INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, November 30 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railway (CF&E). Ballots were mailed yesterday to active members of the BLET employed by CF&E who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Ballots are due by 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, December 27. The tentative agreement governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for approximately 40 members.
Members who are eligible and have not received a ratification packet by Thursday, December 6 should call the National Division at (216) 241-2630, extension 222. When connected with the extension, please leave the following information:
• Your name, address and phone number;
• The division to which you belong;
• The date you were promoted to locomotive engineer;
• Your date of birth; and
• Your Social Security number.
E-mail requests for ballots will not be accepted because personal information is required to verify eligibility before a ballot can be issued.
President Pierce urged all eligible members to participate in the ratification process. “Voting on contract agreements is one of the most important responsibilities of a union member,” President Pierce said. “I encourage all of our CF&E members to study this proposed contract and to cast their vote in the ratification process.”
The BLET organized the CF&E property in 2005. The railroad operates over 323 miles of track from Crestline, Ohio to Tolleston, Ind., east of Chicago. It is a Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary.