Railroad workers at Watco, who joined the BLET to gain collective bargaining rights, have overwhelmingly ratified their first-ever contract. This marks a significant milestone for BLET-represented employees at the formerly non-union railroad.
Prior to selecting BLET as their designated collective bargaining representative in February of 2025, workers at Watco were all non-union “at will” employees. “Railroaders at Watco wanted strong union representation to address working conditions, seniority, protection from discipline, and compensation with their employer,” said BLET National Vice President James Logan Jr., who spearheaded BLET’s negotiating efforts at Watco. “With ratification of their first-ever BLET contract, our Watco brothers and sisters now have an established structure and formal framework to hold management accountable.”
Ratified on June 30, the new agreement covers seniority, job bidding, discipline procedures, grievances, compensation, benefits, layoffs, and union representation while preserving Watco’s operational flexibility. Current employees will receive a $2,500 signing bonus, with new hires in training receiving the bonus upon qualification. It establishes overtime pay at time-and-one-half for hours worked over 40 hours per week, holiday overtime pay, jury duty, bereavement leave protections, continued participation in Watco health and welfare, 401(k) retirement, and vacation programs.
BLET’s Watco members belong to Division 16, the Brotherhood’s short line division. In addition to Vice President Logan, the negotiating team consisted of Grievance Chair Tandi Colibert and Director of the BLET Short Line Department Luke Myers. BLET’s members work as train dispatchers at Watco’s dispatch center in Wichita, Kan., directing train movements for the railroad’s 45 regional short line railroads throughout the United States.
Watco locomotive photo by David Hawkins