BMWED Local Lodge 1532 Chicago

06/18/2026

Ensure safe staffing for Norfolk Southern workers

09/13/2025

10/15/2024

BMWED members on Norfolk Southern ratified a tentative agreement today by a vote of 710-480 (59.66%). 11 votes were returned blank.

The ratification locks in a five-year collectively bargained agreement of General Wage Increases compounded to 18.77 percent for the life of the contract; a reduction in the time required to accrue vacation; and enhanced health and welfare benefits while maintaining the current 15 percent monthly employee contribution, amongst other improvements.

To learn more about the ratified CBA, visit bmwe.org/ta

The GWIs will hit each year on July 1, starting next year and ending in 2029. The first GWI is 4.0%, with GWIs of 3.75%, 3.5%. 3.25%. and 3.0% in the years to follow.

Of 3,144 eligible BMWED NS voters, 1,201 returned ballots.

Results of the CSX tentative agreement vote will be soon to follow.

09/09/2024

Imagine that

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/norfolk-southern-board-probing-ceo-over-alleged-inappropriate-workplace-2024-09-08/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR34JItnQgflJblWDnH_0jrylbTYkoKHOA40QGi2pitcRF4yxnenPsU9b7k_aem_bIUYfBBzajXk1UifWPoJfw

Norfolk Southern's board is examining allegations that Chief Executive Alan Shaw engaged in an inappropriate workplace relationship, CNBC reported on Sunday, citing three people familiar with the matter.

08/30/2024

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way (BMWED) and Norfolk Southern successfully have tentatively agreed to a collectively bargained agreement ahead of the upcoming November moratorium. This five-year agreement includes General Wage Increases each year of the contract (compounded to 18.77%), a reduction in the time required to accrue vacation, enhanced health and welfare benefits while maintaining the current 15% monthly contribution and an equal and uniform CDL differential for all qualified employees.

"The American Rail System Federation is pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with Norfolk Southern regarding some key issues affecting our membership,” BMWED ARSF General Chairman Johnny Long said. “As General Chairman, I am proud that the ARSF is part of history, reaching a T.A. far in advance of the current agreement's expiration. This couldn't have been accomplished without the support of our members, federation officers, and national division. This proves that you can accomplish great things when brothers and sisters work together."

In response to the frustration of our members with the lengthy delays between contracts, the BMWED made it a top priority to secure a new agreement before the moratorium. It is commendable that the officers on the ARSF were able to secure a fair and strong deal prior to the expiration of the current contract and get money into the pockets of our NS members immediately upon potential ratification.

The BMWED will provide updates regarding the voting process and will host Zoom meetings in the lead-up to the vote, ensuring that all NS BMWED members have ample time to review every detail of the tentative agreement. Over the next month, officers will also travel the territory to meet with members and address the T.A. and field questions. In the meantime, please reach out to your BMWED Officers with any questions or for additional information.

https://www.bmwe.org/secondary.aspx?id=956

06/21/2024

06/07/2024

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has clarified that rail carrier management must provide sanitary bathroom options to track employees and/or roadway maintenance groups working along railroad tracks.

This official interpretation means that management must provide a port-a-john at long-duration work sites or set aside a vehicle for the sole purpose of transportation to a nearby restroom.

This is an important and long sought interpretation of an existing OSHA requirement (29 CFR 1910.141 that was held up by a bureaucratic question of which agency exercised statutory authority – OSHA or the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

Since the FRA has no regulations regarding sanitation requirements for railroad track employees, OSHA Acting Director of Enforcement Scott C. Ketcham declared OSHA within its scope to enforce its sanitation standards and regulations to rail workers.

“Thanks to the hard work and tireless dedication of BMWED Director of Safety Roy Morrison, we have secured the basic right to a clean and sanitary restroom facility at all job sites for our membership,” BMWED President Tony D. Cardwell said. “This decision is a direct result of Brother Morrison sticking up for our members and continuing to push OSHA to consider the rule and its application to the rail industry. He cut through the red tape and was relentless in advocating for BMWED members and their rights on the job. For years the railroads have ignored common decency to extend bathroom facilities to their employees, but we have now obtained the basic and needed dignity of a clean restroom on the jobsite. This is a sterling example of what can happen by being a Union employee and exercising solidarity around an issue.”

In addition, this OSHA interpretation includes the right to stop travel to and from the jobsite to use proper restroom facilities should they be needed without harassment or intimidation from a supervisor.

OSHA has stated that they will update internal training of their state and federal inspectors so that they are educated on this important interpretation and know to look for violations should they occur.

04/27/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/FSxo3tXQYqqWBGRt/?mibextid=WC7FNe

04/10/2024

It is with enormous sadness and grief that our Brotherhood has learned of the passing of our Brother and friend, American Rail System Federation First Vice Chairman Heath Vezza. Brother Vezza was just 50 years old.

Brother Heath was a big-hearted, caring, and dedicated steward of the BMWED and his members on the ARSF, who rightly and confidently trusted him with protecting and progressing their jobs and working conditions on Norfolk Southern railroad. Brother Heath was truly Union to his core and was a tremendous advocate for our members and our cause at large.

A member of Local Lodge 3094, Brother Vezza joined the BMWED in January 2008. Over that time, he advanced from the track department of Norfolk Southern to an eventual election as Vice Chairman on the old Pennsylvania Federation and most recently the same position on the ARSF.

A man of many interests, Brother Heath also spent several years touring the Southeast as an aspiring musician on an “indy” label based out of Orlando, Florida.

A father and husband, Brother Heath was a resident of Ambridge, Pa. at the time of his passing.

It is with our most sincere and deepest condolences that we mourn the passing of our Brother and friend. We ask that you keep Brother Vezza’s family and friends in your thoughts.