BLET News

The following is a letter from Union Pacific -outhern Region General Chairman Dana Marlow and his Vice General Chairmen encouraging their members to vote in favor of the Tentative National Agreement.

The following is a letter from General Chairman Jerry LaPrath in support of the tentative national agreement to all members of the BNSF/MRL General Committee of Adjustment dated October 27, 2017.

By James H. Dixon, BLET Division 62 Dear Brother Pierce: My thanks to you and your team for the Town Hall Meeting in Houston (October 25) to explain the new agreement proposal being considered. I arrived opposed to it and departed in support of it.

On November 7, 2017, the BLET National Division hosted a Town Hall Meeting regarding the Tentative National Agreement. More than 100 members and officers were in attendance, including representatives from BLET, SMART TD, and the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA). To help all BLET members make an informed decision about the agreement, a video of BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce’s presentation at the Town Hall is being made available online.

As previously announced on October 6, 2017, the six Rail Unions comprising the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG) have reached a Tentative National Agreement with the Nation’s Freight Rail Carriers. As this Update goes to press, members of all CBG Unions have either received their ballots, or soon will. All members are encouraged to review the Tentative Agreement and compare those terms and conditions to the other options before us and participate in your future by casting your vote.

By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Veterans Day is of particular importance to the membership of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. Our Brotherhood was founded on May 8, 1863, and many of our earliest members were veterans of the Civil War.

By Gil L. Gore, BLET National Vice President Looking at our proposed National Agreement out for ratification and the political rhetoric emerging from the same reminds me of the lyrics to an old Kenny Rogers song The Gambler… “Every gambler knows that the secret to survivin’ is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep… Cause every hand””””s a winner and every hand””””s a loser.” The same holds true for this round of national bargaining.

Balloting has begun for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s (BLET) tentative national agreement with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee, which governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for over 25,000 locomotive engineers and trainmen.

Time is running out for BLET members who want to sign up for the Health Flexible Spending Account Plan (Health FSA). Open enrollment for the 2018 Plan Year ends at midnight Tuesday, October 31, 2017.

The BLET National Division extends deepest condolences to National President Dennis R. Pierce and family on the passing of his father.

Matthew B. Parker was reelected by acclamation to his second term as Chairman of the Nevada State Legislative Board at the Board’s quadrennial meeting in Reno, Nevada, September 20-21, 2017.

The Great Lakes Science Center is looking for current and retired rail workers to come aboard and volunteer to help with “All Aboard! The Science of Trains,” a railway display exhibit running Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, through Feb. 19, 2018, at the museum, 601 Erieside Ave. in Cleveland.

Open enrollment for the Health Flexible Spending Account Plan (FSA) 2018 benefit year is available for just over two more weeks, concluding on October 31, 2017. It is important to note that members must enroll in the Health FSA every year — FSA enrollment is not automatic each year so interested members should act soon so they do not miss out on enrollment for the 2018 Plan Year.

On October 6, 2017, the six Rail Unions comprising the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG) announced that they had reached a Tentative National Agreement with the Nation’s Freight Rail Carriers. Shortly after that announcement, a Union belonging to a different bargaining coalition began a campaign of misinformation, misrepresentation and outright falsehood in an effort to disrupt and undermine the democratic ratification process of the CBG Unions. This anti-union activity has included public letters replete with falsehoods, leaflets at TY&E on-duty points, also filled with falsehoods, and a social media campaign intended to negatively influence the ratification process of the CBG Unions. We can no longer stand by and allow this anti-union interference and disruption to go unchecked.

In response to membership questions regarding the Tentative National Agreement, the BLET is making available a summary of its main points and some examples of its application.

Rail Unions making up the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG) announced today that they have reached a Tentative National Agreement with the Nation’s Freight Rail Carriers. The CBG is comprised of six unions, including the BLET.

The BLET National Division is continuing to accept donations and applications for its Perrien Fund to help members victimized by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana.

Open enrollment for the Health Flexible Spending Account Plan (FSA) 2018 benefit year runs from October 1 through October 31, 2017. Members must enroll in the Health FSA every year — FSA enrollment is not automatic each year so interested members should act soon so they do not miss out on enrollment for the 2018 Plan Year.

On September 14, BLET member Shane T. McDonald of Division 46 (Albany, N.Y.) was severely injured in a CSX yard accident near Syracuse, N.Y., and a GoFundMe account has been established to help him and his family with medical and living expenses.

If you are a union member who participates in certain Union Plus programs and have been affected by Hurricane Irma, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Union Plus Disaster Relief Grant program.