Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen

NS, BRS Partner to Enhance Safety

Norfolk Southern (NS) and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) on Oct. 19 announced a partnership to create the Signal Safety Collaboration initiative, a one-year pilot program developed with input from the

NTSB-provided photographs from the July 6, 2023, Norfolk Southern derailment in Virginia: Derailed gondola cars (left) and a wheelset with a burned-off bearing (right) from unit coal train 814V404. (Sources: NS, left; Federal Railroad Administration, right.)

NTSB Issues Preliminary Report on NS Coal Train Derailment

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report for the investigation of Norfolk Southern’s (NS) July 6, 2023, coal train derailment near Elliston, Va. The agency said future activity will focus on the wheelset and reconditioned bearings of the 71st railcar of the 105-car train; NS’s use of hot bearing detectors (HBD); and NS’s operating rules for defective equipment detectors.

“We thank the unions for their partnership on improving safety and quality of life for every employee,” Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan H. Shaw said during his railroad’s June 1 town hall meeting, which included labor leader speakers. “We said we wanted to partner more effectively with union leadership—and today you see management and labor keeping that promise.” (Norfolk Southern Photograph)

NS Hosts Inaugural Safety-Focused Town Hall

Safety, union collaboration and “creating long-term value” were the three main topics of Norfolk Southern’s (NS) first company-wide town hall meeting. Held June 1 in Bellevue, Ohio, 20,000 railroaders from across the

BNSF, NS Reach Labor Agreements

BNSF on April 17 announced that it will grant individual paid sick days to its railroaders who are Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC) members. The same day, Norfolk Southern (NS) reported reaching a paid sick leave agreement with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS).

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BMWED, BRS Reach Tentative Agreement With Amtrak

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.

BNSF, IAMAW, BRS and SMART-MD Agreed to Paid Sick Leave

BNSF on March 9 reported reaching agreements with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW); the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS); and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical and Engineering Department (SMART-MD) for paid sick leave.

Threat of Rail Work Stoppage Growing

The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) on Oct. 26 became the second of 12 rail unions to reject a tentative agreement amending wages, benefits and work rules on most Class I railroads

No Work Stoppage for Now

It took an all-night bargaining session in the Washington, D.C., offices of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, but as dawn approached Thursday, Sept. 15, three rail unions, representing almost 60% of unionized rail workers and which had been holding out for a better deal than was reached by nine others, came to terms with the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) that represents most of the nation’s Class I railroads and many smaller ones.

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