PORT LUDLOW, WASH. (September 22, 2000) - The United Transportation Union (UTU), the largest rail-transportation union in the United States, and the nation's major freight railroads announced Thursday, September 21, 2000, that they had reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement.

It is the first labor agreement to be reached by the carriers and any of the 13 standard rail unions taking part in the current round of bargaining, which began last November.

Announcement of the accord was made jointly by Charles Little, the UTU's International president, and Robert Allen, chairman of the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC), the bargaining agent for the railroads.

Contract details were not released pending a ratification vote by UTU members.

The agreement covers train and engine service employees and yardmasters, who make up nearly one third of the railroads' work force.

UTU represents more than 135,000 railroad and transportation industry workers, including bus operators, regional airline pilots, and others. Its headquarters is in Cleveland, Ohio.

The NCCC represents more than 30 freight railroads in this bargaining round.

The railroads include the nation's largest carriers, covering approximately 95% of all Class I unionized employees.

Contacts: United Transportation Union: John Horvath (216) 228-9400 ext. 340 National Railway Labor Conference: Joanna Moorhead (202) 862-7257