September 3, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

Contact: NMB Public Information Line -- (202) 692-5050

Re: CSXT and UTU Yardmasters Ratify Contract

Washington, DC: The National Mediation Board is pleased to announce that on August 29, 2002, CSX Transportation Company (CSXT) and its Yardmasters, represented by the United Transportation Union (UTU), ratified a tentative agreement reached on August 2, 2002. The new contract was overwhelmingly approved, with 93% of the vote in favor of ratification.

The ratification of this contract marks a milestone in the NMB's Interest Based Bargaining (IBB) program. Since 1997 the NMB has offered training and facilitation in Interest Based Bargaining to parties in the airline and rail industries in hopes of promoting more cooperative relationships during bargaining. While many groups have used the Board's IBB process for negotiating selected sections or articles of contracts, the CSXT-UTU Yardmaster agreement is the first in the rail industry to use the IBB process from beginning to ratification. NMB Senior Mediator Patricia Sims worked with the parties as a facilitator.

For specific information about the contract and its provisions, the parties should be contacted directly. For more information about the NMB's IBB program, consult the NMB's web site, www.nmb.gov.

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