Voting continues on the BLET’s tentative national agreement. Ballots were mailed December 5 to 12,000+ BLET members. The vote count and the announcement of the results is scheduled for Tuesday, December 30.
Earlier this month the BLET wrapped up its series of nine in-person Town Hall meetings designed to answer membership questions regarding the terms of the deal. Last week, the union held two virtual Town Hall meetings via Zoom, during which BLET National President Mark Wallace answered members’ questions and provided background on the negotiating process.
Highlights of the tentative five-year contract include:
- General wage increases of 17.5% (18.8% compounded)
- $500 lump sum payment
- No work rule concessions
- Improved vacation accrual schedule, allowing members to earn additional weeks of vacation at an accelerated rate
- No increase in out-of-pocket costs for health and welfare
- Employee monthly health and welfare cost sharing remains capped at 15% for the life of the agreement
- Enhancements to health and welfare benefits
If ratified, the tentative contract would run through 2029 and cover more than 12,000 BLET members at 10 railroads (Belt Railway Company of Chicago; BNSF Railway; Canadian National; Consolidated Rail Corporation; Canadian Pacific Kansas City*; Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company; Longview Switching Company; Norfolk Southern Railway Company; Metra*; and Portland Terminal Railroad Company. (Asterisk (*) indicates Health and Welfare only.)
The ratification packets mailed from the National Division on December 5 contain a copy of the tentative agreement, a synopsis, “Questions and Answers,” and most important — the ballot. Members also can review the tentative national agreement by logging in to the Members’ Area of the BLET National Division website.