CLEVELAND, March 8 -- By an 86 percent majority, locomotive engineers on the Norfolk Southern ratified a new contract that provides a 14.4 percent wage increase and dramatic improvements for post-'85 engineers.

The final tally was 2,609 in favor of the deal and 422 against, NS General Chairman Stephen Speagle reported.

Highlights of the contract are as follows

Article VI, Section 2(b) of Arbitration Award 458 (providing for inferior deadheading payments to post-85 engineers) is eliminated, and all engineers will be covered by the deadheading rules currently in effect for pre-85 engineers.

The special pay differential of $15/day and $0.15/mile, which is payable to all engineers on NS regardless of hiring date, will be rolled into the daily and overmile rates of pay on January 1, 2003.

The current five-year wage progression, which begins at 75%, is replaced by a three-year progression, which begins at 85%, measured from date of hire; in addition, all engineers currently in the progression will have their percentage increased by 10%, up to the 100% rate.

Effective January 1, 2000, wage rates on NS will be increased by approximately 14.4 percent.

In 2001, 2002 and 2003, engineers will be entitled to bonuses of up to 10% of the previous year's wages, under the NS "Thoroughbred Performance Bonus" plan; in 2004 and subsequent years, engineers will be entitled to bonuses of up to 15% of the previous year's wages, under the formula.

The following issues were referred to the BLE's National Wage Committee for handling with the National Carriers' Conference Committee Health & Welfare; retirement and disability; meals and meal allowances; availability; paid leave days; off-track vehicle insurance; and detention time.

The BLE bargaining team was made up of Vice President P.T. Sorrow; General Chairmen W.E. Knight, S.D. Speagle, and R.C. Wallace; and Vice General Chairmen L.W. Sykes and W.A. Thompson.

© 2000 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers