BLET members ratify national contract

http://www.ble.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5223

CLEVELAND, January 5 - By a margin of better than 2-to-1, members of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) today approved a
new collective bargaining agreement with the National Carriers' Conference
Committee (NCCC).

The five-year agreement covers health & welfare and other fringe benefits
for over 30,000 BLET members nationwide, and rates of pay and work rules
issues for a smaller number. It includes general wage increases of 18.6
percent over the life of the agreement and a lump sum retroactive payment.

The agreement is retroactive to January 1, 2010, and covers locomotive
engineers employed by the following railroads: Belt Railway of Chicago;
BNSF Railway (H&W only); Conrail; CP Rail-US (Soo Line); CSX
Transportation (H&W only); Indiana Harbor Belt; Kansas City Southern
System (KCS/L&A, Gateway Western, MidSouth, South Rail, and Tex Mex);
Longview Switching; Portland Terminal; Union Pacific Railroad (H&W only);
and Winston-Salem Southbound. It also covers all train service employees
on the Texas Mexican Railway.

The agreement largely reflects the recommendations of Presidential
Emergency Board 243, which was appointed on the eve of a pending
nationwide strike by BLET members. The PEB recommendations provided a
better outcome for BLET members than the carrier's proposal by
recommending the phasing in of the larger portions of the health and
welfare changes over an 18-month period, rather than instituting all of
them immediately.

The BLET's National Wage Committee, led by National President Dennis R.
Pierce, then secured a Flexible Spending Account benefit to help offset
any possible increased costs associated with the health and welfare, as
well as a clarification to PEB 243's ambiguous recommendation that a 1%
signing bonus only be paid on an employee's "straight time" earnings.

"I want to thank those who took the time to cast their vote. The BLET is a
membership-driven union and our members show their strength every time
they get involved," National President Pierce said. "With the backing of a
strong mobilization effort, we had a very solid turnout, considering
balloting took place during the holiday season. With almost 70% of those
voting casting a vote in favor of the agreement, it also is clear to me
that our members took the time to study the issues before making a very
careful choice."

A copy of the agreement is available here:
www.ble-t.org/agreement/BLET-NCCC_Tentative_Agreement.pdf

A synopsis of the agreement is available here:
www.ble-t.org/agreement/BLET-NCCC_Tentative_Agreement_Synopsis.pdf

Mark your calendars for 2012 BLET regional meetings

http://www.ble.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5200

CLEVELAND, October 28 - BLET members looking to schedule their vacation
time for next year should consider attending one of the organization's
four regional meetings in 2012.

These multi-day meetings combine the best of the Brotherhood - networking,
education and training, and family fun - all in one place. The meetings
provide an excellent opportunity for members to reminisce with old
acquaintances, make new friends, remember those who cannot be with us, and
join together in a way that would make our forefathers proud.

The dates and locations are as follows:

June 24-29, 2012
85th annual Southeastern Meeting Association
Walt Disney World
Orlando, Fla.
Arrangements Chairman Earl Karper (Division 35) is hosting the 2012 SMA at
the Disney Coronado Springs Hotel (1000 West Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena
Vista, FL 32830, phone: (407) 939-1000). For details, visit
www.SMA2012.com. Contact Brother Karper: ekarper@sma2012.com.

July 29-August 1, 2012
72nd annual International Western Convention
Crown Plaza Hotel
Billings, Mont.
Hosted by Arrangements Chairman Craig Gilchrist (Montana State Legislative
Board Chairman, BLET Division 298) and Co-Chair D.B. Kenner (Division
195). At the Crown Plaza Billings (27 North 27th St., Billings, Mont.
59101, phone: (406) 252-7400).  Contact Brother Gilchrist:
blecag@nemontel.net; or Brother Kenner: kennerdb@yahoo.com.

August 19-24, 2012
74th annual Eastern Union Meeting Association
Atlantic City, N.J.
Hosted by Arrangements Chairman Matt Kronyak (New Jersey State Legislative
Board Chairman and Division 231 Local Chairman), the 2012 EUMA will be at
Bally's Atlantic City (1900 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City, NJ 08401, phone:
(800) 345-7253, www.ballysac.com). Contact Brother Kronyak:
mckronyak@aol.com or (201) 978-6436.

September 9-13, 2012
77th annual Southwestern Convention Meeting
Galveston, Texas
Hosted by Arrangements Chairman Jack Sweeny, Division 776 Local Chairman),
the 2012 SWCM will be at the Moody Gardens Hotel (Seven Hope Blvd.,
Galveston, Texas 77554, phone: (888) 388-8484, www.moodygardenshotel.com).
Contact Brother Sweeny: jrsweeny@coastal-link.net.