CLEVELAND, September 10 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with Canadian National’s former Illinois Central property, BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce announced. Ballots are being mailed today to active members of the BLET employed by CN-IC who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Ballots are due by Wednesday, October 16. The tentative agreement governs rates of pay and work rules for approximately 600 members who work in the locomotive engineers’ craft.
Members who are eligible and have not received a ratification packet by Friday, September 20 should call the National Division (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.
In 1998, the Canadian National Railway absorbed the Illinois Central Railroad in a $2.4 billion merger. CN-IC’s major north-south route connects Chicago with Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans, La.
President Pierce urged all eligible members to participate in the ratification process. “I encourage every member who is eligible to study this contract proposal, become educated on the issues, and — most importantly — vote,” President Pierce said. “Union membership is not a spectator sport, and as union members we all have the right and the duty to vote on this important issue.”