INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, May 6 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract with the Indiana and Ohio Railway (I&O), governing rates of pay and work rules for approximately 50 engineers, conductors, and trainees.
Ballots and instructions, along with a synopsis of the agreement, have been mailed to active members working for the I&O. Voting will conclude on Tuesday, May 31, 2016. Members who have not received a ballot by Thursday, May 12, should request a replacement by calling the BLET 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;
• your date of birth; and
• the last four digits of your Social Security number.
E-mail requests for ballots will not be accepted because personal information is required to verify eligibility before a ballot can be issued.
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce said this is a another milestone for the BLET membership on the property and encouraged them to take an active part in the ratification process.
“Our first contract for our Indiana and Ohio membership provided a sound foundation for us to build upon with this second agreement,” President Pierce said. “BLET members on the I&O have the right — and responsibility — to study and vote on the contract that governs their pay and working conditions. I urge those members to make their voices heard by participating in this most important democratic process.”
The BLET first organized the I&O on August 3, 2001, and a 78 percent majority of members ratified their first-ever union contract in 2003. I&O members belong to BLET Division 282 (Cincinnati, Ohio).
A subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc., the I&O is a 570-mile short line railroad operating primarily in western Ohio, as well as in parts of southeastern Indiana and southeast Michigan. The I&O serves the metropolitan areas of Cincinnati, Columbus, Springfield and Lima. The railroad handles a wide range of commodities, including metal products, chemicals, plastics, lumber, paper, grain and grain products, such as ethanol and dried distillers grains. The I&O serves several barge terminals in Cincinnati, and has customers offering transload services to handle a variety of products.