INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified a five-year national freight rail contract, the union announced.
The contract covers more than 12,000 union members at 10 railroads, including BNSF Railway, Norfolk Southern, and Canadian National’s U.S. operations. Voting concluded today (Dec. 30); vote details were not released.
“This is a democratic union; accepting or rejecting this agreement was solely our members’ decision,” BLET National President Mark Wallace said in a press release. “The feedback we received as we traveled the nation showed us that our members knew exactly how tough the national pattern was and voted with a clear understanding of what was at stake. Against that backdrop, this agreement delivers real gains, protects our work rules, and avoids concessions.”
Terms of the contract mirror other agreements with individual railroads, including annual wage creases totaling 18.8% over the life of the contract; a one-time $500 lump sum payment; improved vacation accrual; and improved medical benefits with no increase in out-of-pocket costs. The new contract provisions will take effect over the next 60 days.
Other railroads covered by the agreement are the Belt Railway of Chicago; Conrail; Indiana Harbor Belt; Longview Switching Co.; and Portland Terminal Railroad Co. CPKC and Metra are included for health and welfare provisions only.
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