The BLET has reached a tentative contract with the Pacific Harbor Line (PHL). Ballots for a vote on a tentative agreement governing rates of pay for approximately 150 members were mailed on Friday, June 21.
If ratified by the membership, the agreement would run through 2027 and is a 2-year extension on the current 5-year contract ratified in 2020. It would provide general wage increases of 5% retroactive to May 2024, 3% in September 2024, 4% in 2025 and 4% in 2026.
Ballots are due on July 12, 2024. Members who have not received a ballot by July 2, 2024, 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;
- The railroad you work for;
- Your date of birth;
- The last four digits of your Social Security number; and
- Your email address.
Please note: All replacement ballots will be distributed via email. It’s important that any member at PHL who requires a replacement ballot include their email address in their voicemail; otherwise, they will not be able to participate in the ratification vote.
The PHL members belong to BLET Division 214 (Long Beach, Calif.). The BLET negotiating team was led by Union Pacific-Western Lines/PHL General Chairman Brian P. Carr and Division 214 Local Chairman Jose L. Covarrubias, with assistance from National Vice President Gary Best.
Pacific Harbor Line, Inc. (www.anacostia.com/railroads/phl) provides railroad switching services to customers in the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, which together form the largest container port in the United States. PHL dispatches all BNSF Railway and Union Pacific trains within the ports. PHL is a subsidiary of Anacostia Rail Holdings, which operates six local and regional freight railroads in seven states.