Sessa. “Without the immense amount of membership support and solidarity, I do not believe we could have achieved this unprecedented Tentative Agreement. I would personally like to thank the members and officers of the BMWED and BRS for their unwavering support throughout the negotiations process. This solidarity has shown us that by sticking together we can win.”
Ratification ballots will be mailed to all BMWED Amtrak members starting March 27 with a deadline return of April 11. The count will follow on April 12.
