CLEVELAND, June 8 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is moving forward with its lawsuit to halt the United Transportation Union’s attempt to implement a seniority maintenance and seniority retention agreement reached with the nation’s railroads.
The implementation of the UTU Letter of Intent could require BLET members to pay double dues if they desire to retain their BLET membership while working in train service.
The lawsuit, seeking a permanent injunction declaring these types of agreements in violation of the Railway Labor Act, was filed on November 24.
BLET Staff Attorney T.C. Brennan advises that copies of all pleadings recently filed with the court are available in the Members Area of the BLET website. Any questions relating to this case should be directed to Brother Brennan at the National Division.
The BLET’s position is that the Letter of Intent influences or coerces employees in an effort to induce them to join or remain members of the UTU or not to join or remain members of the BLET in violation of Section 2, Fourth of the RLA.
The suit seeks a permanent injunction to stop implementation of the seniority maintenance and seniority retention agreement and also seeks to restore all seniority rights to employees negatively impacted by the UTU letter of intent.
A copy of the UTU’s Letter of Intent to implement double dues is available on the BLET website at:
https://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/LETTEROFINTENT-11-22-04.pdf
Copies of the court documents are available in the password-protected area of the BLET website at:
https://www.ble-t.org/members/utu