INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 11 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the South Buffalo Railway Company (SBRR). The BLET SBRR members are asked to check their mailboxes for ballots, which the National Division mailed yesterday, April 10. Ballots will be counted on Friday, May 5, 2023.
The three-year tentative agreement would provide a $1,000.00 signing bonus and general wage increases of 5.5% in 2023, 4.5% in 2024 and 4.0% in 2025. The tentative deal would also provide members with six paid “flex days” per year to be taken for various reasons without penalty (provided the employee gives the company a minimum 48-hour notice). Unused flex days would not accumulate from year to year but would be paid out on the last payday before the Christmas holiday. Each employee would also receive one additional floating holiday per calendar year.
Members who are eligible and have not received a ratification packet by April 18 should call the BLET National Division at (216) 241-2630, ext. 222, which goes straight to voice mail. When connected, please leave the following:
- Your name, address, and phone number;
- The Division to which you belong;
- The railroad you work for;
- The date you were promoted to locomotive engineer;
- 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 to receive a ratification packet.
The BLET’s SBRR members belong to Division 16 (Independence, Ohio).