Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) has reached a tentative agreement with its final general committee of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Transportation Division (SMART-TD). SMART-TD is the company's largest labor union, representing train conductors across the company's 22-state network. The latest agreement ensures coverage for all Norfolk Southern conductors and brings the total union workforce covered by early tentative agreements to nearly 65%.

The agreement, which is subject to ratification, comes four months before the opening of the next collective bargaining round and provides a 3.5-percent average wage increase per year over the next five years. Under the tentative agreements, covered railroaders will also receive more vacation earlier in their career and have enhancements made to an already robust suite of health care benefits.

"At Norfolk Southern, we're working closely with our labor leaders to support and reward our workforce, giving our valued employees the pay, health care, and vacation improvements they deserve without the multi-year wait that often accompanied previous bargaining rounds," said Alan H. Shaw, Norfolk Southern President and CEO. "We know that railroading is more than just a job; it's an opportunity for a fulfilling career capable of providing a good life for employees and their families. We appreciate the partnership with SMART-TD and look forward to reaching additional agreements with all of our unions."

"I am proud that now all our SMART-TD General Chairman have been able to negotiate the significant pay, health care, and vacation benefits of this agreement for all conductors on Norfolk Southern," said Jeremy Ferguson, National President SMART-TD. "We thank Norfolk Southern for stepping up at the bargaining table and partnering on a deal that will truly improve the lives of our dedicated members."

Over the past two weeks, Norfolk Southern has reached tentative agreements with nine of its 13 unions, which, in addition to SMART-TD, include the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA), the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division/TCU (BRC), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Mechanical Department (SMART-MD), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division Yardmasters (SMART-TD Yardmasters), the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Blacksmiths (IBBB), the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCFO), and the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU).