Omaha, Nebraska – The Union Pacific railroad, one of the country’s prominent transportation services, has made significant progress in negotiating paid sick leave with the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART). This notable advancement was achieved over the past weekend and is set to benefit approximately 5,900 railroad workers.
Under the existing framework, all Union Pacific employees are entitled to a form of paid leave. However, this tentative agreement pushes the envelope further by granting union members an additional five paid sick days per year, prorated for 2023. Moreover, from the following year, these employees will have the flexibility to transform up to three of their paid leave days into paid sick time.
On the successful ratification of this agreement by the workers, Union Pacific, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, will join the ranks of being the second railroad entity to successfully implement paid sick leave across all of its 13 labor unions. This achievement was first clinched by Norfolk Southern last month, becoming the initial major North American freight railroad to offer paid sick time to all its workers.
Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing for other railroad corporations such as CSX, BNSF, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific Kansas City. These companies continue to engage in talks with several of their labor unions to reach similar agreements on paid sick leave.
