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BLET, BNSF reach tentative agreement on contract
CLEVELAND, Ohio, and FORT WORTH, Texas, May 8 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and BNSF Railway Company have agreed in principle on a BNSF-specific contract that would augment the national settlement between BLET and the nation’s major railroads. The agreement is subject to ratification by BLET members on BNSF and is contingent on ratification of the national agreement’s terms.
The BLET/BNSF agreement would provide unprecedented levels of profit-sharing and secure the scope of BLET members’ job responsibilities in the future, particularly as train control technology advances. The agreement also provides improvements in “certification” pay, health and welfare benefit eligibility standards, meal allowances and territory familiarization pay. A new “system” rule governing the bidding and bumping process is also a highlight.
“BLET is pleased to have reached this tentative agreement with BNSF,” said BLET Vice President Stephen D. Speagle. “It reflects BNSF’s unique position in the railroad industry and will enable BNSF locomotive engineers to participate fully in the railroad’s long-term growth.”
“This agreement is a major step forward in the already constructive and valued relationship between BNSF and BLET,” said John Fleps, BNSF’s vice president, Labor Relations. “The agreement demonstrates in the plainest way the good that comes when labor leaders and management work hard together to solve the large issues which face the company and our employees. We appreciate BLET’s professionalism and willingness to discuss progressive approaches to work and pay issues on a BNSF-specific basis; we look forward to our locomotive engineers’ playing a key role and sharing in the company’s success for many, many years to come.”
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is a Division of the Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Its predecessor union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was the senior national labor organization in the United States and also North America''''s oldest rail labor union. The BLE marked its 140th anniversary in 2003 and was founded in Marshall, Mich. on May 8, 1863, as the Brotherhood of the Footboard; a year later, its name was changed to The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The BLE merged with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and became the BLET on January 1, 2004.
A subsidiary of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (NYSE:BNI), BNSF Railway Company operates one of the largest North American rail networks, with about 32,000 route miles in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF is among the world''''s top transporters of intermodal traffic, moves more grain than any other American railroad, carries the components of many of the products we depend on daily, and hauls enough low-sulfur coal to generate about ten percent of the electricity produced in the United States. BNSF is an industry leader in Web-enabling a variety of customer transactions at www.bnsf.com.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
bentley@ble.org
© 1997-2010 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
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