Norfolk Southern is third railroad to offer paid sick time

By JOSH FUNK
AP Business Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Norfolk Southern has become the third major freight railroad to offer some of its employees paid sick time. It announced a deal Wednesday with one of its unions in response to  workers’ quality-of life complaints that arose during contract negotiations. The agreement to provide about 3,000 track maintenance workers with four days of paid sick time a year offers some positive news for the railroad as it works to clean up the mess after its fiery derailment in Ohio earlier this month. A union spokesman says the sick time will be especially welcome to the workers who are rebuilding the tracks after the derailment. This deal is along the same lines as ones CSX and Union Pacific announced earlier this month.