NS, BLET reach tentative agreement

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway governing rates of pay and work rules for more than 4,500 locomotive engineers.

TrueBallot Inc. will conduct a ratification vote for the union via online and phone balloting. The BLET mailed ballots and voting instructions and a copy of the agreement to active members yesterday. Voting will end Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. (EST).

Agreement details were withheld by the union pending the ratification vote. In September 2008, BLET members ratified a six-year agreement with NS that provided general wage increases totaling 19 percent over the contract's term and bonuses union members could earn based on the Class I's financial performance.