CLEVELAND, December 4 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Indiana Rail Road (INRD), BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce announced today. Ballots were mailed on November 29 to active members of the BLET employed by INDR who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Ballots must be received in the Office of the National Secretary-Treasurer no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Friday, January 4, 2013. The tentative agreement governs rates of pay and work rules for over 70 members in the train operator craft.
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;
• 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.
Founded in 1986, the Indianapolis-based Indiana Rail Road is a privately-held, 500-mile railroad based in Indianapolis. The company hauls the equivalent of more than 800,000 truckloads of consumer, industrial and energy products each year. It services Indiana and central Illinois with gateways to Chicago and Louisville.
President Pierce urged all eligible members to participate in the ratification process. “All members at the Indiana Rail Road who are eligible to vote have a responsibility to study the contract proposal and become educated on the issues,” he said. “Union membership is not a spectator sport and these Brothers and Sisters have a duty to cast their vote.”