After almost three (3) years of long, contentious, and unproductive negotiations with the railroads, the ATDA reached a tentative National Agreement with the carriers based on the recommendations of Presidential Emergency Board 250. President McCann praised the patience of our members through this long fight to gain fair and reasonable wages without sacrificing our platinum healthcare plan stating, “our members are going through one of the highest inflationary periods our country has ever experienced, and this agreement provides for good wages, five (5) one (1) thousand dollars service recognition bonuses and FULL retroactive pay back to June 30, 2020.” There are no rule concessions, and one additional personal day has been added that can be used based on three (3) options: a personal day, a vacation day, or the employee’s birthday. Two major changes in the healthcare plan added autism coverage and increasing the hearing aid benefit limits from $600 to $2000. The contract remains in effect through December 31, 2024. The ATDA members will soon be receiving their ratification ballots in the mail.