BLET conducts vote for CN-Wisconsin Central pact

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with CN's Wisconsin Central subsidiary.

Ratification ballots — due Dec. 28 — were mailed this week to active BLET members employed by CN-Wisconsin Central who are eligible to vote on the agreement, according to a BLET press release.

The tentative pact governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for more than 600 members.

The BLET organized the Wisconsin Central property in 1997 and the railroad was purchased by CN in 2001 for $1.2 billion. At that time, Wisconsin Central operated about 2,850 miles of track and retained trackage rights in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Ontario.