BLET Reaches Tentative Agreement With Two G&W Properties
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
G&W photo
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) announced Dec. 14 that it has reached a tentative contract with Genesee & Wyoming’s (G&W) Portland & Western Railroad (PNWR) and the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad (CFE).
Ballots were mailed this week to members to vote on tentative on-property agreements governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for approximately 55 PNWR operating employees and 45 CFE operating employees.
According to BLET, the five-year tentative deal with PNWR would run through Dec. 31, 2024, and would provide general wage increases of 21.5% (23.4% compounded) over the life of the contract (6% in 2024; 3% in 2025, 3% in 2026, 4% in 2027 and 5.5% in 2028).
Other proposed contractual improvements would include:
- Addition of Martin Luther King Day as an 11th holiday.
- One extra PL day and one additional day of vacation.
- Increased the training pay from $9 to $35 per day.
- Basic day reduced from 10 hours to 8 hours, with overtime accumulating after 40 hours each week.
- Eliminated the 80% rate of pay for probationary employees, so all employees receive 100% rate of pay.
- Increased PPE allowance to $300 per year.
The five-year tentative deal with CFE would run through 2028 and would provide general wage increases of 24% (27% compounded) over the life of the contract (5% in 2023; 4.5% in 2024, 4% in 2025, 3% in 2026, 3.5% in 2027, and 4% in 2028).
Other proposed contractual improvements would include:
- Training pay increased to $15 a day.
- Probationary period decreased to 120 days.
- Meal allowance increased to $40 per each 24 hours on layover assignments.
- Yard and local meals increased to 30 minutes with a built-in time limit and remedy for denial.
- Extra Board employees can now hold down week-long temporary vacancies.
- Boot allowance increased to $300 per year.
Ballots are due on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024.
