NS Ends Talks to Make Conductors Ground-based Jobs

Talks between the SMART-TD labor union and Norfolk Southern over moving conductors to ground based positions have ended.

Instead, NS said, it will focus on working with the union to improve scheduling for conductors.

Union President Jeremy Ferguson said in a statement that scheduling enhancements the two sides are discussing have the potential to provide conductors with fixed days off and greater certainty about their weekly assignments.

The two sides have set a mid-June deadline to reach an agreement.

NS had sought to reassign conductors to shifts and have them spend most of their time on the ground rather than traveling aboard trains.

Tags: Norfolk Southern, NS conductors, Railroad labor unions, SMART Transportation Division