INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 14 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative on-property agreement with Montana Rail Link (MRL), National President Dennis R. Pierce announced today. Ballots are being mailed on April 15 to active members of the BLET employed by MRL who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
The tentative agreement governs rates of pay, work rules, and health & welfare for approximately 475 members. Online voting will be conducted by TrueBallot, Inc., and ballots are due by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, May 6, 2022. Members can vote using the unique QR code on each ballot, or by going online and using a private PIN found on the ballot.
Members who are eligible and have not received a ballot by Monday, April 25 should call the BLET National Division at (216) 241-2630, ext. 222. When connected with the extension, please leave the following information:
- your name, address and phone number;
- your date of birth; and
- the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Email requests for ballots will not be accepted because personal information is required to verify eligibility before issuing a ballot.
The BLET members who work for MRL are represented by the BNSF/MRL General Committee of Adjustment and they belong to Division 232 or Division 262.
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce urged all eligible members to participate in the ratification process. “Our Montana Rail Link membership has a very active history in union affairs,” President Pierce said. “I encourage them to continue that collective activism and make sure they vote in this important function of union democracy.”
President Pierce said a delegation of BLET officers is visiting numerous MRL properties for Town Hall meetings to discuss details of the tentative contract with the membership and to encourage participation in the balloting process. The officers involved included: Vice President Mike Priester; General Chairman Kent Psota; Vice General Chairman Jess Nelson; Division 262 Local Chairman Pete Dodge; and Division 232 Local Chairman Alex Hilde.
Based in Missoula, Montana, MRL is a Class II regional railroad operating over 900 route miles of track in Montana and Idaho.
Members affected by this Tentative Agreement may view a synopsis at:
https://ble-t.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MRL_TA_synopsis_2022.pdf