In a unanimous vote (22-0), members of the BLET ratified their first contract with the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER). The previously non-union workers voted to join the BLET in June of 2024.
The new five-year agreement establishes rights that BLET members working at other railroads already enjoy: a seniority roster with prior rights protections; grievance procedures and union protection from discipline; guaranteed work weeks with rest days; a process to promote engineers; a formal training process; paid personal time off; and other work rule and safety improvements. The contract also provides general wage increases and a signing bonus.
Members covered by this tentative agreement belong to BLET Division 16, the union’s short line division. The negotiating team consisted of current Grievance Chairman Elijah DeLaGarza, former Grievance Chair Matt Kihlthau, and National Vice President James Logan.
The AZER is a Class III railroad that operates 206 miles between Clifton and Miami, Ariz. It is owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc.