INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 6 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) governing rates of pay and work rules for more than 400 locomotive engineers, assistant locomotive engineers and locomotive engineer trainees.
TrueBallot, Inc., will conduct online and telephone voting for this agreement. Ballots and instructions, along with a synopsis of the agreement, have been mailed to active members working for NJ Transit. Voting ends at 3:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 28.
Members who are eligible and have not received a ratification packet by April 13, 2016, 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;
• the last four digits of your Social Security number; and
• your email address if you would like your ballot information sent via email.
However, e-mail requests for ballots will not be accepted by the National Division because personal information is required to verify eligibility before a ballot can be issued.
The BLET was one of 11 unions bargaining jointly as the NJ Transit Rail Labor Coalition. A tentative agreement was announced on March 11, hours before a March 13 deadline for a possible strike or lockout. The unions have been without a contract for five years.
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce encouraged all affected members to take an active role in the voting process. “Union membership is not a spectator sport,” President Pierce said. “As a member of the BLET, it is your duty to read, understand, and vote on your collective bargaining agreement. Contract balloting is one of the most important processes in our Brotherhood, so please do your part and make your voice heard.”