BNSF Railway ratifies 5-year agreement with SMART-MD By Reuters

(Reuters) – Berkshire Hathaway-owned BNSF Railway said members of the International Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation union’s rail, mechanical and engineering division voted on Friday to ratify a five-year agreement with the company.

The deal calls for an annual pay increase of 3.5 percent over the life of the agreement, along with better health care benefits and provisions that give railroad workers more vacation days earlier in their careers.

“I appreciate BNSF leadership for settling the next round of national negotiations without dragging out the bargaining process for years,” said SMART General President Michael Coleman.

The railroad also reached a tentative agreement with the union’s transportation division (SMART-TD) in early September.