Rail Teamsters announce ratification of contract at CSX

Nearly 4,200 CSX (CSX) railroad workers represented by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, or BMWED, of the Teamsters Rail Conference have ratified a new contract, the union announced in a statement. “Our members needed a fair deal that put more money in their pockets and kept politicians and bureaucrats out of the bargaining process. We accomplished this,” said Tony Cardwell, President of the BMWED. “We’ve improved many important rules, locked in bonus structures for vital positions, and made gains in vacation and health insurance without increases in employee contributions – all important gains and unprecedented in modern rail bargaining.”The new five-year agreement secures big wins for thousands of CSX Teamsters, including raises of 18.77% compounded over the life of the contract, a reduction in the time needed to accumulate vacation, improved health and welfare benefits, and significant improvements to local work rules.