BLET ratifies five-year pact with Amtrak

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have ratified a five-year agreement with Amtrak.

The new contract provides members with general wage increases of 18.84 percent compounded over the life of the agreement, BLET officials said in a press release.

The agreement runs through Dec. 31, 2021, with full retroactive pay dating to July 1, 2015. Employee health care contributions are frozen at $228 per month over the five-year pact.

Additionally, the contract protects existing work rules and provides "much needed improvements" for employees entitled to paid time off for active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, BLET officials said.

The agreement covers more than 1,400 locomotive engineers on Amtrak trains.