Contract Negotiations

Front Royal, VA (June 25, 2007) — BRS International President W. Dan Pickett announced today that the union’s members ratified the national agreement. After more than two years of difficult negotiations with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), the tentatively approved national agreement, which was unanimously endorsed by the union’s Negotiating Committee and subsequently approved by the union’s General Chairmen, was ratified by a majority of the voting BRS members.

The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) represents over 6,700 members affected by this agreement. The NCCC represents our nation’s major railroads, including: Alton and Southern; Belt Railway of Chicago; Burlington Northern Santa Fe; Conrail; CSX Transportation; Elgin, Joliet and Eastern; Indiana Harbor Belt; Kansas City Southern; Norfolk Southern; Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis; and Union Pacific.

International President Pickett expects to sign the agreement this week. "This is the best agreement that we have seen in decades and I am pleased that our members agreed," Pickett stated. "Despite the health and welfare cost-sharing increase, this is a good settlement that brings needed wage and benefit increases to our members, and there are no work rule changes."

The new contract provides retroactive general wage increases back to July of 2005. The agreement is in effect until January 2010, although its benefits remain in effect beyond its expiration until it is changed. Among other things, the contract establishes the following:

Increase in the base hourly rate to $23.10 effective July 1, 2007
Base hourly rate of $25.10 after last wage increase is applied in July of 2009
General Wage Increases:

2.5% July 1, 2005
3.0% July 1, 2006
3.0% July 1, 2007
4.0% July 1, 2008
4.5% July 1, 2009

Health & Welfare:

Expansion of Managed Medical Care Program (MMCP) coverage area — MMCP will be offered to members in any geographical area where a current vendor has a network.
Employee health and welfare cost-sharing contribution will be adjusted annually based on a 15% contribution rate. The cost-sharing contribution is expected to increase to about $200 in 2010 and will be capped at that amount unless changed by the next agreement.

Adjustment to the ratio of supplemental sickness benefits
Change in time limit for Notice of Disability under the Supplemental Sickness Plan
No work rule changes
Withdrawal of Carriers’ lawsuit against the BRS

June 18, 2007

Press Release

BRS National Negotiations Update — Ratification Ballots Will Be Counted On June 25

Front Royal, VA (June 18, 2007) — On May 16, 2007, after more than two years of negotiations, BRS members working under the national agreement were mailed ratification ballots. The deadline for voting was June 15.

The BRS negotiated in this round of bargaining as a member of the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC). In order to allow all of the RLBC unions sufficient time to finalize their ratification process, RLBC-represented unions agreed not to count their ballots before June 25. A press release with the results of the ratification will be issued the same day on the BRS website, www.brs.org.

The RLBC represents seven unions: the American Train Dispatchers Association; the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen/IBT; the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees/IBT; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers; the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers/SEIU; the Sheet Metal Workers International Association; and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.

The tentative agreement resolves outstanding issues such as wages and health and welfare benefits, and contains no work rule changes. Furthermore, the carriers have agreed to withdraw their lawsuit against the BRS following membership ratification.

May 15, 2007

Press Release

BRS National Negotiations Update — Agreement Sent to Members for Ratification

Front Royal, VA (May 15, 2007) — In conjunction with the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC), the BRS and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) finalized the language of the tentative agreement on May 11, 2007, after more than two years of negotiations. BRS International President W. Dan Pickett said the ratification ballots will be mailed to BRS members on May 16, 2007. To allow all of the RLBC unions to have time to finalize the ratification process, the unions agreed to count their ballots on June 25. BRS members can expect the result of the ratification to be posted on the BRS website the same day.

“I am pleased to report that the tentative agreement is finished and ready to be forwarded to our members,” Pickett stated.

The tentative agreement provisionally resolves outstanding issues such as wages and health and welfare benefits, and contains no work rule changes. Furthermore, the carriers have agreed to withdraw their lawsuit against the BRS following membership ratification.

March 2, 2007

Press Release

BRS National Negotiations Update — Tentative Agreement Reached

Front Royal, VA (March 2, 2007) — After more than two years of negotiations, the nation's major freight railroads and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) announced that they reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. The tentative agreement was signed on Wednesday, February 28.

"These were difficult negotiations," stated BRS International President W. Dan Pickett. "The carriers were on the offensive throughout this entire process. Thankfully, the RLBC stuck together and I believe we have produced a contract that is acceptable to all concerned."

The seven RLBC unions who reached agreement with the carriers after round-the-clock bargaining include: the American Train Dispatchers Association; the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen/IBT; the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees/IBT; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Buildings, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers; the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers/SEIU; the Sheet Metal Workers International Association; and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.

"This agreement proves the old adage that in unity there is strength," said RLBC Chair George J. Francisco, Jr. "Coalition bargaining led to a better contract and we were able to work with rail unions outside of the RLBC as well."

The new contract, which covers almost 7000 railroad signalmen nationwide and in Canada, resolves outstanding issues between the parties, including wages, health and welfare benefits.

The BRS General Chairmen are scheduled to vote on whether to put the agreement out for ratification on March 20. It is anticipated that they will approve forwarding the agreement to the members for ratification. That process is expected to be completed in May.

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