Yardmasters ratify 5-year labor pact with BNSF

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers–Transportation Division (SMART-Yardmaster) late last week announced its members at BNSF Railway Co. have ratified a new five-year labor agreement with the Class I. 

The contract covers more than 320 yardmasters at BNSF and follows the national pattern along with other work rule/process modernization, according to a BNSF press release.

"Yardmasters have made significant progress with the ratification of this contract,” said Matthew Burkart, general chairman, yardmasters. “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 this latest labor bargaining round, according to BNSF.