CLEVELAND, August 5 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the Indiana & Ohio Railway (I&O) governing rates of pay and work rules for approximately 50 locomotive engineers, conductors and conductor trainees.
Ballots were mailed on August 3, and are due by 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 28. Members who have not received a ballot by Monday, August 10, 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 urged all eligible members to participate in the ratification process. “As a union member, you have the duty to vote on the contract that governs your pay and working conditions,” President Pierce said. “Membership involvement in the balloting process helps make our union stronger, and I urge you to make your voice heard by participating in this most important democratic process.”
The BLET originally organized the I&O property on August 3, 2001, and the membership overwhelmingly ratified their first-ever union contract in February of 2003. Owned by the Genesee & Wyoming, the I&O operates over 570 miles of track in western Ohio, and in parts of southeastern Indiana and southeast Michigan.