A contract ratification vote is underway for BLET members at the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (M&NA). Ballots were mailed this week to members to vote on a tentative on-property agreement governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for approximately 62 operating employees.
The five-year tentative deal would run through January 1, 2028, and would provide general wage increases of 25% (27.5% compounded) over the life of the contract (7% at signing in 2024; 5% in 2025, 5% in 2026, 4% in 2027, and 4% in 2028).
Contractual changes under the proposed agreement would provide members with the ability to cash out up to 40 hours of scheduled vacation each calendar year, eliminating the ability to carry over unused vacation days. Employees are also allowed to accumulate up to 12 flex days. Upon reaching 13 days, an automatic trigger payment of one day would return the employee to the maximum of 12 days.
Ballots are due on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Members who have not received a ballot by Tuesday, February 27, should request a replacement by calling the BLET National Division at (216) 241-2630, ext. 222. When connected with the extension, please leave the following information:
- Your name, address and phone number;
- The division to which you belong;
- The railroad you work for;
- Your date of birth; and
- The last four digits of your Social Security number.
The above information is needed in order to verify membership and eligibility before a replacement ratification packet can be sent.
The M&NA members belong to Division 178 (Carthage, Mo.) and Division 116 (Batesville, Ark.) and are a part of the BLET’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe (former STL&SF) General Committee of Adjustment. The negotiating team consisted of National Vice President Billy Lyons, General Chairman Jeff Thurman, Vice General Chairman Kyle King, and Division 178 Local Chairman Cody Potter, and Division 116 Local Chairman Jason Seay.
A Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary, the Missouri & Northern Arkansas is a 490-mile short line railroad that operates throughout Missouri and Arkansas. It interchanges with three Class I railroads: BNSF at Aurora, Mo., Joplin, Mo., and Springfield, Mo.; Canadian Pacific Kansas City at Joplin, Mo.; and Union Pacific at Kansas City, Mo., and Newport, Ark.