UP, BLET Reach Paid Sick Leave Agreement

Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
image description

Union Pacific (UP) on June 5 announced that it has reached an agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) to provide paid sick leave to the approximately 5,600 locomotive engineers employed by the railroad.

Under the agreement, effective Aug. 1, BLET members will have up to seven paid days to use in the event of an illness, according to UP. Five days will be considered paid sick days with the ability to convert two additional paid leave days for use as paid sick time.

General Chairmen Ronnie Rhodes, UP-Central Region; Chad Lambert, UP-Eastern District; Dick Crow, UP-Northern Region; James Logan, UP-Southern Region; Brian Carr, UP-Western Lines; and Steve Leyshon, UP-Western Region negotiated the agreement, which includes the following:

  • Effective August 1, 2023: Three (3) Paid Sick Days (paid at the basic daily rate of last service performed).
  • Effective January 1, 2024: Five (5) Paid Sick Days (paid at the basic daily rate of last service performed).
  • Effective January 1, 2024: Ability to convert two (2) single day vacations to Paid Sick Days (These days will be paid at the 1/52nd vacation rate of pay).
  • Can be used at any time on any day of the week. Cannot be denied.
  • Does NOT count against attendance points.
  • Does NOT forfeit guarantees.
  • Applies to ALL engineers (Assigned and Unassigned).

“This agreement is really about health and safety,” said BLET National President Eddie Hall. “It’s not in our members’, the public’s or the railroad’s best interest for engineers to be operating trains when they’re sick. Congratulations to our BLET General Chairmen and Union Pacific’s management who reached this agreement at the bargaining table.”

“The well-being and quality of life for all employees are critically important to us,” said UP Chairman, President and CEO Lance Fritz. “We want to thank BLET union leadership for their valuable collaboration. This agreement marks another step forward in Union Pacific’s ongoing commitment to fostering a supportive work environment that prioritizes the health and well-being of all employees.”

UP now has sick leave agreements in place with 12 of its 13 labor unions, covering approximately 68% of the Class I’s craft employees.

FURTHER READINGS:

Tags: , , , ,