CLEVELAND, October 20 — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Canadian Pacific-U.S. Railway (Soo Line) on October 9, 2015.
The 5-year deal governs rates of pay, work rules and health and welfare benefits for nearly 400 locomotive engineers. The agreement significantly overhauls the pay structure for engineers by implementing a new hourly rate system. The contract provides for a basic 10-hour day as well as overtime rates and general holiday rates. The contract also provides for a Guaranteed Extra Board weekly rate of pay.
The hourly agreement provides all employees, including Guaranteed Extra Boards and Pools with two consecutive days off in their scheduled work week. The agreement also provides for up to 11 personal leave days and up to five weeks’ vacation. The contract also contains a reversion clause after three years, which allows the union to reinstate the collective bargaining agreement in effect prior to the current agreement if the hourly rate agreement fails to meet the expectation of BLET members. If there is no reversion, then the agreement is extended for two more years.
“The hourly rate of pay is a concept that our members have embraced on other railroads with similar operational structures,” BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce said.
General Chairman Pete Semenek led the negotiating team, along with Vice President Cole Davis.
“I congratulate Brother Davis and Brother Semenek for a job well done,” President Pierce said. “I also thank the membership for taking the time to study the new contract and to vote in our union’s democratic process.”