Norfolk Southern Reaches Collective Bargaining Agreement with Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen

Rhea-AI Summary

Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) announced on November 11, 2025 a five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen covering nearly 970 signal employees.

The agreement delivers an 18.8% compounded wage increase over five years, earlier paid vacation accrual, enhanced health and welfare benefits, local work-rule changes, improved travel-expense reimbursement, and more flexible scheduling. Norfolk Southern says this ratified deal means it now has agreements with 12 of 13 unions, with one tentative agreement pending ratification.

Positive

• 18.8% compounded wage increase over five years
• Covers nearly 970 Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen team members
• Ratified agreements reached with 12 of 13 unions

Negative

• Wage increases imply higher labor costs for the next five years
• Earlier paid vacation accruals increase near-term benefit expense
• One union contract remains tentative pending ratification

Agreement delivers significant future enhancements to pay, health care and vacation

ATLANTA, Nov. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) announced today that it has reached a five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS). With this agreement, Norfolk Southern has reached ratified agreements with 12 of its 13 unions, and a tentative agreement is pending ratification by the final remaining union.

Today's agreement covers nearly 970 dedicated and highly skilled BRS team members across the company's network, providing them with significant improvements to their pay, health care and vacation benefits.

"Our railroaders are the backbone of Norfolk Southern, and I appreciate the collaboration with BRS on behalf of our signal employees," said Mark George, Norfolk Southern President and CEO. "Their expertise and dedication ensure our operations remain safe, fluid and efficient — day in and day out. This agreement brings us closer to completing our full slate of ratified union contracts, a milestone that underscores our deep commitment to our people and their future."

"BRS and NS have established a positive working relationship through the collective efforts of our safety collaboration programs," said Michael Baldwin, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen President. "We've built on this relationship to drive progress at the bargaining table, allowing the parties to reach wage, health care, and work-rule changes that address the items most important to our members."

The agreement provides for an 18.8-percent compounded wage increase over the next five years. It also offers railroaders more paid vacation earlier in their career and makes impactful enhancements to an already robust suite of health and welfare benefits. Finally, the agreement offers several local work-rule enhancements, providing improved travel-expense reimbursement and more flexible scheduling for signal construction.

About Norfolk Southern
Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a 22-state freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver approximately 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as major ports across the Gulf Coast and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.

 

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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation

FAQ

What did Norfolk Southern (NSC) announce on November 11, 2025 about the BRS contract?

Norfolk Southern announced a five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen covering nearly 970 employees.

How much is the wage increase in the NSC and BRS five-year agreement?

The agreement provides an 18.8% compounded wage increase over the five-year term.

How does the NSC–BRS agreement change vacation and health benefits?

The agreement offers more paid vacation earlier in employees' careers and enhancements to health and welfare benefits.

How many Norfolk Southern unions have ratified contracts as of November 11, 2025?

Norfolk Southern has ratified agreements with 12 of 13 unions; one remaining union has a tentative agreement pending ratification.

Which operational work-rule changes did NSC and BRS agree to on November 11, 2025?

The agreement includes local work-rule enhancements such as improved travel-expense reimbursement and more flexible scheduling for signal construction.