CLEVELAND, June 21 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with Canadian National’s Wisconsin Central (CN-WC) subsidiary. BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce announced that ballots were mailed yesterday to active members of the BLET employed by CN-WC who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Ballots are due by Friday, July 25. The tentative agreement governs rates of pay and work rules for over 500 members.
Members who are eligible and have not received a ratification packet by Friday, June 27 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
• the last four digits of 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.
The Wisconsin Central operates over approximately 2,850 miles of track and trackage rights in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Ontario. The BLET organized the Wisconsin Central property in 1997, and the railroad was purchased by CN in 2001 for $1.2 billion.
President Pierce urged all eligible members to participate in the ratification process. “I encourage every member to study this proposal, become educated on the issues, and then vote,” President Pierce said. “Union membership gives us the right and the duty to have a voice in our pay and working conditions, and the best way to make your voice heard is by participating in the Brotherhood’s democratic processes.”