JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation engineers have ratified a new five-year contract, the railroad and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen announced today (Wednesday, June 11, 2025).
The union said 53.6% of those returning ballots voted in favor of the contract. The BLET represents about 3,500 CSX employees.
The agreement, which runs through Dec. 31, 2029, includes compounded wage increases of 18.77% over the life of the contract. Engineers also receive five new days of paid sick leave each year, with the ability to convert two personal leave days into sick days. The agreement also includes improved medical benefits at no additional cost share.
“I congratulate the negotiating team on securing an agreement that increases wages and addresses quality of life issues specific to CSX,” BLET National President Mark Wallace said in a press release. “Adding paid sick days without concession has been a contentious issue that the BLET refused to concede.”
CSX said the terms mirror those of agreements with 13 other unions.
“The ratified agreement demonstrates the value of our partnership with BLET, our CSX General Chairmen, and our shared commitment to improving the day-to-day experience for our locomotive engineers,” CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs said in a press release. “I want to thank our engineers for their unwavering dedication to our customers and the communities in which we live and work. This is a significant milestone for our people and the future of our railroad.”
The railroad said nearly 75% of its unionized workers are now covered by agreements reached within the last 10 months. Still not covered by a ratified or tentative agreement is trainmen and conductors represented by the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD). CSX said it is engaged with bargaining with SMART-TD consolidate separate territories and workforces into a single, system-wide agreement.
Are the engineers in this agreement now under a systemwide seniority or is that still some contracts away?
System wide agreement does not equate with system wide seniority.