INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, February 8 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a Tentative Agreement with the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (M&NA) governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for nearly 80 operating employees.
On February 7, 2018, ballots, instructions, and a synopsis of the agreement were mailed to active members working for the M&NA. Voting will conclude on Friday, March 9. Members who have not received a ballot by Monday, February 19, should request a replacement by calling the BLET National Division at (216) 241-2630, ext. 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.
The BLET originally organized the M&NA operating employees in 1999 and their first BLET-negotiated agreement went into effect in April of 2000. They are a part of the BLET’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe (former STL-SF) General Committee of Adjustment.
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce encouraged all M&NA members to closely review the February 7 ratification packet and to make sure they attend a Division meeting or contact the General Committee of Adjustment office with any questions they might have on the issues.
“Union membership is not a spectator sport,” President Pierce said. “Voting on your union contract is one of the core democratic principles of our Union. I encourage all of our M&NA Brothers and Sisters to become educated on the issues and to participate in this most important process of union democracy.”
The M&NA is a Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary headquartered in Carthage, Mo., operating approximately 490 miles of line in Arkansas and Missouri. It interchanges with Class I carriers Union Pacific, BNSF Railway, and Kansas City Southern.