National Contract Negotiations
The Tentative Agreement and Agreed Upon Q&A’s are available in the Member’s Area
News
President Pierce discusses tentative national agreement in podcast
BLET National President Dennis Pierce discussed details of the tentative national agreement as a guest on America’s Work Force Union Podcast where he was interviewed by program host Ed “Flash” Ferenc. A
BLET members to begin voting November 1 on tentative national agreement
Ballots will be mailed Monday, October 31, to approximately 24,000 BLET members and voting will begin on November 1 regarding the tentative national agreement. Ballots are due on November 20 by 11:59 p.m. ET.
Rail strike worry prompts businesses to seek White House intervention
Businesses are increasingly worried about the renewed threat of a railroad strike after two unions rejected their deals, and they want the Biden administration and Congress to be ready to intervene.
President Pierce to attend Town Hall meetings Oct. 25-28 to discuss tentative national agreement
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, October 20 — The BLET’s Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe General Committees of Adjustment are hosting four Town Hall meetings in Missouri and Nebraska open to BLET members from all involved railroads next week regarding the tentative...
BLET joins in 2022 Houston Solidarity Rally
A large contingent of BLET members and officers participated in a solidarity rally in Houston on October 18. The purpose was to create and show solidarity among members of BLET, SMART-TD, BMWED, along with members of other invited rail labor unions.
SMART-MD ratifies labor pact with freight railroads
Members of the SMART Railroad, Mechanical and Engineering Department (SMART MD) voted to ratify a tentative agreement with the nation’s major freight railroads, the union and National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) announced yesterday.
Setting the record straight on Tentative National Freight Agreement
My message in the last BLET Newsletter was a joint message with SMART TD President Jeremy Ferguson giving a detailed report on the presentations that the United Rail Unions made before Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 250. Much has happened since that joint message. On August 17, 2022, PEB 250 issued its recommendations; that detailed report is available on the BLET website, and it started a second 30-day cooling off period.
A must-watch video for freight rail BLET and SMART-TD members
A must-watch for all involved members of the BLET and SMART-TD, BLET President Dennis Pierce and SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson have published a joint video regarding the tentative national freight agreement. The Presidents describe the challenging political environment surrounding the negotiating process and outline the wages, work rules, and health & welfare benefits secured in the tentative deal.
American Train Dispatchers Association ratifies labor agreement
Members of the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) have ratified the labor contract with the freight railroads, joining three other unions that have already done so.
Open Letter To The BLET Membership On The Tentative Agreement For Freight Engineers
The BLET National General Chairmen’s Association (NGCA) includes General Chairmen from Class 1 freight, commuter and passenger, and short line railroads. Put briefly, those officers are the designated BLET representatives for our members on their railroad properties. Each one has an affirmative duty to negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements and represent our members in all grievances related to their respective CBAs and disciplinary matters.