CLEVELAND, February 19 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract with the Illinois Railway (IR), governing rates of pay and work rules for approximately 35 train and engine service employees.
Ballots and instructions, along with a synopsis of the agreement, are being mailed to active members working for the IR. Voting will conclude on Monday, March 21, 2016. Members who have not received a ballot by Monday, February 29, should request a replacement by calling the BLET National Division at (216) 241-2630, extension 222. When connected with the extension, please leave the following information:
• your name, address and phone number;
• the division to which you belong;
• your date of birth; and
• the last four digits of your Social Security number.
E-mail requests for ballots will not be accepted because personal information is required to verify eligibility before a ballot can be issued.
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce said this is a significant milestone for the BLET membership on the property as they will be voting on their first union contract.
“When the National Mediation Board certified the results of our representation election on August 7, 2014, we promised our new members that we would get started right away in negotiating their first union contract at the Illinois Railway,” President Pierce said. “We have followed through on that commitment. Now, the BLET membership on the Illinois Railway has the right — and responsibility — to study and vote on the contract that governs their pay and working conditions. I urge those members to make their voice heard by participating in this most important democratic process.”
IR members hold membership in BLET Division 682 (Hammond, Ind.) and belong to the BLET’s Indiana Harbor Belt General Committee of Adjustment. IR is comprised of four track segments aggregating 113 miles of track located just west of the Chicago suburbs. IR services what is often called “the Sand Capital of the World” in northern Illinois.