FORT WORTH, Texas — Members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers–Transportation Division (Yardmasters) have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with BNSF Railway.
The five-year agreement, covering more than 320 yardmasters at BNSF, follows the national pattern along with other work rule/process modernization.
“This ratification is affirmation of all the hard work and collaboration that went into this strong agreement that’s good for both our employees and our company,” BNSF CEO Katie Farmer said in a statement on Friday. “We thank SMART-YM’s leaders and members for their support and for the important role they play in delivering our nation’s freight.”
General Chairman, Yardmasters, Matthew Burkart acknowledged the gains made possible through this new agreement.
“Yardmasters have made significant progress with the ratification of this contract,” Burkart said. “Key benefits include five paid sick days, earlier vacation accrual, and an assigned rest day for extra board Yardmasters. These are the first major gains for the craft since 1997.”
With this most recent ratification by the Yardmasters, 45% of BNSF’s union-represented workforce now have new five-year agreements through the latest labor bargaining round.
