Following the historic wage increases and premium health care benefits reached during last year's national bargaining, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) announced Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with one of its largest labor unions that provides their members the ability to take up to seven paid sick days per year. The new sick leave benefit, reached in collaboration with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, is available to approximately 3,000 railroaders who maintain the company's track and infrastructure.

"Norfolk Southern's success is built upon the incredible work our craft railroaders perform every day, and we are committed to improving their quality of life in partnership with our union leaders," said Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw.

Norfolk Southern is engaging with all its unions to further enhance quality of life and work predictability for its craft employees. The company remains in active discussions with its other union partners to gather input on the issues that are most important to their members. In the months ahead, Norfolk Southern looks forward to making further progress with its labor leaders to negotiate and implement priorities that will have the greatest positive impact for its dedicated railroaders who keep the U.S. economy moving.