Sept 19 (Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway ( BRK/A )-owned

BNSF Railway said on Thursday it has reached a tentative

agreement, for a five-year deal, with the International

Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers

(SMART) union.

The agreement, which still needs to be ratified by the union

members, provides a 3.5% average wage increase per year over the

next five years, including improvements in healthcare benefits

and provisions that offer railroaders more vacation days earlier

in their career.

The contract covers members of the union's transportation

division (SMART-TD), including Yardmasters.

"The news marks eight tentative agreements in less than one

month's time, representing more than 15,000 employees and more

than 46 percent of BNSF's union workforce," the railroad said.

In August, BNSF reached tentative agreements with four labor

unions in partnership with its peer Norfolk Southern ( NSC ) .