On March 7, BLET members ratified a new contract with the Berkshire & Eastern Railroad (B&E). The agreement governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for 32 members. It was ratified by a vote of 26 in favor, one against.
Some of the contractual improvements include:
- 13% hourly rate of pay increase;
- Accelerated progression of Entry Level rates of pay, so engineers receive the 100% rate of pay much sooner;
- Availability of a 401(k) savings plan, with 100% company match up to 4 percent of an engineer’s yearly compensation; and
- Pay rates at one and a half times the hourly rate on holidays, in addition to a holiday allowance.
Members governed by this agreement belong to either BLET Division 112 or Division 191. They are represented by General Chairman Kevin J. Moore of the STR-DH-SLR-NECR-CSO-NYW-B&E General Committee of Adjustment. During negotiations, the BLET was represented by Brother Moore, National Vice President L. Randy Fannon Jr., and Division 112 Local Chairman Nicholas K. Paige.
The B&E is a short line railroad in New England and New York, using tracks owned by Pan Am Southern and running between Mechanicville, N.Y., and Ayer, Mass. Pan Am Southern is jointly owned by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway.