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This article was featured in the Winter 2025-2026 IAM Journal and was written by IAM Communications Representatives John Carr.
After nearly two years without raises and working under expired conditions, a coalition of powerful rail unions, including IAM Local 318, Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM),the Brotherhood Railway Carmen (BRC), and American Railway and Airway Supervisors Association (ARASA) reached major contract victories with Keolis Commuter Services, operator of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) commuter rail system.
These agreements, covering nearly 800 essential front-line rail workers, deliver long-overdue raises and key benefit improvements across the board. It’s a hard-fought win for the unions and their members, who stood together through years of stalled negotiations and growing economic pressure.
“We came into this united and stayed united,” said Josh Hartford, Special Assistant to the International President for the IAM Rail Division. “And because of that unity, we’re proud to say our members are walking away with contracts that finally reflect their worth.”
FROM OUTDATED CONTRACTS TO A RENEWED FUTURE
For IAM Local 318, the victory ends a period of stagnation. Representing 175 skilled commuter rail workers, the Local had been working under a contract that hadn’t seen a raise since mid 2021. Despite that, members continued to deliver exceptional service, keeping Boston’s trains moving and passengers safe, even as inflation and cost-of-living increases squeezed working families.
“Our members have been more than patient,” said IAM Local 318 Communicator/Educator Joe Rumery. “We kept our heads down, did our jobs, and fought for a fair deal. Now, we finally have a contract that respects the work we do every single day.”
Union leaders across the coalition agreed the delay had become untenable, and pressure was mounting to bring wages and benefits in line with current standards.
“For years, our members were falling further behind,” said Rumery. “We weren’t going to keep accepting outdated terms while our members’ grocery bills and rent kept rising.”
A COALITION IN ACTION
Frustrated by stalled talks, the IAM Rail Division joined forces with eight other unions to form a coalition that brought together every corner of Boston’s commuter rail system. That coalition made its biggest impact in October 2024, when hundreds of union members rallied at South Station, demanding justice on the job.
Backing them was a powerful show of political unity. U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Seth Moulton, and Stephen Lynch, along with State Sen. Brendan Crighton joined the rally and pledged their support.
“That day at South Station was a turning point,” said IAM Local 318 President and Local Chairman Jonathan Clark. “We weren’t just nine unions with separate demands. We were one voice saying ‘enough is enough.’”
“When elected officials came out and stood with us, it sent a message to Keolis that this wasn’t going to fade into the background,” added Clark. “We had community and political power behind us.”
In August 2024, the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation escalated the pressure by sending a letter directly to Keolis CEO Abdellah Chajai, urging the company to remain at the table and negotiate in good faith. That letter, combined with ongoing union coordination, helped push talks over the finish line in early 2025.
“It was proof that when you mobilize the members and amplify your voice, you can make people listen, even at the top levels,” said Clark.
WHAT THE NEW CONTRACTS DELIVER
The agreements for the Coalition, backdated to July 1, 2023 and running through June 30, 2028, set a strong new standard across the system. They include meaningful economic and quality of life improvements that reflect members’ sacrifices and commitment throughout the long bargaining process.
“This contract makes a real difference in our members’ lives,” said Joe Rumery. “These wage increases will finally help them keep up with Boston’s skyrocketing costs.”
“It’s more than just the numbers,” added Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) Local Chairman Local Chairperson Rhonda Lanyon. “It’s about respect, and showing these workers that they matter, that their time and their families matter. After years of being overlooked, this contract finally gives our members the recognition they’ve earned.”
The Brotherhood Railway Carmen and American Railway and Airway Supervisors Association (ARASA) members secured parallel improvements in their agreements, creating an overall uplift for the commuter rail workforce.
“For the first time in a long time, we’re no longer negotiating in silos,” said Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Local Chairman Dan Clement. “We fought side by side, and we all won.”
“We’ve been under pressure for years trying to do more with less, and this contract finally gives us breathing room,” said ARASA Local Chairman Joe English. “It’s a step forward not only in pay, but in how management recognizes the professionalism we bring to the commuter rail every day.”
THE HUMAN COST OF DELAY AND THE POWER OF PERSISTENCE
One of the most difficult aspects of this campaign was the sheer length of the delay. While these union contracts technically don’t expire, they contain amendment dates that are supposed to trigger good-faith negotiations. For some unions, including IAM Local 318, that date passed nearly two years ago, leaving members without raises for the entire period.
“The hardest part was knowing how long our members had to wait, without seeing a dime more in their paychecks,” said IAM District 19 General Chairman Danny Tavares. “But their patience and their unity kept us strong. That’s what made this possible.”
Despite the frustrations, the coalition never turned to service disruptions or job actions. Instead, they organized, educated the public, and leaned on legislative allies to help pressure Keolis from all angles.
“We didn’t want to hurt Boston’s commuters, we serve them every day,” added Tavares. “But we also made it clear that our members wouldn’t be ignored forever.”
A MODEL FOR FUTURE WINS
As labor struggles continue to rise across the country, the Boston commuter rail contracts show what can be achieved through cross-union coordination, strategic pressure, and persistent advocacy.
“This was never just about IAM Local 318 or TCU alone,” said Hartford. “It was about all of us standing shoulder to shoulder for something bigger. That’s how we changed the game.”
The campaign offers a clear blueprint for other public sector unions facing similar obstacles: build coalitions, find common ground, and don’t let employers divide or delay progress.
“This wasn’t just a fight for better contracts this was a fight for dignity, for working families, and for the future of the rail industry in Boston,” said TCU/IAM National President Artie Maratea. “Whenour unions stood together, we proved that solidarity is more than a slogan it’s how we win. This coalition delivered real results, and it sends a clear message: we will not back down when our members’ livelihoods are on the line.”
“There’s power in numbers, especially when those numbers are unified,” said Tavares. “We proved that here in Boston, and we’ll do it again wherever workers are fighting for a fair deal.”
LOOKING AHEAD
For members of IAM Local 318 and the coalition, the victory is more than a contract, it’s validation. It’s recognition of the skill, dedication, and resilience it takes to keep Boston’s rail network moving, even under outdated contracts and economic pressure.
“This win shows that when workers come together, we can take on giants,” said Hartford. “It took every one of us to make this happen, and every one of us is walking away stronger.”
