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BLET members ratify Amtrak contract
CLEVELAND, January 20 — By a nearly 4-to-1 margin, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) today ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Amtrak.
Ballots were counted today and the final tally was 77.5% in favor and 22.5% against.
The five-year deal provides members with 10 general wage increases totaling 14 percent, compounding to 15 percent, over the life of the contract.
The agreement governs more than 1,400 locomotive engineers who operate Amtrak’s passenger and commuter trains over its 21,000-mile, 46-state route system. The contract runs through January 1, 2015, with retroactive pay to July 1, 2010.
The agreement caps employee cost sharing amounts for health and welfare coverage at $181.62 per month (as of July 1, 2011), $210 (July 1, 2012), and $230 (July 1, 2013). Additionally, vision care coverage and medical coverage is extended up to age 26 for eligible dependents.
The BLET also obtained three much sought-after improvements to work rules. Rule 3(h) has been changed to give passenger engineers greater flexibility in how they exercise their seniority. Engineers will be able to take a second week of vacation in single days. Also, the biannual Optional Displacement rule in effect outside the Northeast Corridor will be expanded to include Work Zones 1 and 2. Other work rules for BLET members will essentially stay the same under the new agreement — an important victory considering the Carrier’s initial position.
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce thanked BLET members for participating in the voting process. He also thanked Amtrak General Chairman Mark Kenny and his negotiating team for their hard work at the bargaining table.
“I am proud of our Amtrak members for a nearly 65% turnout because our Brotherhood’s voice is louder with each additional member who speaks,” said President Pierce. “I also want to congratulate Brother Kenny and his bargaining team for bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion.”
“I want to thank every Amtrak member who took the time to participate in this ratification vote,” General Chairman Kenny said. “Now that we have certainty in wages, working conditions and benefits, we can refocus our attention to defeating the corporate and political forces that have targeted Amtrak for extinction.”
Friday, January 20, 2012
bentley@ble.org
© 1997-2012 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
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