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The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative five-year collective bargaining agreement with Amtrak that would cover more than 1,400 locomotive engineers.

Retroactive to July 1, 2010, the agreement would run through Jan. 1, 2015, and include 10 general wage increases totaling 14 percent, compounding to 15 percent, over the life of the contract. In addition, the agreement caps employee cost-sharing amounts for health and welfare coverage at $181.62 per month as of July 1, 2011, $210 as of July 1, 2012, and $230 as of July 1, 2013.

BLET and Amtrak also agreed to three work-rule improvements. The union proposed changing rules that would give engineers greater flexibility with how they use their seniority, enable engineers to take a second week of vacation in single days and expand the biannual Optional Displacement rule in effect outside the Northeast Corridor to include two additional work zones.

BLET officials issued ballots to Amtrak engineers this week to ratify the contract.