FORT WORTH, December 30 — Voting as a block for the first time since the 1995 merger, BLE Divisions across the entire BNSF property overwhelmingly approved an historic on-property agreement with 93% of the Divisions returning a ballot.
In the final tally, 84% (80 Divisions) voted in favor of the agreement and 16% (15 Divisions) voted against.
All engineers across the railroad are now entitled to personal leave days regardless of their class of service or assignment and without limit to either the number of days they can place in their bank or when they can cash in these days. In addition, the agreement establishes a new pay rule for “Engineer Only Helper Service” which includes additional compensation for when such service is performed.
The on-property agreement complements an alternative compensation package, which was also recently ratified by a 60 percent majority of the BLE members voting on the property. In the first year of the BNSF alternative compensation contract, members would see a maximum profit sharing of 6% of their annual earnings for 2004 and a maximum of 8% for 2005 and thereafter. Members have the right to opt out of the profit sharing after the first year.
“We see this as the beginning of a cooperative effort between the four general committees and we look forward to the future,” said General Chairman Dennis Pierce.
“I’m glad we were able to put this round to a close,” General Chairman Pat Williams said. “I’m glad that our members chose the alternative compensation package. My sincere hope is that the BLE is first at the negotiating table next round so that we can set the bar rather than have to accept what someone else has set.”
“Certainly we’re happy to close this round of bargaining and we’re looking forward to new opportunities in obtaining greater security and earnings for all engineers in the upcoming round of bargaining,” said General Chairman Austin Morrison.
“It speaks well for the concerted efforts of the four BLE Committees on the BNSF to work together and try to get issues resolved that are of interest to all our membership,” General Chairman Rick Gibbons said. “We really needed to build this coalition amongst ourselves to confront the carrier. The four of us have truly come a long way in focusing on the betterment of the BLE-BNSF community.
“The overwhelming support of both the Alternative Compensation Package and the On-Property Package gives us the feedback we need to jump right back into the next round,” General Chairman Gibbons continued. “We view this as but the first step in securing even more for our dedicated and hard working members. With their continued support, we feel we can set the standard even higher.”
In accordance with the Railway Labor Act, the General Committees will serve Section 6 notices on the BNSF in November of 2004, opening the next round of contract negotiations.