BLET members today ratified a new on-property agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad, which covers rates of pay, work rules, and health & welfare benefits for nearly 6,000 members employed at UP. Members voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratification, with 2,467 voting in favor and only 527 voting against.
“This agreement delivers much-needed pay increases and closes this round of bargaining without any concessions to work rules,” said Mark Wallace, BLET National President. “Members decided it was equitable, addressing quality-of-life issues like meal increases while preserving the integrity of the 11/4 work-rest agreement. It keeps wages ahead of inflation.”
Annual wage increases will be applied as follows: 4.0% in 2025, 3.75% in 2026, 3.5% in 2027, 3.25% in 2028, and 3.0% in 2029. Additional highlights of the new five-year contract include:
- General wage increases totaling 17.5% (compounded rate of 18.8%)
- No concessions on work rules
- Enhanced vacation accrual allowing members their additional weeks at an accelerated rate
- Enhancements to health and welfare benefits
- Creation of a new reduced-cost medical plan (10%) for employees only. The plan is optional and employee monthly cost sharing is capped for the life of the agreement.
- Medical cost sharing for existing coverage is capped at 15% for the life of the agreement
- Improvements to discipline and claims handling designed to expedite both processes
- Increased away-from-home meal allowances
Improvements to time off benefits under the new contract now provide three weeks of vacation after six years of employment (previously eight), four weeks of vacation after 15 years (previously 17), and five weeks of vacation after 23 years (previously 25).
“This agreement is the result of the tireless effort and hard work of our General Chairmen and I congratulate them for their negotiating this contract that was ratified by the members,” President Wallace said.
The BLET’s Union Pacific General Chairmen involved in the negotiations were: Kyle Bagby, UP-Central Region; Chad Lambert, UP-Eastern District; Dick Crow, UP-Northern Region; Scott Alexander, UP-Southern Region; Brian Carr, UP-Western Lines; and Will Wallace, UP-Western Region. National President Wallace, along with Wage Team Members First Vice-President Gary Best and UP National Vice President Kevin Sexton, actively supported the General Chairmen throughout this round of negotiations.
Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659