TWU members ratify contract with Conrail

Transport Workers Union of America members (TWU) who work for Conrail in Detroit, Philadelphia and New Jersey have voted to ratify a new five-year contract, the TWU announced yesterday.

The new contract provides a 17.5% wage increase, with journeyman carmen making over $100,000 per year by the contract's end, TWU officials said in a press release. Effective July 1, the contract also calls for enhanced dental and vision benefits, establishes an employee-only health plan and improves vacation benefits. TWU will continue to negotiate for paid sick days at the local level with Conrail, union officials said.

“This ratified contract ensures significant wage increases without needing to resort to an extremely long and politically fraught mediation process,” said TWU Rail Division Director John Feltz.