BLET, Keolis Reach Tentative Agreement
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) announced Nov. 7 that a contract ratification vote is under way for the union’s members who work with Keolis Rail Services Virginia.
According to BLET, ballots were mailed this week to members to vote on a tentative on-property agreement governing rates of pay and health care benefits for 11 locomotive engineers who run trains for Virginia Railway Express (VRE).
The five-year tentative deal, which includes full retroactive payments dating to 2021 and runs through 2025, would provide general wage increases compounded at 22.2% over the life of the agreement (2% in 2021, 5% in 2022, 5% in 2023, 4% in 2024 and 4.5% in 2025). There are no work rule changes, and membership contributions to health and welfare will be capped beginning in 2025 if the agreement is ratified, according to BLET.
BLET members working for VRE will receive a mailing from the BLET National Division next week with voting instructions. The deadline for receipt of ballots is at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Nov. 29.
