FILE -- A Norfolk Southern freight train passes passes through East Palestine, Ohio, on Thursday, February 9, 2023. Norfolk Southern was the third major freight railroad to offer employees paid sick time, and announced a deal with one of its unions on Wednesday, February 23, 2023, due to workers' quality-of-life complaints that occurred during contract negotiations. AP Photo Gene J. Puskar, File ASSOCIATED PRESS OMAHA, Neb. AP - Norfolk Southern became the third major freight railroad to offer employees paid sick time, a deal with one of its unions in response to workers' quality-of-life complaints that arise during contract negotiations.
The agreement to provide more than 3,000 track maintenance workers with sick time in the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division has given some positive news for the railroad as it works to clean up the mess after its fiery derailment in eastern Ohio earlier this month.
Clark Ballew, BMWED union spokesman, said the sick time would be especially welcome for workers rebuilding the track after the Feb. 3 derailment outside East Palestine, Ohio.
Ballew said that it is imperative that they have resources available to keep them safe and healthy at a site that many would be apprehensive to work. Paid sick time is one of those resources, but there are several others, and we expect N.S. It is important to start doing right by their employees and the public and to give all resources necessary to not worsen an already bad situation. The agreement follows the same lines as the ones announced earlier this month by CSX and Union Pacific. The workers will get four paid sick days a year, and have the option to convert three of their personal leave days into sick days.
The railroads have been working on these deals without any concessions from the unions. No of the sick time agreements so far cover train crews that have schedules keeping them on call 24 -- 7 The railroads have said they are negotiating with all of their unions about this.
Alan Shaw, Norfolk Southern President and CEO, said the Atlanta-based railroad is committed to improving the quality of life for workers in partnership with our union leaders. Concerns about the lack of paid sick time and demanding schedules pushed the industry to the brink of a strike last fall before Congress stepped in to block a walkout and force workers to accept a five-year contract that included 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses. The contract didn't address many of their concerns about working conditions.
The federal Surface Transportation Board praised the railroads that have announced sick time agreements because they said these kinds of collaborative efforts to tackle quality of life issues should result in the further strengthening of our national rail network by both retention of existing workers and incentives for potential new hires.