The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED-IBT) members working on carriers represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC) have ratified the tentative agreement reached in January.

The biggest rail carrier bargaining with the NCCC was BNSF. BMWED members on that property ratified the agreement, the vote tally as follows:

Accept: 2,112 (75.38%)

Reject: 689 (24.62%)

Blank: 32

The five-year Tentative Agreement, covering the period from January 1, 2025, to July 1, 2029, ensures BMWED members 18.77 percent compounded wage growth over the next five years, protects health and welfare benefits without additional cost, and improves vacation accrual timing, amongst other gains.

BMWED members on the smaller properties, including the Belt Railway of Chicago; Bessemer and Lake Erie; Grand Trunk Western Railway; Illinois Central; Wisconsin Central; Central California Traction Company; Conrail; Indiana Harbor Belt; Los Angeles Junction; Portland Terminal; Wichita Terminal Association; Port Terminal Railroad Association; and New Orleans Public Belt, ratified their agreement by a roughly 74 percent to 26 percent margin.

Some BMWED members were voting on Health and Welfare benefits only, the largest of those being CPKC. Those margins were roughly in the 75 percent to 80 percent in favor of ratification. The easiest place to check which railroads were voting on Health and Welfare only is at bmwe.org/ta

We want to thank all the members who voted. Their engagement and involvement in this process was instrumental in achieving a good contract well ahead of schedule. 

This agreement marks a significant departure from the historical pattern of BMWED members working for extended periods without contractual wage increases and being locked into previous agreements, for years at a time. By securing contractual wage adjustments through 2029, BMWED members can now count on predictable and sustained financial growth without delay or potential work stoppages.

It is important to note that two Class I carriers have some caveats. Union Pacific is not party to the NCCC, so the BMWED remains fully engaged in bargaining with UP and no agreement has yet been reached. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is party to the NCCC for healthcare, but not wages and work rules, so bargaining over the wages and rules remains active.

This achievement is also a testament to the unwavering dedication and hard work of our System Officers on all these various railroads. The General Chairman and their vice generals all worked tirelessly, answering and explaining all the details of the agreement, and bring all concerns of the members with them to the bargaining table. It was a respectable and earnest effort worthy of praise.

BMWED remains committed to advocating for the best interests of our members and will continue working to build a stronger future for all Maintenance of Way workers. Together, we have secured a contract that provides stability and growth, and we look forward to further strengthening our union.

Additional information regarding the ratification process will be forthcoming. Stay tuned for those updates.

*The NCCC includes an assortment of railroads. See pages 12 and 13 in the accompanying Tentative Agreement to see which railroads are party to the TA.