to resolve heated railroad labor contract talks, issued a report recommending a 22% pay increase over five years and annual bonuses for workers. But it remains to be seen if that will be enough to avoid a work stoppage.
A coalition of 12 unions representing more than 100,000 railroad workers sought a 28% increase in pay. The National Carriers’ Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference proposed a 16% increase plus a one-time $1,000 bonus. The NCCC represents all Class I railroads, including Fort Worth-based BNSF Railway and Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific Corp. , which also has a significant presence in Texas.
"We believe that our proposed resolution mirrors outcomes that could have been reached through good faith, arms’ length collective bargaining and that will prove to be acceptable to all parties and their respective constituents." "We are not saying that high profits in and of themselves support some sharing of those revenues with the employees," according to the report.