Carriers, unions close out 2025 national bargaining round

The National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) today announced the close of the 2025 round of bargaining as all 12 unions representing freight-rail employees in the national handling process are now covered under agreements through 2029. The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen was the final union to ratify its contract.

The NRLC's National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC) represents U.S. Class Is and a number of short lines and passenger railroads in labor negotiations with the unions. The 2025 round of bargaining was the shortest round in decades, closing in only 18 months, according to the NCCC.

The prior four rounds averaged more than three years, NCCC officials said in a press release. The 2025 round is also notable as all 12 unions reached and ratified agreements without resort to a Presidential Emergency Board, interest arbitration or emergency legislation for the first time since the 2005 round, they added.

Ratified labor contracts follow a national, industry-wide pattern that calls for 18.8% wage increases over the five-year contract period. This pattern builds on the historic 24% wage increase from the 2022 bargaining round, NCCC officials said. Under these agreements, average annual wages for rail employees will rise to about $135,000 and average total compensation will increase to $190,000.