(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
BNSF Railway and The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, Transportation Division (SMART-TD) have reached a system-wide agreement that will significantly benefit ground service employees at BNSF.
The tentative agreement, which was announced on September 28, follows up on the mandatory local bargaining items from last year’s Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) and goes well beyond.
This breakthrough tentative agreement comes after several months of negotiations, and pending ratification by SMART-TD’s members at BNSF, it is expected to bring positive changes to both the professional and personal lives of these employees.
The agreement will allow for more predictable scheduling (with rest days available to all pool and extra board employees) and enables all ground service employees to take paid sick days, with many additional quality of work/life changes. These enhancements will not only benefit current employees, but they will also contribute to more consistent service for BNSF’s customers, and aid in the recruitment and retention of employees.
© 2023 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.