INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, February 25 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with Transit America Services Inc. (TASI). Ballots have been mailed to active members of the BLET employed by TASI who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Ballots are due by 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Friday, March 15. The tentative agreement governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for more than 60 members.
Members who are eligible and have not received a ratification packet by Friday, March 1 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; and
• 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 cast their ballots in the ratification process. “The time for you to be involved in your union is now,” President Pierce said. “I encourage all of our TASI members to become educated on the issues and to participate in this most important processes of union democracy.”
With an average of 65,000 riders each weekday, Caltrain commuter service operates between San Francisco on the north end, through San Jose to Gilroy on the south end. Previously, Amtrak operated the service until the spring of 2012.