Huron & Eastern workers join BLET

Huron & Eastern Railroad workers last month joined the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen after ratifying their first-ever collective agreement through the union.

Covering 25 workers, the four-year agreement provides general wage increases of 2 percent annually.

The pact also contains a “work safe” provision that allows workers to earn quarterly bonuses by avoiding workplace injuries, provides an assigned day off per week, and establishes work rules and a seniority system.

The 174-mile Huron & Eastern is owned by RailAmerica Inc. In 2004, the short-line holding company purchased the Central Michigan Railway and combined it with the Huron & Eastern, creating a combined railroad operating 250 miles of track.

The short line interchanges with Canadian National Railway Co., Saginaw Bay Southern, Lake State Railway and Great Lakes Central Railway.