BLET members last week unanimously ratified a new six-year contract with Keolis/Virginia Railway Express (VRE).
The agreement runs from July 1, 2026, through June 29, 2031 and provides a strong wage package along with meaningful quality of life improvements. Amtrak General Chairman Pat Darcy said the deal includes important modifications to scope and other defined representational authority, which were significant gains for the members.
The VRE membership belongs to Division 14 in Washington, D.C. The negotiating team consisted of General Chairman Darcy, Division 14 Local Chairman Todd Woollam, and National Vice President Jim Louis.
“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Vice President Louis and Local Chairman Woollam for their efforts in securing this important agreement,” Darcy said. “Through their dedication and hard work, we were able to achieve a strong wage package, along with meaningful quality of life and other long overdue improvements. Our members have spoken. I thank them for participating in one of our union’s most important democratic processes; the right to vote on an agreement that will govern their working conditions into the future.”
VRE provides commuter rail service from the Northern Virginia suburbs to Alexandria, Va. and downtown Washington, D.C. VRE operates 30 trains from 19 stations, carrying an average of 20,000 passengers each day.
Photo by Doug Kroll