UTU tentative agreement on Georgia shortline

The United Transportation Union has reached a tentative agreement on behalf of train and engine workers employed by Fulton County Railway, a 20-mile-long OmniTrax-owned shortline on the west side of Atlanta, which operates over CSX-owned tracks. "What we are trying to do is bring parity in wages, benefits and work rules to the thousands of employees in the shortline railroad industry, in addition to the many other protections offered by union membership," said UTU General Chairperson Doyle Turner, who heads the UTU's shortline-railroad initiative. The Fulton County Railway train and engine workers selected the UTU as their bargaining representative in August 2010, after meeting with UTU organizers Rich Ross and Mike Lewis. Turner assisted by retired General Chairperson Warner Biedenharn Jr., led the lengthy negotiations, with National Mediation Board mediator John Livengood helping bring the sides together. The tentative agreement now goes out for member ratification.