Unions Reach Tentative Five-Year Pact With Freight Railroads

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A coalition of seven rail labor unions said late Wednesday it has reached a tentative agreement on a national contract with U.S. freight rail lines.The Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition said it reached the agreement with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee, which represents the interests of major U.S. freight railroads CSX Corp., Norfolk Southern Corp., Union Pacific Corp., Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. and Kansas City Southern.The tentative agreement’s five-year term includes wage increases and ensures controls on health care co-payments, the Teamsters union said in a statement. In the next month, union employees will vote on ratification, the union said.The deal could include up to 30 railroads and run through 2009, the Associated Press reported. Industry analyst Edward Wolfe wrote in a note to clients that the deal may be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2005.