BRC has successfully negotiated paid sick leave day agreements with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED-IBT), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), and SMART-Mechanical Department.

The railroad also is actively negotiating with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), National Conference of Firemen & Oilers (NCFO), Brotherhood of Railway Carman (BRC) and SMART-Transportation Division.

The process began this past winter with in-person and remote meetings.

General Counsel, Secretary & Director Human Resources Christopher Steinway was the Belt’s lead negotiator. The labor organizations were represented by various general chairmen and vice president-level officers.

Steinway said he’s proud of the results and continued effort.

“Negotiating for additional paid sick leave days acknowledges the enhanced emphasis that our employees now place on quality of life, and it shows BRC’s commitment to supporting our employees’ need for unexpected days off throughout the year,” Steinway said.

Steinway hopes to complete the process with other unions by the end of the year. He notes that BRC is one of the first short line railroads to negotiate any type of paid sick leave agreement with its union-represented employees.

“BRC has intentionally decided to push forward on the quality-of-life issue rather than hold onto past ideas about work-life balance,” Steinway said. “We think it’s the right thing to do for our employees, which is why we’ve decided to keep pushing on this initiative until it’s completed.”