Catherwood LibraryILR School

U.S. freight railroads have a reached an agreement with three of the unions that represent workers. The agreement is the first after a board appointed by the President reviewed a stalemate between the two parties, who have been negotiating for two years. The agreement covers about half of the 132,000 employees. Details of the contract were not released, but the board had recommended an 18.6% pay increase over six years, between the 19% over five years asked by the unions and the 17% over six years offered by the railroads. If agreements are not reached by December 6, the workers will be permitted to strike.