BLET members ratify pacts with DM&E, KCS, Union Railroad

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen members late last week ratified an implementing agreement with Kansas City Southern and the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E).

The agreement will go into effect if the Surface Transportation Board approves the proposed merger between KCS and Canadian Pacific.

The contract would govern locomotive engineers employed by the DM&E — which is owned by CP — active members in BLET Division 527 and those employed by the Gateway Western Railroad who work in the consolidated territory encompassing tracks from Ottumwa, Iowa, to Pittsburg, Kansas, and East St. Louis, Missouri, BLET officials said in a press release.

The agreement covers pay for hours worked without regard to mileage run for some engineers, BLET officials said. Those engineers will see varying degrees of pay rate increases, with some employees receiving at least a 12% pay raise. Also, engineers will receive more pay for serving at the away-from-home terminal, meal allowances and vacation pay. All pay rates are based on KCS' rates.

Also, BLET members agreed to expand seniority rights to engineers in the consolidated territory, but the engineers will have prior rights to their current seniority district and cannot be displaced by an engineer from an adjacent seniority district, BLET officials said.

All engineers under the agreement will be protected from loss of earnings as a result of the CP-KCS merger upon STB approval. Engineers will be automatically certified for New York Dock protection.

Meanwhile, BLET members unanimously ratified a new contract with the Union Railroad in Pittsburgh. The four-year agreement provides general wage increases of 16% with back pay issued within 60 days of ratification; up to seven weeks of vacation; an employer match of 401(k) contributions up to $2,000; and three additional personal paid leave days per year, BLET officials said.