Rail Labor Update: BMWED Cooling-Off Period Extended

Date
Nov 9, 2022

Dear BNSF Customers,

For the past several months, I have been updating you on the progress of rail labor negotiations toward new national contracts with the 12 unions representing the industry’s unionized workforces. We now have seven agreements fully ratified; three unions have tentative agreements pending ratification; and two of the twelve unions, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED) and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), that tentatively agreed to the terms recommended by the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) failed to ratify their agreements.

Earlier today, the BMWED, the first union scheduled to exit the current cooling-off period set to expire on November 19, agreed to extend it until at least December 4 and is subject to further extension to maintain alignment, if necessary, with the other labor organizations awaiting ratification. This extension of the cooling-off period eliminates the threat of a near-term freight rail service disruption.

BNSF and the other railroads will remain engaged with BMWED throughout the extended cooling-off period and will continue to seek an agreement based on the framework recommended by PEB to avoid interruption to rail service. We will continue to update you as the situation evolves.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to keep America’s freight moving. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your marketing representative.

Sincerely,

Steve Bobb
Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer